Secrets

In the novel a major theme is secrecy. Lisbeth herself is one big secret. Her past is revealed to an extent, readers get a sense of the pain that she has gone through. Salander has built concrete walls to avoid any persons entering into her world. Blomkvist acknowledges her damages, but is aware that she won't repeat what her past holds, even though it is obvious that her past screams out through her personality, style, and attitude. The Secrets that are held within the Vanger family are monumental. Blomkvist comes face to face with this concept later in the novel. By finding out the hard way of the Vanger secrets, Mikael seeks rescue from Lisbeth, a coincidental occurrence since she has tried to seek rescue throughout her life. Harriet herself is probably the largest secret in the novel. Harriet's uncle has not been able to get over her disappearance for the thirty years. At the end of the novel it is revealed that Harriet is alive and ran away to avoid her brother Martin. Which leads to another secret, Martin Vanger, whom is a violent killer and rapist. The last secret I will conclude with is the secrets of Blomkvist's investigation on Hans-Erik Wennerstrom. As Blomkvist tries to exploit Hans-Erik he is set up and his articles back fire on him. But as the novel comes to the end, we find out that he, Hans-Erik is indeed guilty and is brought to justice.