Previous
Chapter Eighty-Four
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Children of Virtue and Vengeance, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Power and Systems of Oppression
Cycles of Violence
Tradition and History
Love vs. Duty
Summary
Analysis
Inan stares at his reflection in Saran’s mirror, sure that he’s doing the right thing. Nehanda knocks and lets herself in, dressed in gold and already flushed from the wine at the celebration. She asks if Inan has finally come to his senses, and Inan says he has. Pleased, Nehanda hugs Inan, says that all their enemies will be gone by dawn, and fills flutes with wine. She toasts to the kingdom and drinks half her flute before taking issue with Inan’s clothing choices. Inan says his clothes don’t matter: he’s dissolving the monarchy tonight. Nehanda is shocked, but Inan says that magic isn’t the problem—the monarchy is. He insists that Amari’s actions in Ibadan prove that the throne corrupts even pure hearts. Nehanda turns to go, but she collapses and slurs her words. Inan reveals that he sedated her, carries her to bed, and leaves the room.
This is a major moment for Inan, as this is the only time in the entire novel that he actually takes matters into his own hands and goes against Nehanda’s wishes. By doing this, Inan becomes the only monarch who truly figures out how to thwart the horrific messaging he’s gotten all his life. Importantly, dissolving the monarchy altogether doesn’t represent a win, and it isn’t ruthless. It means that Inan and the nobles are choosing to take a loss, but they’re doing so for the greater good—and hopefully, this loss will lead to greater prosperity, and less bloodshed, for everyone.
Themes
