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Chapter 34: Roxy
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Power, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Power and Violence
Corruption
Gender Reversals and Sexism
Stories, History, and Perspective
Religion and Manipulation
Revolution and Social Change
Summary
Analysis
In the south, Jocelyn pulls her jeep up to a concealed exit. In the north, Tunde and Roxy wake to hear a pounding storm on the roof of their shelter. And in the west, Eve looks out at the gathering storm and asks if it’s time. And “her own self says, Well, duh.”
The fact that Alderman replaces “the voice” with the words “her own self”—meaning Eve’s own self—gives yet another possibility on what the voice might be, and how Eve may have been crafting a self-deception in order to gain power all along.
Themes
Allie hears that an atrocity has been reported in the north: “Tatiana’s own forces, mad with power.” The voice tells Allie that she is meant for greater things, and that she can command respect from women everywhere. Allie tells the voice that the world is trying to go back to the old ways: “there are still men with money and influence who can shape things to their will.” She wonders how to stop this. The voice repeats, “You can’t get there from here. You’ll have to start again.”
It is in this moment that Alderman starts to clarify the meaning of the recurring phrase “You can’t get there from here.” This mantra that the voice repeats suggests that it is impossible for women to create a world in which they can remain in power without first creating a world in which women have always been in power. This requires not only a revolution, but a complete rebuilding of society—which Allie makes her new priority.
Themes
Late at night, Tatiana sits at her desk, writing orders for her army. Eve places a hand on Tatiana’s neck, calming her brain, but also secretly controlling her muscles. Tatiana’s hand grabs the letter opener lying on the pile of papers. Allie feels Tatiana’s muscles trying to resist, but she retains command over them. And in a swift movement, Tatiana slashes her own throat with the letter opener.
With Eve’s murder of Tatiana, she demonstrates quite clearly that she is not interested in pursuing a more just or peaceful world for all people. She simply wants women to retain power over men, and she will use whatever she can, including her religious status and power of manipulation, in order to achieve this goal.
Themes
