Loneliness in crowd
The theme is vividly shown in the narrating of the two protagonists: Renee and Paloma. They are always surrounded by many people: the woman’s job demands it and the girl’s family always hosts a lot of guests. But despite this, they’re lonely deep in their hearts. Both of them have the huge and endless inner worlds, but they keep these worlds deep inside of them not showing them to others. The only “screens” of their souls are the diary of the girl and the thoughts of the woman. The tipping point there is the appearance of Kakuro. Only he managed to make them open their minds to other people.
Human values
The author opposes two concepts of values: primitive ones, like watering plants (it’s a true value for Maman Josse) or gossips or popularity; and the others – knowledge, self-developing and heartiness in treating others. Roughly saying, the author divides the characters into the rich and their service. But, what is more important, he doesn’t divide the “good” and “bad” values strictly between those two groups of his heroes. There are rich people like Paloma and Kakuro who appreciate the mental values, there are the other rich like Paloma’s parents, their friends, Colombe, whose values are vain things. There are the poor, like Renee who are poor just with their money, but their hearts and inner worlds are full of wealth, and there are the poor who have no values, like Jejen the bum who lives near the house.
Intelligence
Intelligence might be considered the primary theme of the book, as it is shown as a main criteria in people which distinguishes the level of their human values and thus becomes the most vivid and respectful thing. It is intelligence, or elegance that makes people what they are, and rationally thinking is the primary key to its understanding. Both main characters are the people who are extremely elegant, an their ability to think soberly provokes the best feelings, and these feelings are nothing but expresses of love, care and humanity.
