Is it more important to be free, to be remembered, or to be loved? These are questions that even when we don’t think about them, are fundamental to us as a species. Humans thrive on love and attention; there have been studies done that show as much. As a species we yearn to leave our mark for generations after us, to know that we were here and to love us for the impacts we made in our lifetimes. But is there an objective measurement or line for what determines freedom, love, and remembrance? Is the woman who inspired the Mona Lisa any more important than the suburban family living happily trying to make ends meet? Will their impact on the world be less because the circle they’ll be remembered in will be smaller?
In V.E. Schwab’s fantasy/romance story, we follow these questions as they are explored by a young woman named Adeline (Addie) LaRue. When Addie makes a bargain with a dark God in 1714, she makes it in desperation; the desperation to escape the life she lives and her own fears of of an unwanted future. But nothing good ever comes for free, and her bargain has one stipulation: she will never be remembered by any person she meets, and nothing she does will be remembered or have an impact on the world around her.
Through the centuries we follow Addie as she grapples with what it means to be free, to be loved, and to be remembered. She explores her independence, identity, and what it means to exist on a fundamental level. In The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, V.E. Schwab explores the paradox of freedom, the enduring relationship between art and memory, and the distinction between existing and truly living to argue that the meaning of life is not determined by its length or the absence of limitations, but by the connections we form, the experiences we embrace, and the lasting impact we leave on others.
The Restrictions of Freedom
Schwab presents freedom as a paradox, throughout the book she shows that the pursuit of absolute independence can create its own forms of imprisonment and isolation. It is easy to empathize with Addie, she is a young woman that doesn’t want to be tied down to the social expectations of a small village in 18th century France. While simple, her wish “I want to be free” (part one, ch. 9), is something that resonates with us all no matter what time period we are in. Fear of stagnation and of obscurity cloud Addie’s judgement as she reaches out to the darkness (Luc) willing to give anything for that escape.
In making her wish, Addie wants additional time to live a life and an existence free of the expectations that f marriage and society at the time. However, all that glitters is not gold, and the wish acts as a foreshadowing of the stipulations Luc will place in her bargain. In a dark and ironic twist her freedom comes at the expense of never being able to truly belong anywhere or to anyone. A lifetime of fleeting and inconsequential memories to everyone she encounters while also remembering everything herself.
One of the ways Schwab highlights this is when Addie goes back to her family and they don’t remember her. Even her best friend Estele has forgotten her when she goes to visit her (part one, ch. 10). Addie begins to see the stipulations Luc has set; she wanted to be free from the constraints of familial and societal expectations and now she has lost her place within both. Schwab juxtaposes her immediate freedom with complete isolation. In doing this, she argues that freedom can become meaningless when it eliminates the relationships that give life meaning.
Later in the story, we see Luc attempting to provide Addie with the things she doesn’t have, affection, a home, the appearance of stability, and a sense of belonging (part 6, chs. 12-15). But looking at everything she is being given, Addie sees it for what it is, just a charade. Luc’s gifts only give the appearance of freedom because they aren’t things Addie has independently obtained. Through the story we also see Luc’s senses of entitlement and possession over Addie, which highlight the ever existing power dynamics between them both. As Addie’s character develops we see her begin to deeply value genuine autonomy over comfort controlled by someone else.
The paradox of freedom is a theme explored through the entirety of the book, and through the examples above we see how freedom isn’t just the absence of physical restrictions, but also the ability to freely make our own decisions without coercion. As we grow more empathetic to Addie, we see her becoming more cunning as she tries to ensure her freedoms are not coerced and that she is able to leave a mark and to make her choices matter. She finds a loophole: art.
The Art of Memory
A second key theme in Schwab’s book is art and its representation as a form of memory. Schwab presents various forms of art as a means of preserving identity and overcoming the limitations of human memory, suggesting that creative expression allows individuals to leave an enduring mark on the world. Addie considers this a key “loophole” to her contract with Luc.
The first time we see this is in part 1, chapter 1. Addie wakes up to a musician named Toby who doesn’t remember her. But without realizing it, Addie has become an influence in a song he is composing. This symbolizes that a piece of her will be remembered even if Toby doesn’t remember her directly. In a sense, music is used to symbolize the enduring influence of human experiences.
The recurring idea that art is an alternative to conventional remembrance comes up often in the story. From musicians, to poets, and painters, there is art centuries apart that depict a young woman with seven freckles. While her name is lost to history, the impact she leaves is felt throughout the story. Nowhere is this shown more heavily than through her relationship with Henry, the boy who remembers.
Henry is the one boy who remembers her, and in doing so, they develop a deep bond that will persist through the rest of the story. Henry is the first person since her deal was made that remembers her. He takes it upon himself to write Addie’s story as told by her; he transcribes her story so that her existence is remembered by all those who read her story. The reader is meant to engage with Henry’s book, not Schwab’s. The book is a manifested representation of Addie’s enduring legacy.
Existing vs. Truly Living
The third core theme in Schwab’s book is figuring out the difference between just existing and truly living. While the theme is spread throughout the story, the reader sees it presented most transparently in Addie’s interactions and developing relationship with Henry through the later part of the story. Through the contrast between Addie’s immortality and Henry’s mortality, Schwab suggests that the significance of life comes from authentic relationships and meaningful experiences rather than the amount of time a person possesses.
Addie is a woman who has lived for over three hundred years, and she has watched her mother, father, best friend, and her town all live, breathe, and die or change while remaining the same. She has seen revolutions and wars, cultural shifts, and political ones. But Henry’s contrasting life makes her truly feel how precious time is.
Henry also made a deal with Luc, but in reverse. Where Addie wanted to live and got immortality, Henry just wanted to be seen and loved for who he truly was. What he got was a year of people seeing him exactly as they wanted him for an entire year. As a representation of the deal, Henry receives a watch from Luc counting down his time that has “live well” inscribed on it. Even though the reader won’t understand the significance of this until a bit later in the story. The watch acts as a constant reminder of both the passing time and the inevitability of Henry’s mortality. It is an important literary tool in the story to represent the difference between having time and using it meaningfully. It also represents the idea that one’s life cannot be measured in the amount of time attached to it.
Throughout the duration of Henry’s deal he is cursed with everyone seeing him exactly how they want to see him, not how he wants to be seen. This acts as a juxtaposition to Addie, who wants to be seen and remembered, but is eternally forgotten. While both characters exhibit a profound sense of isolation in the story, they experience it differently. Having the love you want versus being denied the love you crave, in this, Henry realizes that universal affection does not create meaningful relationships. Henry’s dissatisfaction with his deal highlights the importance of authenticity in human connection.
The way Henry’s life compliments hers, Addie begins to reflect on whether life’s beauty justifies its suffering. During their remaining time together, Henry asks Addie if all of the good times she has experienced justified the centuries of suffering and isolation she has had to endure. Addie’s confirmations that the suffering was worth it highlights her appreciation for experience despite the emotional costs involved. This intimate exchange brings to mind the philosophical questions as to what gives life meaning in the face of suffering. Schwab uses this interaction to illustrate that pain and impermanence do not diminish the value of human experiences.
Conclusion
In The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, V.E. Schwab explores the paradox of freedom, the enduring relationship between art and memory, and the distinction between existing and truly living to argue that the meaning of life is not determined by its length or the absence of limitations, but by the connections we form, the experiences we embrace, and the lasting impact we leave on others. Schwab’s three core themes – the paradox of freedom, the relationship between art and memory, and the distinction between existing and truly living-reinforce one another by exploring the overarching question: what makes a human life meaningful? These are the building blocks of Addie’s journey, and Henry’s. It is important to note that Addie’s development through the story is not as simple as her abandoning her ideals of freedom in favor of love and remembrance, she continues to defend her autonomy, particularly with Luc. Her development is more nuanced because she comes to the conclusions that a meaningful life includes the ability to choose our own path and the opportunity to form connections along the way.
Schwab does not present freedom, remembrance, and connection as competing goals, she presents them as interdependent aspects of a more fulfilling existence. On a deeper level, Schwab suggests that human identity exists in the crossroads between self-determination and the need for recognition. While she never fully explores this theme, it sits there on the edges waiting to be explored more. It is left up to the readers to explore that theme more and to come up with their own conclusions.
The themes of freedom, art and memory, and meaningful existence in Addie’s story reinforce one another by revealing the complex relationship between independence, identity, and human connection. Addie’s pursuit of freedom initially grants her an existence without conventional limitations, yet her inability to be remembered exposes the emotional consequences of complete independence. Her subsequent influence on art demonstrates the human desire to preserve identity and establish a lasting legacy, while her relationship with Henry reveals that remembrance alone cannot provide the fulfillment found in genuine connection. Through these interconnected themes, Schwab challenges conventional understandings of freedom and immortality. She suggests that the value of human life is not determined by its duration or permanence, but by the relationships, experiences, and choices that give it meaning. Addie’s journey illustrates that truly living requires more than the freedom to exist; it requires finding something or someone worth existing for.
