Theme

In the novel Anna and the French Kiss the author Stephanie Perkins manages to develop a series of themes in the book. Themes such as friendship, growing up and the most important one that is used through most of the book, love. The theme growing up is first introduced in the novel when Anna is left at the boarding school alone in Paris by her parents. At that point she had to be on her own as she didn’t know anybody and everything was unfamiliar. Anna had to learn how to be responsible in a city where drinking was legal at age 17. Growing up isn’t an option for Anna when she is in total control of her life. Anna is also faced with growing up when she falls in love with St. Clair and has to face all the obstacles that get in between her and him. Along with that comes his mother’s cancer, she has to be able to comfort St. Clair and his depression. When Anna is exposed to all these problems she is not torn down, on the other hand she is made stronger and is willing to fight for the love of her life. Not caring about her parents say or St. Clair’s strict father. The theme friendship is also introduced in the first chapters of the book when Meredith offers her friendship to Anna a complete stranger. Who through out the book and at the end ends up stealing her secret crush and friend away from Meredith. At this point Anna is in between a dilemma where she has to put in balance Meredith’s friendship or St. Clair’s love. Another point where the theme friendship comes into a role is when Anna has to decide whether she should give herself a chance with St. Clair risking their friendship or just staying friends with him. Theme love is most definitely the theme that is the most developed in this novel. Right before Anna left Atlanta to go to Paris she left a love back at home, Christopher. During her first weeks at Paris Anna did her best to keep that relationship alive, however she failed to do this and her best friend Bridget took that chance; which is once again when friendship comes up as a theme. Another struggle with love is when Anna falls in love with her best friend, St. Clair. Anna faces and truly experiences what love is, and this is the part of the book that is most captivating. Her expressing her love toward St. Clair, his hair, flaws, sense of humor, knitted hat, and friendship. This is how Stephanie Perkins develops these three themes in the novel and is able to tie them together and cause the impact that the books leaves after reading it.