Ambition vs. Morality
Evelyn Hugo, the novel’s titular protagonist, must frequently choose between furthering her career and honoring her values. In her early teens, she realizes one of the only sources of power she has is her body, so she very quickly becomes accustomed to using it in order to get what she wants, justifying her actions based on their outcomes. When Evelyn divorces Ernie Diaz, her first husband, she does so because she knows she’ll…
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Femininity, Sexuality, and Power
Throughout the novel, Evelyn constantly uses her feminine beauty and sexuality to secure success in a world run by men. Though at first, she’s frustrated that what many people admire about her—her appearance—is something she did nothing to earn, she quickly learns to use her sexuality to her advantage. Many of Evelyn’s early-career successes arise from situations where she uses her body to convince men to give her what she wants, whether that’s through marrying…
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Truth and Identity
Throughout her life, Evelyn’s desire to uphold a favorable public image with the media and her fans causes her to lie about herself and her relationships. For instance, her fear of public backlash motivates her to keep her romantic relationship with Celia St. James a secret; Evelyn’s secrecy causes lasting damage to her relationship with Celia, and it also prevents her from fully embracing her identity as a bisexual woman. The novel drives home the…
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Family
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo illustrates that a strong family bond does not come from marriage or blood relation, but from the depth of connection two or more people share. Though Evelyn is raised by Evelyn’s father, she realizes as a young adult that she needs to put as much distance as possible between herself and him if she wants to succeed in life, suggesting that, despite his blood relation to her, Evelyn’s…
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