The Goldfinch

Tartt infuses these initial chapters with the theme of loss. At the opening of the novel, Theo is in isolation. Though we do not know why, it is clear he is at least in the moment disconnected from others, which is loss on a basic level. Perhaps because he is so isolated, Theo thinks back to the loss that informs his entire life: the death of his mother, Audrey. This loss is so profound to Theo because Audrey seems to be the most important person in his young life. With his father gone and no other family to speak of, Theo and Audrey are a team against the rest of the world.

In fact, Theo conceptualizes his life as before and after her death, which is a “dividing mark” (7). When describing his mother, Theo uses reverential terms: “Everything came alive in her company” (7). She is a dynamic force who has a significant impact on his day-to-day life. Furthermore, many of Theo’s descriptions center on her physicality and her beauty. To him, she is a work of art, another central theme of the novel. Given all of this, Theo is devastated by her death. The bomb destroys many works of art and destroys his mother, destroys his world. Theo has no one to call when she is missing and can only think to use the number advertised on TV. Her loss alters Theo’s world forever and informs the trajectory of his life.

Similarly, these events bring up the theme of order and chaos. Because Theo is suspended, Audrey takes the morning off work. Because she is carsick in the cab, they walk and get caught in the rain. To escape the rain, they enter the Met. A seemingly random series of events brings her to her end. Yet Theo suggests that these events may not have been random. As an adult, he insists that “her death was my fault” (8). If he had not been suspended, they never would have been near the Met. Here, he takes the blame, suggesting that people have at least some agency over what occurs in life.

Finally, Tartt initiates an image system of brightly colored objects. They are a sort of beacon in the novel, guiding characters toward certain paths. While Theo views the Dutch Masters’ exhibit, many brightly colored objects stand out: “Peeled lemons, with the rind slightly hardened at the knife’s edge, the greenish shadow of a patch of mold” (23). These elements draw Theo and Audrey into the world of the paintings. The Goldfinch itself is a yellow color. It intrigues Theo, and Welty insists that he take it, thus putting Theo on a very specific path. Furthermore, Pippa’s red hair catches Theo’s attention. It is the object that draws him to her in the first place, and he goes searching for that redness when he escapes the explosion. It is as if the color red saves Theo. Similarly, Welty gives Theo his gold ring and instructs him to “[r]ing the green bell” (40). The color green leads Theo to Hobart and Blackwell, which will become a significant part of his life. In this way, colors move the plot forward and draw the characters toward their destinies.