Family

Family is an important theme in the novel “Eight Keys” by Suzanne LeFleur. Family, thematically, involves the love, compassion, loyalty, encouragement, and support of and between individuals who may or may not be blood-related, but who act in accord with the traditional family unit. Family proves to be tremendously influential, and invaluable, to Elise as the novel unfolds.

When the novel begins, Elise loves her life with her Aunt Bessie and Uncle Hugh, who are her surrogate parents. Elise’s own parents are long dead, but as Elise later learns, her father made sure that his brother, Hugh, and his sister-in-law, Bessie, would adopt Elise and raise her as their own. She learns that Bessie was unable to have children, so she has been a blessing to Hugh and Bessie. Elise loves her aunt and uncle dearly, and loves to be in their company –whether she...