Love

Love is a primary theme of the novel. The novel explores the idea of love by imagining what would happen if love were outlawed and destroyed by society. In Lena's world, everyone goes through a procedure to stop them from loving. Though romantic love is a large part of the novel, the procedure also stops the love for friends, the love for family, the love of creating, and the love of doing. Lena loses her sister Rachel's love when Rachel has the procedure. She is no longer capable of loving. Similarly, Lena's Aunt Carol can't love her. Carol can't give Lena support or help. She can't empathize and understand Lena's emotions. Even with her family, Lena is alone.

Lena knows that when she and Hana get the operation, they will lose their friendship and the love between them as friends. Hana will no longer have feelings for Lena...