Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Time Traveler’s Wife, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Here and Now
Love and Absence
Free Will vs. Determinism
Language and Art
Self-Love
Summary
Analysis
Sunday, October 26, 1991 (Henry is 28, Clare is 20). Clare visits the Newberry Library for the first time since moving to Chicago. She signs the log to enter the Special Collections room to research Chaucer and papermaking, but she struggles to find what she is looking for. A librarian directs her to one of her colleagues, Mr. Henry DeTamble. Clare immediately recognizes the man, though he is younger and more collected than she has seen him in the past. She realizes this is the present, not only for her, but also for him.
This scene depicts Clare and Henry’s first meeting (in the novel’s present), further developing their characters. Clare’s study of art brings her to the library for reference materials, and Henry’s job as a librarian indicates his love of literature and history. These passions are central to their individual identities and will continue to define the way they relate to each other in the novel.
Themes
While Clare is happy to see Henry, she can tell from his professional politeness that he doesn’t know her. He’s confused when she says his name. Clare tries to explain to him that she knew him when she was a child. She flounders in conversation with him, finding herself overwhelmed with love for him and memories of their time together in her childhood home. She can’t believe she is seeing him in the present. She asks him to get dinner with her, hoping that some part of the love they grew in her past and his future will propel him to say yes. He does, and they agree to meet at a Thai restaurant that evening. As she leaves the museum, she is ecstatic that she has found him at last. She yells and jumps for joy.
Despite Henry’s ability to time travel, in this passage it is apparent that Clare knows who he is while Henry does not. Little by little, the novel reveals the rules that govern how Henry’s condition works, with Clare explaining that she met a future version of this Henry in her past. This explains why adult Clare recognizes Henry but Henry (who is not as old now as the version of himself who visited Clare in her childhood) doesn’t recognize Clare. Their reactions to each other are entirely mismatched. Clare immediately recognizes Henry and is overcome with emotion, hinting at the depth of their history. In contrast, Henry is merely confused. Though Clare has knowledge of what will come to pass between them in the future, she is still uncertain how he will respond to her suggestion of dinner. Aspects of their relationship seem set in stone, but the specific contexts and choices that lead them there are unclear.
Themes
For Henry, it is just regular October day, and he’s bored and hungover. While he completes his work, he reflects on last night’s drunken, tense evening with Ingrid Carmichel. On his way to get a cup of coffee, Henry’s coworker Isabelle asks him to help a library visitor. The woman (Clare) has red hair and is beautiful. From the woman’s demeanor, Henry can tell she knows him, though he doesn’t know her. The woman confirms this when she says his name; he gets the sense that, in another time, they have had an intense, intimate relationship. This makes him feel worse for not knowing who she is, and he also senses Isabelle’s judgment as she observes the interaction.
Henry’s internal reflections on his tumultuous night with Ingrid and his suspicion that his coworker is judging him suggest Henry has a complicated relationship with women and perhaps also struggles with alcohol abuse. At first he worries that Clare is a woman he’s had a forgettable fling with, but something about her tells him that there something significant between them. Whether this is due to how strongly Clare is emoting, Henry’s past experiences with the quirks of non-chronological living, or some deeper spiritual bond is unclear.
Themes
Henry’s discomfort is relieved when Clare takes his confusion in stride and explains that she knew him when she was younger. He is eager to go to dinner with her and get the whole story. As they make plans to meet at a nearby restaurant, he is astounded by the look of love in her eyes despite his unkempt, hungover appearance. After Clare leaves, Henry gets the sense that their meeting will unlock some secret, important part of his future. He follows her out and sees her rejoicing in the square, which brings inexplicable tears to his eyes.
Henry demonstrates self-awareness that his hungover, shabby appearance contrasts with Clare’s more polished exuberance. What their differing physical presentations suggest is a more significant disparity in their lifestyles and priorities. Clare is responsible and committed to her studies while Henry is aimless. Henry is overwhelmed with emotion as he watches Clare leave because in her he sees not only someone he is attracted to, but also someone who might improve his life for the better.
Themes
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Later that evening. After work, Henry hurries home and tries to make himself presentable. He lives in a studio so small that he is constantly running into the furniture. After showering, he realizes none of his clothes are clean except a pressed white shirt, which he decides to wear with his black suit. He realizes that his apartment is a horrific mess, so he can’t bring Clare home. Before he leaves, he is overcome with questions about his time with Clare when she was a little girl.
Henry’s small, messy apartment reflects the disorder of his life in the same way as his physical appearance. Henry’s gut feeling that Clare might be an important, life-altering force in his life makes him aware that the current state of his life—in which he hardly cares for himself—is not conducive to supporting a relationship with a person like her.
Themes
Clare is at the restaurant when Henry arrives. She is as enthusiastic when she sees him as she was earlier that morning. Henry studies her more closely, taking in her red hair, pale skin, grey eyes, and delicate features. Clare is delighted when Henry gives her flowers and tells him he’s never done that before. He realizes that Clare knows him very well, which only intrigues him more. He insists that she tell him everything immediately and wonders if she already knows why he doesn’t recognize her.
It is significant that Clare is waiting at the restaurant when Henry gets there because it establishes what will become an ongoing dynamic as a couple. Clare is devoted and patient, while Henry’s disorder causes him to navigate life in a more haphazard fashion. Clare is both early and way ahead of Henry, who is still in the dark about how she knows him. When he arrives, his predominant desire is to gain more information from her.
Themes
Clare tells Henry that she knows he can’t remember her because none of their interactions have happened for him yet. She explains that she has known him for 14 years; he first visited her when she was six. Clare hands him a diary that he told her to give him when they meet in the present time. It contains a list of 152 dates from September 23, 1977, to May 24, 1989: all the times Henry came from the future to visit her throughout her childhood. Clare explains that future Henry provided her this list when they first met so that she would know when to find him in the Meadow.
Clare is recounting her own past—a profoundly formative part of it—but she is essentially telling Henry his own future in doing so. Because Henry’s time traveling condition means his life is often out of chronological order, Clare’s explanation is important in establishing how the timeline of their relationship differs between the two of them. It also allows for better equality between them, since whenever Henry travels backward in time and visits younger versions of Clare, it’s he who has more knowledge than she.
Themes
After they order their food, Henry asks Clare what the Meadow is. Clare explains that in between her parents’ home in Michigan and the woods, there is a meadow with a big boulder in it. She used to play there because no one could see her from the house. Henry was waiting for her the first time she met him in 1977, naked but composed. The first time, from adult Henry’s perspective, that he visited her as a child was when she was 10. By then, she was used to having a nude, older version of him drop in to see her. She laughs, remembering all the strange food concoctions and cast-off clothing she used to bring him.
As Clare continues to share the nature of future-Henry’s visits to her childhood home, she provides present-Henry with a huge amount of information. Again, Clare’s story provides Henry a glimpse into a future version of himself. In his current life, he is impulsive and haphazard, but the Henry Clare describes meeting as a young girl is good with children, responsible, and patient—evidence that present-Henry will work through his ongoing struggles and become a better man in the future.
Themes
Henry asks how old he was during these time traveling visits, and Clare guesses the oldest he was during a visit was 40. At times, he was closer to 30. Henry is curious what they did in the Meadow; Clare explains that it changed over time. When she was little, they played games and talked and did homework. She admits that when she got older, she tried to seduce him frequently. He never gave in, however, not wanting to damage or take advantage of her. Clare tells him about her family’s cook, Nell, and their housekeeper, Etta. Clare muses that they mothered her better than her real mother, Lucille, but doesn’t elaborate further. She also tells him about the family gardener, Peter. Henry remarks that Clare’s family sounds very wealthy, suggesting she may be too good for him.
This portion of Clare’s account of her childhood shows not only how much her relationship with Henry shifted over the years, but also how those changes affected them differently. Clare grows up in a traditional chronological manner, sexually maturing as she ages. However, Henry refuses to bend to her desire both as a moral choice (since she is younger than the legal age of consent) and to maintain a boundary between the two of them while they are living in different times. Clare also provides more information about her family dynamic, especially her relationship with her mother. Nell’s, Etta’s, and Peter’s roles in the household demonstrate the Abshire family’s wealth and traditional values—both of which were not part of Henry’s upbringing, as his comment about Clare being too good for him suggests.
Themes
Henry asks if he met her family during that time, and Clare explains he only met her Grandma Meagram before her death because Clare already told her that she would eventually marry him. Henry asks if they are going to get married. Clare is fairly certain they will, because Henry introduced himself to her as her husband in the future. Henry becomes overwhelmed at this detail and worries that the shock from their conversation may trigger a time traveling episode. Clare moves to sit beside him in the booth and squeezes his hands. She apologizes for going too fast—she forgot how new this is for him. She tells him that during their last visit, he asked her to “have mercy” on him when they finally meet in the present. They agree to pretend like they are on a normal first date.
Henry reacts strongly because he is essentially learning about a full life that he has yet to live; even Clare’s grandmother has more information about Henry and Clare’s past and future lives. Clare’s prior knowledge is jarring for Henry because as a time traveler, he is used to being the one with more information than ordinary people, who don’t have access to the future. This leads to an unusual power imbalance for Henry, leaning in Clare’s favor. However, Clare’s foreknowledge means she knows Henry’s fears, his patterns, and his needs, which may end up helping Henry as he works to improve himself as a person.
Themes
Clare and Henry try to make first-date small talk. She tells him that she’s studying sculpture and papermaking at the Art Institute. Her art tends to be large-scale and deals with longing, often in the form of birds. Clare tells Henry about her family home in Michigan, called Meadowlark House, which is a famous example of architecture from the Arts and Crafts movement. Henry, who has seen the house in a design book, comments that it is “posh.” Clare agrees and explains that her family is posh too. Henry asks if she has siblings, and she tells him about her brother Mark, who is pre-law at Harvard, and her sister Alicia, who is a cellist in high school.
This section introduces Clare’s family members and vocation. Henry’s recognition of the notable Meadowlark House confirms that Clare was raised in a wealthy family and grew up in a picturesque home. In describing her art, Clare also introduces the symbolism of birds in her work, establishing them as emblematic of her loneliness and yearning for Henry. His sudden appearances and absences have not only impacted their relationship but also Clare’s whole life perspective.
Themes
Henry tells Clare he is an only child. This detail surprises Clare, and she explains that he kept most of the details of his life a secret so their meeting could happen naturally. She only knew he lived in Chicago, that he was knowledgeable about art, spoke French and German, and that his mother died in a fatal car crash. Henry now tells her more about his parents, Richard DeTamble and Annette Lyn Robinson. His father is a violinist and living, while his mother was a famous singer who died when Henry was six.
Henry’s upbringing is in sharp contrast to Clare’s upbringing. His family was not as affluent as Clare’s, and his childhood was marked by tragedy. As an only child who lived alone with his father after his mother’s death, Henry has clearly experienced the loneliness and isolation that is also central to Clare’s character. Though he did not grow up with money or prominence, Henry’s musician parents ensured he was wealthy in his appreciation for art and culture.
Themes
Henry and Clare leave the restaurant. Henry says his apartment is small and unkempt but close by; Clare lives far away and has a roommate named Charisse who would undoubtedly interrogate him. Clare agrees to close her eyes while Henry cleans up, so they make their way to his studio, stopping for a bottle of wine on the way. Clare is confused by the alcohol and tells Henry he isn’t allowed to drink in the future by the order of his doctor, David Kendrick. Dr. Kendrick is a genetic scientist who studies Chrono-Impairment, the name that will later be given to Henry’s condition.
Clare’s assertion about Henry not drinking alcohol is another instance in which Henry learns how much he will change as he gets older. In the present, he uses alcohol to cope with the chaos his time traveling brings to his life. In the future, however, Henry seeks the help of a doctor and changes his lifestyle to manage his condition. This section also introduces Dr. Kendrick and Charisse, who will prove to be two important supports in Clare’s and Henry’s lives.
Themes
When they arrive at the apartment, Henry blindfolds Clare with his tie as he tidies the messy room. He throws assorted things in his kitchen sink and converts his sleeper sofa back into a couch. He removes Clare’s blindfold then lights candles and puts on music. They kiss on the couch, and Henry finds that kissing Clare feels strangely familiar. He is curious if they have been intimate before and is tempted to further their kiss now, but he hesitates. Instead, he pulls Clare down to lie beside him on the sofa. Clare assesses him. He is tired and overwhelmed, but he assures her he is predominantly happy. She presses her body against his, teasing him. Henry asks if they should take it slow, but Clare admits she’s been waiting a long time for him and is impatient. Henry gives in, and they have sex.
Meeting Clare was a complete surprise to Henry, but their conversation over dinner and immediate physical connection impresses upon him the depth of their history together—even if that history plays out in the future for him. His reputation with women (which his coworker in the library hints at) suggests that he typically wouldn’t hesitate to become sexually intimate, but his intuition about Clare’s importance compels him to be cautious with her. Henry’s messy apartment is a metaphor for the larger state of his life. He cleans the best he can to make a presentable, comfortable space for Clare, just as he feels he must begin stabilizing his life if she is going to stay in it.
Themes
The next morning. Clare is confused when she wakes in the strange apartment until she sees Henry’s familiar face next to hers. She watches him sleep and is overwhelmed that they are together, “here and now.” She rises to use the bathroom, and in the cabinet she finds lipstick, tampons, and other evidence of another woman in Henry’s life. Clare is upset initially, but she recovers by assuring herself the other woman is his past, but Clare is his present and his future. She puts on his bathrobe.
Clare’s discovery of another woman’s things in Henry’s apartment reminds her that this present version of Henry is not yet the man she fell in love with as a girl. More importantly, he is not yet the man who loves her. She has to temper her excitement about finally having Henry in her life, patiently giving him space to get to know her and grow into the person she knows and loves.
Themes
Clare makes coffee and studies Henry’s books, seeing familiar names that the two have discussed in the past: John Donne, Anne Bradstreet, Rainer Maria Rilke, Andrew Marvell. When Henry wakes and sees Clare in his robe, he realizes what she must have seen in the bathroom and asks if she is okay. He sees her hesitancy and guesses that it must bother her. Henry tells Clare that it was a relationship nearing its end before he and Clare ever met. She tells him she’d rather not know. He says he’d have tried to be less of a mess in general had he known she’d be coming into his life.
Clare commits to being patient with Henry, but her lack of interest in hashing out his past demonstrates her need for their meeting to be the official shift into a new chapter of both of their lives. While Clare grows more aware that present-Henry is different from the Henry she’s used to, she can see the roots of his future self in his books. Literature and art are an important aspect of both Clare’s and Henry’s characters, so seeing the seeds of that common love reflected on his bookshelf comforts her.
Themes
Henry asks Clare if his present self is what she imagined. Clare admits he seems younger than she expected, though to herself the word she thinks is “selfish.” She explains she’s used to a version of him who knows her, and Henry responds that that version of him doesn’t exist yet. Eventually, he will come around. Clare asks why Henry’s older self never mentioned her to him. He explains that he only tells himself things from his travels that are “life-threatening.” Clare believes she’d share everything with herself in his position, but Henry assures her that oversharing causes problems. Clare responds that she was always trying to pry details out of him as a kid, but he didn’t tell her much. When Henry asks what he told her, she chooses to keep the information to herself.
Clare and Henry’s conversation develops the novel’s examination of free will and determinism. Clare and present-Henry, who have both interacted with older versions of Henry, are sure of who he is destined to become having seen the evidence of him firsthand. How and when that future self develops, however, is a mystery to them both. They both have to move forward the best they can, trusting they’ll grow into the people they are meant to, in the same way that Clare stumbled across present Henry despite his future self denying her helpful information to make their introduction go smoothly.
Themes
After having sex again, Henry and Clare get out of bed and go get breakfast. Out on the street, Clare is struck by both the cold and the rush of people enjoying the morning. She is happy to be seen in public with Henry for the first time. After keeping him a hidden part of her life for so long, she feels an unexpected sense of loss now that her “secret” is gone. But then she is moved with a sudden, powerful joy because she knows that “everything begins” now that they have met.
Despite years and years of longing to meet Henry in the present where she won’t have to depend on time traveling episodes to be with him, Clare is surprised by the twinge of sadness she feels now that her dream has been actualized. Absence and privacy became such a central aspect of her lived experience and expression of love that she now grieves the loss it alongside her excitement.
Themes
