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Chapter Twenty-Two
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 and Nehanda ride through Lagos to welcome Iyika defectors. The streets are clear now, and villagers line up to receive food from the ration carts. Nehanda assures Inan that he can still change his mind as they stop in front of what used to be divîner shacks. Nehanda admits ferociously and proudly that she destroyed them. She explains that she can absorb power and because of this, they’re blessed and powerful enough to annihilate the maji. Inan realizes that what Nehanda talks about doing is conducting another Raid. With a sigh, Inan tells Nehanda that they have to try to make peace with the maji. Both Jokôye and Ojore mutter their disapproval as Nehanda draws from her tîtáns and carves a hole in Lagos’s wall.
The way that Nehanda talks here—specifically her pride at destroying the former divîner shacks—suggests that while she may be outwardly supporting Inan, she, like Zélie, believes that the only way forward is violence. Because this is the way she’s been taught to think about problems with the maji, what she would like to do most is conduct a second round of the Raid. Such violence, in her mind, is only necessary in such a situation.
Themes
Seven Iyika members stand at the top of the hill. Inan calls to Raifa and the two step toward each other. Both extend their hands, but Inan catches sight of sparks on Raifa’s hand. Soldiers drag Inan back and throw majacite bombs. When Inan stands up again, six Iyika are burned beyond recognition. He trembles, realizing that Ojore was right: the Iyika don’t want peace; they want victory at any cost. Ojore realizes that Raifa is missing and they spot her running through the ruins. She races toward the ration cart and sends embers flying toward it. The cart bursts into flames. Raifa screams that the Soldier of Death is coming as Ojore stabs her. Inan thinks that he underestimated Zélie’s resources and shouts that he’ll fix this.
This is a heartbreaking moment for Inan, as he finally sees that the Iyika are willing to play the same way they interpret him as playing: violently, and with many tricks. This begins to transform Inan from an idealistic and naïve young king into a king who understands that violence, self-interest, and suspicion are the only things he can rely on—which would turn him into a ruler much like Saran. In this moment, Inan also realizes that he can’t count on his former love with Zélie to help things at all.
Themes
