A Court of Thorns and Roses
Chapter 37
by Maas, Sarah J.The chapter opens with the protagonist suffering from a severe arm injury in her dungeon cell, left untreated and in excruciating pain. The wound continues to bleed, raising fears of infection, while the filthy conditions and rotten food exacerbate her deteriorating state. Feverish and weak, she struggles to stay alert, her body and mind overwhelmed by the agony and isolation. The dire circumstances highlight her vulnerability and the brutal neglect she endures in captivity.
Her suffering intensifies as hallucinations and fever distort her perception, making it hard to distinguish reality. The arrival of Rhysand, who materializes from the shadows, adds to her distress. He mocks her condition, taunting her about Tamlin’s inability to help and her status as a failed champion. Despite her defiance, her physical weakness is evident, and Rhysand’s presence introduces a new layer of psychological torment as he probes her injuries and mental state.
Rhysand offers a sinister bargain: he will heal her arm in exchange for her spending two weeks each month with him at the Night Court. The protagonist refuses, distrusting his motives and unwilling to make another dangerous deal. Rhysand, however, manipulates her further by revealing Lucien’s punishment—twenty lashes—and implying that no one else will come to her aid. His words plant seeds of doubt, forcing her to weigh her options while her body and spirit falter.
The chapter culminates in a tense standoff, with Rhysand presenting her with a grim choice: accept his help or risk death and doom Tamlin’s fate. Her refusal stems from pride and distrust, but the escalating stakes—her life, Tamlin’s freedom, and Lucien’s suffering—leave her trapped between desperation and defiance. The encounter underscores the cruel power dynamics of the faerie world and the protagonist’s resilience amid overwhelming adversity.
FAQs
1. What physical and psychological struggles is Feyre experiencing in her cell, and how do they demonstrate her deteriorating condition?
Answer:
Feyre is suffering from severe physical and psychological distress in her cell. Her arm wound, which contains embedded bone fragments, causes excruciating pain and continuous bleeding, raising fears of infection. She experiences fever, nausea, dehydration, and difficulty breathing (“Each of my breaths was like swallowing broken glass”). Psychologically, she battles panic about her worsening condition and isolation, compounded by the filth of her surroundings. The chapter vividly portrays her decline through sensory details—the stench of vomit, the freezing dungeon, and her mud-caked body. Her delirium (“Everything was spinning”) and inability to focus (“I had to close my eyes to brace against the flow of that poisoned lightning”) underscore her critical state.2. Analyze Rhysand’s negotiation tactics during his interaction with Feyre. How does he leverage her vulnerabilities to propose his bargain?
Answer:
Rhysand employs psychological manipulation and strategic leverage to pressure Feyre into accepting his deal. He begins by mocking her weakness (“What a sorry state for Tamlin’s champion”) to establish dominance, then feigns concern by touching her fevered brow. He highlights her isolation, noting Tamlin’s inability to help and Lucien’s punishment (20 lashes), to eliminate hope of external rescue. His offer—healing her arm in exchange for two weeks monthly at the Night Court—is framed as her only viable option, contrasting it with the “fool’s” choice of trusting chance. By emphasizing the immediacy of her mortal danger and downplaying the long-term consequences of his terms, he exploits her physical agony and desperation to force compliance.3. How does the chapter illustrate the theme of power imbalances in Fae bargains, and what does Feyre’s resistance reveal about her character?
Answer:
The chapter exemplifies the predatory nature of Fae bargains, where power disparities are weaponized. Rhysand, as a High Fae, holds all the advantage: he is healthy, mobile, and politically secure, while Feyre is injured, feverish, and imprisoned. His offer appears generous but is inherently exploitative—he demands ownership of her time/body in exchange for basic survival. Feyre’s repeated refusals (“No”; “Get out”) despite her agony reveal her resilience and distrust of Fae deals, shaped by her prior “fool’s bargain” (likely referencing the Treaty in earlier chapters). Her defiance, even when delirious, underscores her prioritization of long-term autonomy over short-term relief, though Rhysand’s manipulation of her mortality (via infection risk) heightens the tension.4. Contrast Rhysand’s demeanor in this chapter with his earlier appearances in the novel. What might his shifting behavior suggest about his motives?
Answer:
Unlike his previous aloof or overtly antagonistic roles, Rhysand here displays a calculated mix of cruelty and false benevolence. While he still mocks Feyre (“Such words from a lady”), his actions—inspecting her wound, proposing a “trade”—show active engagement rather than detached amusement. His revelation about Lucien’s punishment serves dual purposes: it undermines Feyre’s hope while subtly exposing Amarantha’s brutality and Tamlin’s powerlessness. This complexity suggests deeper motives beyond mere manipulation. His insistence on healing her (despite her refusal) and the specificity of his terms (two weeks monthly) hint at a larger plan, possibly to extract her from Amarantha’s control or exploit her connection to Tamlin.5. Evaluate the significance of Feyre’s internal mantra (“Not a fever. Not a fever”) in this chapter. How does this repetition reflect her psychological state?
Answer:
The mantra reveals Feyre’s struggle to maintain denial as a coping mechanism. By repeating “Not a fever,” she attempts to rationalize her worsening symptoms (burning skin, dizziness) as a “small cold” rather than face the truth: her wound is infected, and she is dying. This repetition mirrors her escalating panic—the more she denies it, the more the narrative contradicts her (“My head was light and heavy all at once”). The phrase also reflects her isolation; with no one to diagnose or comfort her, she becomes both patient and unreliable narrator. Ultimately, the mantra’s breakdown (as she admits “everything was spinning”) marks a turning point where her body’s betrayal overwhelms her mental resistance, leaving her vulnerable to Rhysand’s intervention.
Quotes
1. “No one, not even Lucien, came to fix my arm in the days following my victory. The pain overwhelmed me to the point of screaming whenever I prodded the embedded bit of bone, and I had no other option but to sit there, letting the wound gnaw on my strength, trying my best not to think about the constant throbbing that shot sparks of poisoned lightning through me.”
This opening passage establishes Feyre’s dire physical condition and isolation, showcasing her resilience while suffering from a severe untreated injury. The visceral description of pain sets the tone for the chapter’s themes of endurance and vulnerability.
2. “Rhysand cocked his head. His pale skin seemed to radiate alabaster light. I blinked away the haze, but couldn’t even turn aside my face as his cold fingers grazed my brow. ‘What would Tamlin say,’ he murmured, ‘if he knew his beloved was rotting away down here, burning up with fever? Not that he can even come here, not when his every move is watched.’”
This quote captures Rhysand’s enigmatic presence and the political tensions in the story. His taunting question reveals both Feyre’s deteriorating condition and the constraints on Tamlin, while demonstrating Rhysand’s characteristic blend of cruelty and concern.
3. “‘I’ll make a trade with you,’ he said casually, and gently set my arm down. As it met with the floor, I had to close my eyes to brace against the flow of that poisoned lightning. ‘I’ll heal your arm in exchange for you. For two weeks every month, two weeks of my choosing, you’ll live with me at the Night Court.’”
This pivotal moment introduces Rhysand’s bargain, a crucial plot development that will shape future events. The quote exemplifies the dangerous deals and power dynamics that characterize Feyre’s relationships with the fae, showing Rhysand’s manipulative yet potentially helpful nature.
4. “‘The second option—and the one only a fool would take—would be for you to refuse my offer and place your life, and thus Tamlin’s, in the hands of chance.’”
Rhysand’s ultimatum highlights the high stakes of Feyre’s decision, connecting her survival to Tamlin’s fate. This quote demonstrates the complex web of consequences in the faerie world, where personal choices have far-reaching political implications.