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Chapter Twelve
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
Zélie is angry to see that Tzain gave Amari his cloak to use as a blanket. The trio decides to head to Sokoto, a town on the way to Chândomblé, but they need something they can trade for food. When Zélie suggests that they trade Amari’s dress for food, Amari is reluctant. Zélie is furious with Amari’s privileged attitude, and Amari agrees to give up her dress.
Zélie’s desire to protect her family has now surpassed any charity she felt towards Amari before she knew her identity, and is angered to see that the same is not true of Tzain. The clear privilege and wealth Amari possesses exacerbate Zélie’s anger. It is unjust that the royals have lived in luxury while their people suffer. Amari’s reluctance to give up her dress, which is representative of her plush life, only reinforces that injustice.
Themes
As Amari is changing, Tzain and Zélie catch a glimpse of a huge, ragged scar running down her back. Embarrassed, Amari says that it is from an accident with her brother when they were young. Zélie is chastened, imagining what other scars Amari might bear.
When they arrive at the lakeside town of Sokoto, Amari and Zélie split off to trade the dress. As they walk, Amari asks if Zélie’s mother died in the raid. Zélie says yes. Amari begins to apologize, saying she understands why Zélie hates her father, King Saran, and, by extension, her. Zélie feels herself softening towards Amari, but fights it.
Amari’s loyalty to her family does not keep her from recognizing of the intense pain that her father has caused. Understandably, Zélie is wary to put aside her beliefs about Amari.
Themes
Zélie asks Amari about her scar. Amari reveals that Saran forced her and Inan to fight with real swords to make them stronger, because his first family was “coddled,” and died as a result. Zélie can’t understand how Amari can still be loyal to a family that has inflicted so much pain on her.
Saran was obsessed with the idea that he could protect his family from harm by forcing them to harm each other. It was an act of violence motivated by fear that left Amari broken and afraid. For Zélie, there can be no justification or forgiveness for such behavior, even if it’s ultimately intended to protect the family.
Themes
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Zélie and Amari enter the tent of an elderly kosidán to trade the dress. They can get a decent amount of supplies and new clothes for the dress, but they worry it won’t be enough for the whole journey. Amari pulls out the headdress Binta once gave her and offers it. Zélie, seeing her sadness, feels a wave of empathy and tells Amari not to give up the treasured possession that reminds her of her lost loved one, but Amari insists. With the money, they are able to buy more than enough supplies. Amari also takes a collapsible sword. Zélie is shocked and intrigued to see that the princess knows how to fight.
Amari willingly parts with the trappings of her former life in order to aid Zélie and her cause, which Amari believes is the right thing to do. Zélie has great respect for those who can fight. Because she did not respect Amari, Zélie assumed Amari was physically weak. To the contrary, she seems to be adept with a sword, which earns her some grudging respect from Zélie.
Themes
