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Chapter Fifty-Two
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
The next day, the camp is abuzz with preparations for the celebration. The sight of so many happy divîners fills Zélie with joy.
Zélie sees that the community of divîners are able to celebrate their traditions and support one another. It is one of the first times she has seen how the traditions and kinship of the divîners can bring joy rather than pain.
Themes
A stranger bumps into Zélie. He is clearly a foreigner, the first Zélie has ever met, and she is delighted and curious. Flirting, he tells her she’s beautiful. His name is Roën. As Roën slips away, Inan stops him and tells him to return Zélie’s compacted staff, which he pickpocketed when they bumped into each other. Zélie shudders to think of losing the staff, her only connection to home.
Zélie’s staff is important to her because it reminds her of her commitment to protect her family. The thought of losing that connection is painful. Meanwhile, Roën’s pickpocketing suggests that not all divîners in the camp have pure intentions.
Themes
Zélie offers to help Inan learn how to control his magic, which he is still suppressing. Sitting by the river, Zélie asks Inan about his magic. She tells him that the gods are always there, even in the darkest times, and it’s fine to appeal to them for help and guidance. Suddenly, they are both in Inan’s dreamscape—for the first time, not as enemies.
Zélie encourages Inan to allow himself to be himself and stop ignoring his magic because of his father. It is important for him to explore his identity, rather than suppressing it out of fear of his father. Zélie also explains the way that faith—both in gods and magic—can provide a sense of comfort and community, even when things seem hopeless. Zélie herself demonstrated that turning towards these beliefs will help Inan connect with others who can support him,
Themes
