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Chapter 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
As they disembark, Zélie notices that the people of Zaria, maji, kosidán, and tîtáns included, just stare. Zélie assures Amari that the gods chose her for this, but thinks that also means the gods chose Zélie’s suffering. Zélie thinks that it’ll be all right once Amari is queen. Roën interrupts and reminds Amari to pay him once she’s queen, and Zélie boosts Amari onto Nailah so she looks the part. Walking through the crowd, Amari looks magical. Roën quietly reminds Zélie to stay alert as Harun intercepts a guard. He explains that plenty of people want Amari dead. Zélie notices that the maji still cower at the back of the crowd, except for a young maji boy who looks at Zélie in awe. The group enters the dome.
Putting Amari on the throne is the only way for Zélie to make up for all the pain she’s suffered throughout her life, as Amari ruling Orïsha would represent a future that’s open to treating maji as valued citizens. Roën’s comments about the people who want Amari dead make it clear that taking the throne won’t be a simple prospect; not everyone is on Amari’s side—especially since she’s aligned with the maji, a group that everyone in Orïsha has been taught to hate and fear.
Themes
