Gods & Monsters
Coco’s Flame
by Mahurin, ShelbyReid and Coco sit in a cemetery beneath a statue of Saint Magdaleine, enveloped in a heavy silence. Coco, visibly drained and emotionally numb, absently rubs a scar on her palm while Reid observes her with concern. Their conversation begins haltingly, touching on Lou’s recent behavior and the group’s shared hunger, but quickly shifts to deeper tensions. Coco’s blunt question about Lou’s potential pregnancy reveals her fear of added complications, while Reid’s awkward attempts to offer comfort highlight the strained dynamic between them. The weight of recent events hangs heavily in the air, unspoken but palpable.
The tension escalates as Reid tries to bridge the gap between them, invoking their shared grief over Ansel’s death. Coco bristles at his comparison of Ansel to the Archbishop, whom she views as irredeemable. Her anger flares, masking her pain, as she accuses Reid of condescension and pity. Despite her outburst, her vulnerability surfaces when she admits her guilt over Ansel’s death and her inability to love him as he loved her. Reid, though stung by her words, remains steadfast, insisting their friendship is real and that she shouldn’t blame herself.
Their confrontation is interrupted by the ominous sight of smoke darkening the sky, a reminder of the black fire still ravaging Cesarine. Coco’s grief has manifested in this unnatural blaze, which continues to spread despite their distance from the capital. Reid recalls La Voisin’s warning that the fire burns with Coco’s sorrow, and he realizes the extent of the devastation—including the fate of their trapped friends. The smoke becomes a symbol of Coco’s unchecked guilt and the far-reaching consequences of her pain.
As Coco collapses under the weight of her remorse, Reid reiterates that the tragedy isn’t her fault. She counters, blaming herself for the fire ignited by her tears and the lives lost because of it. Reid’s thoughts turn to Madame Labelle and others still suffering, fueling his anger at the king’s cruelty. The chapter ends with Coco and Reid united in their grief and rage, staring at the smoke-filled sky, bound by shared loss and the unresolved fire that mirrors their inner turmoil.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the black fire in this chapter, and how does it relate to Coco’s emotional state?
Answer:
The black fire represents Coco’s overwhelming grief and guilt over Ansel’s death and the destruction in Cesarine. The text describes it as “unnatural and unending,” mirroring the depth of her pain. Her tears literally started the fire, which continues to rage uncontrollably across the kingdom, showing how her internal turmoil manifests externally. La Voisin’s warning that “the fire rages with her grief” directly connects Coco’s emotional state to the physical devastation, suggesting the fire won’t stop until she processes her grief.2. Analyze the complex relationship dynamics between Reid and Coco in this scene. How does their interaction reveal their shared grief and differing coping mechanisms?
Answer:
Reid and Coco share a bond through mutual loss (Ansel and the Archbishop) but handle grief differently. Reid attempts to connect by offering to talk, referencing how discussing the Archbishop helped him, while Coco initially rejects this with “We aren’t friends.” Their exchange escalates as Coco lashes out at Reid’s perceived pity, revealing her guilt over not reciprocating Ansel’s romantic love. Ultimately, Reid persists in offering support, showing their friendship exists beneath the tension. The scene contrasts Reid’s verbal processing with Coco’s internalized pain, which manifests physically through her chafed scar and the symbolic fire.3. How does the author use religious and gothic imagery to enhance the mood of this chapter?
Answer:
The chapter opens with a weatherworn statue of Saint Magdaleine in a cemetery, immediately establishing a somber, gothic tone. The “bronze face shadowed in gray twilight” and references to the Doleur (a place of sorrow) create a melancholic atmosphere. Religious elements like the Archbishop and Saint Magdaleine contrast with unnatural phenomena like the hellish black fire, blending sacred and profane imagery. This juxtaposition heightens the sense of despair and moral complexity surrounding the characters’ actions and grief.4. What internal conflict does Coco express regarding Ansel’s death, and how does this impact her character development?
Answer:
Coco struggles with guilt over not loving Ansel romantically despite his feelings for her, crying, “Just because I didn’t love him the same way doesn’t mean I loved him any less.” This reveals her internalized shame about the nature of their relationship. Her subsequent breakdown (“They’re all dead because of me”) shows she blames herself for both Ansel’s death and the black fire’s casualties. This conflict marks a turning point where her typically fiery demeanor collapses into vulnerability, suggesting deeper emotional growth as she confronts loss and responsibility.5. How does the chapter use physical sensations and bodily reactions to convey the characters’ psychological states?
Answer:
Physical details vividly express emotional states: Reid’s stomach contracts inexplicably during Lou’s meat consumption, hinting at subconscious unease. Coco compulsively rubs a scar until it chafes, displaying nervous tension. Her tear sizzling in snow visually represents her burning grief. Reid’s “neck hot. Eyes burning” mirrors Coco’s fiery pain during their confrontation. These somatic details externalize internal turmoil, with Coco’s fire being the ultimate manifestation - a physical extension of her psyche ravaging the landscape just as grief ravages her.
Quotes
1. “‘We aren’t friends.’ / ‘Yes, we are.’”
This tense exchange between Reid and Coco captures the complex, reluctant bond forged through shared grief. Their denial and insistence reveal the painful intimacy of mourning together despite their differences.
2. “‘I know it’s not my fault. Ansel loved me, and—and just because I didn’t love him the same way doesn’t mean I loved him any less.’”
Coco’s raw defense exposes the guilt of unreciprocated love amid loss. This pivotal moment confronts the hierarchies of grief and the validity of different forms of love.
3. “‘My tears started the fire.’ / ‘They’re all dead because of me.’”
These lines reveal the supernatural manifestation of Coco’s grief—her literal tears igniting an unstoppable blaze. The metaphor powerfully connects emotional devastation to physical destruction.
4. “‘The fire rages with her grief. It will not stop until she does.’”
La Voisin’s prophetic warning underscores the chapter’s central theme: Coco’s inner turmoil has apocalyptic external consequences. The quote positions her emotional journey as a matter of life and death for the kingdom.
5. “It was Coco’s fire. / A fire with smoke to envelop an entire kingdom.”
This climactic description crystallizes the chapter’s stakes—one woman’s personal anguish has become a national catastrophe. The imagery emphasizes how unchecked grief consumes everything in its path.