What is the meaning of the title?

[benjaminconnor]

How does the title of All the Light We Cannot See relate to the story itself? Why do you think the author chose this title? What do you think that phrase could mean to Werner and Marie-Laure?

[eliasrust]

I think that the title relates to Maurie-Laure's blindness, and how she can't see or feel any of the little details. She is very capable of living her life and noticing details, etc. But she still is not able to see everything she wishes she could. She's missing a lot, whether that is a bad or good thing, no one knows. But she will never have the same experience to see through traumatic moments as many other people, just as other people will not have the experience of not being able to see. The title relates to Maurie-Laure and Werner because until she met Werner, she thought of all German soldiers as ruthless, horrible people as many others did. But after meeting Werner, she realized that those stereotypes aren't true at all.

[isabelleansberry]

I agree that the title relates to Marie-Laure's blindness, but I think the meaning goes deeper than that. I think the words "All the Light" have to do with the goodness and purity in many of the people in the story, such as Marie-Laure or Frederick. The entirity of the title, "All the Light We Cannot See" shows how the times during the story were terrible, with people suffering everywhere. But there was still morality in some people's hearts that were sometimes overlooked due to the awful circumstances created by the war and the German soldiers.

[Hibah]

I agree with this because on page 229 it says, " Again Fredrick sloshes it onto the ice at his feet. He says in a small voice, '" He is already finished, sir." " This was when they brought the prisoner in to throw water on him. Fredrick saw this as cruel so he did not do it. Light generally refers to positive things like kindness. This explains the "All The Light part; for the kind characters. For the " We Cannot See" part it is for the characters who are mentally blinded from the kindness of others and cannot do any kindness themselves.

[janepearson]

I believe the title, "All The Light We Cannot See" means that beyond Marie-Laure's vision is a world free of preconceived notions. Since Marie-Laure cannot see, she is only aware of what she is told. She was taught that all Germans were barbaric and that none deserve a chance, this was until she met Werner. Werner was the widening of her perspective that brought the "light" she was not able to see before.

[claireaspeitia]

I agree with Jane, Hibah, and Isabelle, that the light in Marie and Werners world was overpowered by the darkness, meaning it was not easy to recognize any kindness or morality. I also think that the seeing people were blind to the small, good things in the world, while Marie (although literally bieng blind), could see the good things and not take them for granted. An example of a seeing person being awakend to the light, would be when Werner saw the little girl playing on the playground.

[Emma Kaer]

I think that the title of the book relates to the book as a whole. It relates to Marie because she's blind, she literally cannot see any light. It relates to the book as a whole, not only because at this point in time there's little hope all around, but because both main characters can't see the light around them. There's no hope, there's just survival, they aren't living for a singular purpose they're just trying to get through.

[hannahnegri]

I believe the author chose the title because Marie-Laure lives her life in physical darkness, where she is unable to see, while Werner lives his life in a figurative darkness. He loses sight of the light, or his purpose, and essentially becomes a Hitler youth sell out. In the end Werner becomes aware of his purpose, but his death sends other characters away from theirs. Everyone in the book at one point is unable to see the "light".

[Kaylee Buntyn]

I do agree that the title does refer to Marie-Laure's blindness as a physical aspect but i also believe it is a metaphor for the goodness and hope that people still had during this time. The "Light' or good had to be hidden away so that it could not be tainted by all the darkness. I think the author chose this title to represent Marie and her struggle with surviving with no sight but also to show the struggle of hope. The Phrase is probably a sign of the future of what one day you could "see" such as goodness and light once again in their dark world of World War II.