The Time Traveler's Wife explores determinism (the idea that your life is already pre-determined) versus free will (the idea that your choices can influence and alter your future). Although time traveler Henry knows his future, he tries to live as though he doesn't know what life is bringing. It's because he believes that knowing your future makes you feel miserable and trapped, because you can't change your future, which makes your life feel meaningless. Clare feels torn between embracing and rejecting the determinism of her life. On the one hand, she enjoys the security of knowing she'll be with Henry, and on the other hand, she rebels against Henry's predictions of the future when it comes to her dream of having a baby.