Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Silent Patient, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Empathy, Identification, and Boundaries
Tragedy and Destiny
Honesty vs. Deception
Childhood Trauma
Silence vs. “The Talking Cure”
Summary
Analysis
Yuri helps Theo arrange a private meeting with Alicia in the art room. In the meeting, Theo brings up that he recognizes Christian as Dr. West, but Alicia doesn’t respond. Theo assures Alicia that he is on her side, and that he will continue to investigate on her behalf. Alicia remains silent.
Just as her paintings invite multiple interpretations, Alicia’s refusal to speak allows Theo to imagine her response to what he tells her. So though he feels that they are closely connected, it is also possible that he is merely conjecturing, “hearing” in her silence whatever he fancies.
Themes
