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Chapter Fifty-Eight
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Children of Blood and Bone, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Prejudice and Inequality
Duty to Family vs. Self
Faith and Tradition
Cycles of Violence
Summary
Analysis
Inan tells Zélie she should move to Lagos with him, and she bristles. He says that when she brings back magic, it will ignite a war—like the Raid happening over and over again. Magic, Zélie knows, will not bring peace—just a chance to fight back.
Both Zélie and Inan no longer think that bringing magic will bring peace. They both know that it will continue the cycle of violence. However, while Inan thinks that there will just be endless, needless war, Zélie thinks that it will bring righteous violence, allowing the maji to fight back against the injustice of the monarchy and defend their people.
Themes
Inan thinks they can convince King Saran to give up his fear and violence toward the maji. He thinks they can unify Orïsha. Zélie is hopeful for a moment—but then she thinks, again, that magic is too dangerous. But Inan presents a compelling vision of peace, with maji working together to rebuild Orïsha. She wants to believe him, and they kiss.
Inan knows that fear drives prejudice, and, in turn, violence. He believes that by removing this fear, he and Zélie can also remove the evils that result from it. He also believes magic can be used for good, rather than simply for violence, which is a sharp contrast from his earlier understanding of magic and the maji.
Themes
