BlogEnglishAll the Light We Cannot See Analysis for Your Essay: Summary, Characters, Themes
All the Light We Cannot See Analysis for Your Essay: Summary, Characters, Themes
This article is all you need to write high-qualityAll the Light We Cannot See analysis.
Since graduating from USYD with Honours and an HD average in English Literature, I’ve supported 100+ HSC English students over 7 years, so I know what details you need to master from any text to get top marks. In this article, I’ll break down:
A full plot and context summary
A breakdown of all the KEY characters
Several KEY themes
A step-by-step guide on how to write your essay
3 FREE analysis tables and a sample paragraph to download!
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to ace your All the Light We Cannot See analysis — let’s go!
Marie-Laure LeBlanc: A blind French girl who flees Paris during World War II.
Werner Pfennig: A German orphan and radio tech conscripted into the Hitler Youth.
Etienne LeBlanc: Marie-Laure’s reclusive great-uncle who helps the resistance.
Sergeant Major Reinhold von Rumpel: A Nazi officer obsessed with finding the legendary Sea of Flames gem.
Key Themes:
The power of resilience and hope in times of darkness.
The impact of war on individuals and humanity.
The importance of connection and kindness in times of tragedy.
Main Message: The novel highlights the interconnectedness of humanity, showing how compassion and courage can endure even in the darkest times of war.
Once you’ve understood the basics, you may want to search elsewhere for some deeper critical insights into the play. Check out these open-access (free) journal articles:
The text is told from the perspective of two main characters, a blind girl from Paris, Marie-Laure LeBlanc and an orphan from Germany, Werner Pfenning. A third character, Reinhold von Rumpel, a Nazi gemologist also narrates a few of the chapters of the novel.
Marie-Laure is the daughter of Daniel LeBlanc, a doting father who is the head locksmith at The Museum of Natural History in Paris. This museum holds a gemstone called the Sea of Flames, which is said to give immortality to the owner at the cost of the misfortune of those around them.
When Germany invades France in 1940, they flee to the coastal town of Saint-Malo, where Marie Laure’s uncle and her father’s brother, Etienne lives.
Marie-Laure’s father brings the Sea of Flames, however he does not tell Marie Laure. Marie-Laure’s father builds her a model of Saint-Malo so she can navigate her way around despite her blindness.
After her father dies, she joins a resistance movement against Nazi occupation by slipping notes into pieces of bread and broadcasting radio signals with her uncle Etienne, which she takes over after he dies.
She eventually finds the Sea of Flames hidden within the model her father has made her.
At the same time we hear about Werner, who begins as an orphan, living with his sister, Jutta, in the coal-mining town of Zollverein. Werner is particularly talented at fixing radios, and he spends much of his childhood fascinated by a science broadcast.
Due to his talent, he gets recruited to attend school at the National Political Institute of Education at Schulpforta. There, he works diligently but becomes emotionally hardened by his brutal training. Eventually he begins to work for the Nazi party, tracking illegal enemy signals.
We also learn about the third character, Reinhold von Rumpel who is searching for the The Sea of Flames. He believes that gemstone will grant him the eternal life which will allow him to overcome the cancer which is quickly spreading through his body.
von Rumpel finds 3 forgeries of the stones and learns of Marie-Laure’s location to take the stone from her.
The novel culminates when the three characters meet in Saint-Malo.
Werner is tracking Etienne and Marie-Laure’s radio signals, von Rumpel is searching for the stone and is ready to kill Marie-Laure who is hiding in her uncle’s house. Marie-Laure sends out a cry for help from the radio she has been using.
Werner realises that the radio broadcast he had been tracking was the broadcast from the scientist he had listened to as a child. He therefore goes to the source of the broadcast in Etienne’s house, and kills von Rumpel and falls in love with Marie-Laure (yes, that escalated quickly!).
They throw the Sea of Flames into the ocean, which according to legend, ends the curse. Marie-Laure then escapes to safety but Werner is captured by the American disarmament centre where he dies.
The novel ends in 2014 with an 86-year-old Marie-Laure walking through the streets of Paris with her grandson.
‘All the Light We Cannot See’ is set during World War II in both France and Germany. On September 1 1939, Germany invaded Poland, and two days later, France declared war on Germany.
In June 1940, Germany invaded much of Western Europe, including France. This was devastating to France, creating significant issues with transport and trade.
The artificial exchange rate between German currency and the French Franc led to shortages of food and malnutrition amongst the most vulnerable in society. This is the world Marie-Laure finds herself in during ‘All the Light We Cannot See’.
In Germany at this time, youth and children were being indoctrinated with German ideology. This included the Supremacy of the German state, eugenics and antisemitism.
Eugenics is the practice of selectively breeding humans so they are “stronger”. This includes breeding out people with diseases, disabilities and other races.
Antisemitism, on the other hand, refers to a hostility against Jewish people. These ideologies were taught through organisations such as The Hitler Youth and National Political Institutions of Education. This is the world the novel’s other protagonist, Werner, finds himself in.
‘All the Light We Cannot See’ Themes
Below are some of the key ideas from All the Light We Cannot See. These are great starting points to get you to consider what will make up your thesis and topic sentences.
The conflict between duty and morality ⚖️
This theme is most evident in Werner’s internal struggle as he navigates life in the Hitler Youth and his role in the German military.
Werner’s technical talents make him invaluable to the Nazis, but his growing awareness of the regime’s atrocities clashes with his sense of morality.
His hesitation and eventual disobedience highlight the difficulty of reconciling personal ethics with the obligations imposed by authority.
This conflict is shown figuratively as well, with the motif of Werner seeing his sister, Jutta, and her “crestfallen face” whenever he is questioning his morality. This represents his empathy and care for other people conflicting against the discriminatory Nazi ideology.
The novel asks readers to consider the cost of following orders when those orders contradict one’s moral compass.
Dehumanisation 👥
The novel explores how war strips individuals of their humanity. Werner and his peers in the Hitler Youth are trained to suppress empathy and individuality, becoming tools of the Nazi war machine.
The soldiers are also characterised as mechanically and single-mindedly contributing to this war machine, described as tending to cannons “the way worker bees might tend to a queen.”
Similarly, Sergeant Major von Rumpel’s obsessive quest for the Sea of Flames reduces him to a single-minded pursuer of power, illustrating how greed and ideology can erode humanity.
However, the novel contrasts this dehumanisation with acts of kindness and bravery, showing how humanity can persist even in dehumanising circumstances.
The power of knowledge 🧠
Knowledge is portrayed as both liberating and dangerous in the novel. For Marie-Laure, knowledge of her environment and the codes she learns empowers her to resist the German occupiers.
The importance of knowledge as a means of discovery and enlightenment is represented in the metaphor: “Open your eyes… and see what you can with them before they close forever.”
Motifs of knowledge, such as radios, books and scientific learning, also serve as tools of resistance by connecting isolated individuals and spreading information.
However, Werner’s knowledge of radio technology is exploited by the Nazis to further the war effort, showing that knowledge itself is neutral and can be wielded for good or harm depending on who controls it.
Self-protection vs protecting others 🛡️
All the All The Light We Cannot See characters grapple with the choice between self-preservation and risking their lives for others:
Marie-Laure’s father sacrifices his own safety to protect her and the Sea of Flames.
Werner faces an ethical dilemma in contributing to the genocidal Nazi cause for the sake of self-preservation despite the atrocities being committed.
Etienne, initially paralysed by fear, eventually joins the resistance to protect not only Marie-Laure, but also the greater cause of freedom.
These choices highlight the courage it takes to prioritise others over oneself, especially in dire circumstances.
Free will VS fate 🤔
The novel frequently explores whether characters are in control of their own destinies or if they are shaped by external forces.
Werner’s life is profoundly shaped by circumstances beyond his control: his poverty, his conscription into the Hitler Youth and his role in the war. Yet, he also makes pivotal choices, such as saving Marie-Laure, that reflect his free will.
Similarly, the legend of the Sea of Flames raises questions about whether the characters are fated to suffer because of its supposed curse or if their actions define their outcomes.
This tension underscores the interplay between individual agency and the larger forces of history and circumstance.
How to Analyse ‘All the Light We Cannot See’ in 3 Steps
Often students will try to start with their thesis when trying to answer an essay question. Instead, start with your analysis! You need to equip yourself with the knowledge of your text before you can answer anything about it.
After you’ve analysed your text, you can draw ideas from it, then you can build your thesis!
We’re going to walk you through creating ‘All the Light We Cannot See’ analysis in three simple steps!
Step 1: Choose your example
The best way to choose an example is tofind a technique. Techniques are key to unlocking deeper meaning in a text, which you will need in your analysis.
When I was analysing texts in school, I found it helpful to start with quotes that stood out emotionally or visually and then look for techniques within them.
For this example, we’ve chosen two quotes to compare Werner with the state of Germany:
“He regularly appears in the kitchen with fresh milk for the babies.”
“The ever-quickening, ever-expanding machine that was Germany.”
Step 2: Identify your technique(s)
When trying to find a technique within your example, it’s not about finding the fanciest technique or just any old technique for that matter!
It’s about identifying a technique which will enable you to say something about your idea that’s interesting and can contribute to your argument and analysis.
Try to focus on finding examples with techniques which unveil a deeper meaning like metaphors, similes, figurative language, connotations, symbolism and recurring motifs. Other techniques like alliteration and repetition are a bit harder to find a deeper meaning in!
We have identified 3 techniques in the two quotes above: contrast, childlike image and metaphor.
It’s always great to try and find multiple techniques in your quotes as it allows you to take your analysis up a notch!
Need help identifying all the techniques in your quotes? Just ask Artie, our free AI English Tutor! Paste in any quote from your text and Artie will find you multiple techniques that you can use in your analysis:
Step 3: Write the analysis
When writing your analysis, always focus on the effect of the technique. Avoid “technique labelling,” which is just naming the technique without explaining its significance.
For example:
“The childlike image of Werner ‘appear[ing] in the kitchen with fresh milk for the babies’ in contrast with the metaphor: ‘The ever-quickening, ever-expanding machine that was Germany’ shows how Doerr depicts Werner as a victim.”
Instead, flesh out how each technique contributes to the point:
The childlike image is important because it shows Werner’s innocence.
The metaphor of the machine connotes the mechanical, dehumanised nature of society.
The contrast between the two highlights the vast difference between society and a single individual.
Bringing all of this together, the analysis would read:
Doerr introduces Werner as an orphan who “appears in the kitchen with fresh milk for the babies,” using childlike imagery to convey his innocence. This is contrasted with the metaphor of “The ever-quickening, ever-expanding machine that was Germany,” highlighting the difference between the humanity of Werner as an individual and the mechanical, dehumanising nature of the society that oppresses him.
How to Write an HSC Common Module: Texts and Human Experiences Essay for All the Light We Cannot See
In the space below, we will show you how to connect a number of the syllabus points in Texts and Human Experiences to assist with your analysis of ‘All the Light We Cannot See’. We have also included the Texts and Human Experiences Rubric to refresh your memory!
Link #1: Individual vs collective experiences
The contrast between collective and individual experiences is highlighted particularly through the character of Werner. In ‘All the Light We Cannot See’, Doerr demonstrates the difference between Werner’s individual experience as an orphan and the collective experience of the dehumanisation and brutality of Germany.
Doerr emphasises that individuals are separate from the societies and systems which they live within. Despite the fact Werner operates within a cruel and oppressive state, he is a complex individual, a victim of Germany as much as their military enemies are.
In doing so, Doerr challenges our assumptions about Nazis in World War II, which is another important rubric point in the common module.
Link #2: Anomalies, paradoxes and inconsistencies in human behaviour
‘All the Light We Cannot See’ is full of paradoxical and inconsistent characters. Werner fights for the Nazis in WWII, but as we’ve previously discussed, was also a victim of the German state. His cruel actions as a Nazi are inconsistent with his values and his moral compass.
Uncle Etienne is also an inconsistent character as he initially fails to act in accordance to his convictions due to his trauma from World War I. When Etienne overcomes his fears and joins the French resistance, he becomes an anomaly — a human which transcends what is expected of them. Can you think of any other characters who are inconsistent, paradoxical or an anomaly?
Link #3: The role of storytelling throughout time
Doerr expresses the power of storytelling through the motif of the Sea of Flames. Surrounding the Sea of Flames is a legend that whoever possesses the stone will have immortality but bring misfortune to those surrounding them.
This legend shapes many characters’ actions. von Rumpel dedicates his life to acquiring the stone, committing various cruel acts to attain it.
This shows us that regardless of whether a story is true or not, stories are able to shape humans and their motivations. Can you think of any other examples of how the stone shaped individual or collective actions?
Studying this text for VCE Unit 3 – Area of Study 1: Reading and Creating Texts
If you are studying this text as a part of VCE unit 3, Area of Study 1: Reading and Creating Texts, there are a few more things to keep in mind!
One of the important aspects of this Area of Study is having your own interpretation of the text. This means that you can’t just state what is obvious about the text, instead, you need to make an argument. To have an interpretation of the text, you need to make an argument about something in the text which is not blatantly obvious.
For example, saying “All the Light We Cannot See is about the pain and suffering humans experience during war” is not a strong interpretation, because that’s obvious! Everyone can see that from reading the plot synopsis. Instead, try to make your interpretations something you have to dig a little deeper in the text to find.
For example, we have argued:
“Anthony Doerr breaks down the dichotomy of victims and perpetrators in WWII, suggesting that we are all humans, similarly victimised by the system of war.”
This is a strong interpretation because it took reading into numerous quotes, subtextual signs and symbols to develop it.
If you are studying this text to help you write a piece of creative writing, an interpretation will be helpful in allowing you to build your own unique response to the text.
For example, since our interpretation says the text breaks the dichotomy of victims and perpetrators, we might have a short story that focuses on a character we expect to be a victim, but who is actually a perpetrator.
Looking for extra help with your All The Light We Cannot See analysis?
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Brooklyn Arnot has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English Literature with Honours at the University of Sydney. She scored an HD average and has even received the Dean’s award for excellence! Brooklyn teaches our English classes at Art of Smart and has over 5 years of experience supporting Year 11 and 12 students throughout their HSC. She’s also a new Syllabus expert and studied 4U English in high school.
Christina Ugov is currently completing a double degree in International and Global Studies and Theatre and Performance at the University of Sydney. Outside of her studies, she enjoys exploring creative writing projects, analysing literature and playing with her cat. She spends her spare time reading, listening to music and drinking lots of tea.
