While Theo is only a boy when his story begins, he experiences a sudden transition to adulthood. The three most important aspects of The Goldfinch: Throughout the book, Tartt explores the tension between adolescence and maturity. Major Thematic Topics: Forced maturity the value of art love the definition of family self-awareness Main Characters: Theodore “Theo” Decker Boris Pavlikovsky James “Hobie” Hobart Settings: New York City Las Vegas Amsterdam Throughout Theo’s adventures, the novel explores the meaning and purpose of art as well as love, friendship, and the pain of loss.
However, his tremendous vulnerability creates an opportunity for him to become incredibly strong, and all of the action culminates in a final shootout and forced exile in Amsterdam, followed by Theo’s temporary return to New York City before he sets out to travel the world. As Theo matures, his mother’s absence and the presence of the painting prompt him to make extreme choices-even to the point of risking his life and safety. Disoriented during the attack, he takes the masterpiece The Goldfinch this, along with the death of his mother, becomes the catalyst for a decade of adventure, sorrow, mystery, and redemption for Theo. Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch is a complex story about Theodore “Theo” Decker, a young boy who suffers the loss of his mother in a terrorist attack at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
