Romantic love

The theme of romantic love is at the heart of the novel. The romantic relationship that is explored the most would be Gideon and Angie’s. In addition, Lady Ada briefly touches on her own romantic history. Octavia also alludes to Elf’s past crush on her.

To begin, Gideon and Angie met one summer when Gideon came to stay with his uncle. Angie’s lowly status and Gideon’s elevated one meant that he felt it inappropriate to embark on a romance with her. Their intense feelings for one another nearly usurped their better judgements, but Gideon ultimately chose to leave Angie behind for Cambridge. In the present moment of the novel, Gideon’s feelings for Angie persist. He is relieved to find her alive and remains hopeful throughout the novel that Angie will recover from the ghostlike transparency that threatens to overpower her...