Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass Book 2)
Chapter 21
by J, Maas, SarahIn Chapter 21, the narrative delves into the haunting past of Celaena and the emotional scars that shape her current identity. Chaol reflects on her traumatic childhood, recalling her scream during a duel with Cain, where she revealed she was only eight years old when she witnessed her parents’ brutal murder. This revelation underscores the depth of her pain and the darkness she has endured. The chapter explores the upheaval in Terrasen a decade earlier, highlighting the violence inflicted upon those who opposed Adarlan’s forces. Chaol’s concern grows as he seeks to understand the extent of Celaena’s suffering and the secrets she keeps hidden from her friends.
Nehemia offers subtle insights into Celaena’s history, indicating that she knows more than she admits about her friend’s past. Their conversation hints at deeper secrets and dangers, especially regarding the threat to the princess’s life and the King’s awareness of her vulnerabilities. Nehemia’s guarded tone and the mysterious symbols in her book suggest that she possesses knowledge that could jeopardize her position if revealed. Chaol’s frustration mounts over his lack of information, emphasizing the political intrigue and the danger lurking in the shadows. The chapter underscores the tension between trust and secrecy, revealing the complex web of alliances and threats surrounding the characters.
Meanwhile, Celaena’s inner world is portrayed through her solitary morning walk in the misty forest, symbolizing her attempt to find peace amid chaos. Her memories of her time in Endovier, marked by brutal violence and rage, surface vividly as she reflects on her past actions. Her fierce determination is evident in her recollections of her fight for survival and her relentless quest for vengeance. The narrative emphasizes her transformation from a victim into a formidable assassin, driven by a desire for justice and retribution. The forest setting mirrors her internal struggle, highlighting her need for solitude and clarity before confronting her enemies.
The chapter culminates with a detailed account of Celaena’s violent uprising within the mines of Endovier. Her rage erupts as she kills her overseers and guards with calculated brutality, symbolizing her reclaiming agency through violence. Her actions are fueled by the memories of her suffering and the atrocities committed against her and others. This act of rebellion demonstrates her capacity for destruction and her refusal to be passive. The vivid descriptions of her combat reflect her mastery and the depth of her resolve to confront her past and forge her future, emphasizing her complex nature as both victim and avenger.
FAQs
1. Question 1
What significant revelations about Celaena’s past are uncovered in Chapter 21, and how do these details deepen our understanding of her character?
Answer:
In Chapter 21, it is revealed that Celaena was only eight years old when she witnessed her parents’ murder during the upheaval in Terrasen, with her screaming at the duel with Cain and being covered in her parents’ blood. This traumatic event, occurring ten years prior, exposes her early exposure to violence and loss. These details deepen our understanding of her character by illustrating the profound pain and trauma that have shaped her, explaining her capacity for brutality, her hardened exterior, and her internal struggles. It also highlights her resilience, as she survived such horrors and continues to fight, carrying the weight of her past with her.2. Question 2
How does Nehemia’s response to Chaol’s questions about Celaena’s past reflect her understanding of her friend’s secrets, and what does this suggest about their relationship?
Answer:
Nehemia’s response that “Some things you hear with your ears. Others, you hear with your heart” indicates her intuitive understanding of the importance of unspoken truths and her awareness of the depth of Celaena’s hidden pain. Her calculated stillness and guardedness suggest she knows more than she reveals and respects Celaena’s privacy. This exchange reflects a relationship built on mutual trust and understanding, where Nehemia recognizes the need to protect her friend’s secrets. It also hints at a deep bond, where Nehemia’s empathy allows her to sense Celaena’s inner struggles without full disclosure.3. Question 3
Describe Celaena’s mindset and emotional state during her walk in the forest, and explain how her memories from the previous year influence her actions.
Answer:
During her walk in the forest, Celaena is in a contemplative, somber state, seeking solitude and silence to reflect on her past. Her mention of “brutal clarity” and the description of her previous year’s actions reveal a sense of cold determination fueled by rage and pain. Her memories of unleashing her fury at Endovier, where she brutally fought her oppressors, influence her current mindset by reinforcing her identity as a fierce, vengeful survivor. These memories serve as a reminder of her capacity for violence and her desire for retribution, fueling her resolve to confront her enemies and her own inner darkness.4. Question 4
Analyze the significance of Celaena’s actions in the mines, particularly her decision to kill the overseers with an ax, and what this reveals about her character and her internal struggles.
Answer:
Celaena’s decision to kill the overseers with an ax, deliberately choosing a brutal method to make them understand “what Endovier felt like,” underscores her desire for justice and her refusal to be a passive victim. It reflects her fierce sense of vengeance and her willingness to embrace violence as a means of reclaiming power. This act also reveals her internal struggle: beneath her cold exterior lies a woman haunted by past trauma, who channels her pain into violent retribution. Her calculated brutality demonstrates her complex morality—she is neither purely good nor evil but driven by a need to confront and punish her oppressors.5. Question 5
Considering the chapter’s depiction of Celaena’s past and her current actions, how might her history influence her future decisions and relationships within the story?
Answer:
Celaena’s traumatic past, marked by early loss and violent revenge, shapes her as a fiercely independent, guarded, and sometimes ruthless individual. Her history of violence and survival likely makes her wary of trusting others and prone to acting decisively, especially when confronting injustice. Her past experiences may also influence her to seek vengeance or justice in her own way, potentially putting her at odds with allies or authority figures. Understanding her history allows readers to see her as a layered character who struggles with inner darkness but also possesses resilience and a desire for redemption—elements that will influence her future decisions and relationships as she navigates her complex world.
Quotes
1. “Some things you hear with your ears. Others, you hear with your heart.”
This quote highlights the subtlety of understanding and the importance of intuition and emotional perception over mere auditory information. It underscores a recurring theme of hidden truths and unspoken secrets in the chapter, particularly in relation to Nehemia’s guarded knowledge about Celaena’s past.
2. “She didn’t offer to free them, and they didn’t ask; they knew how useless it would be.”
This line reflects Celaena’s brutal reality in Endovier and her understanding that true freedom is elusive under her circumstances. It emphasizes her hardened attitude and the harsh environment that has shaped her worldview, marking a pivotal moment of her past trauma.
3. “She had marked their faces the day they’d dragged that young Eyllwe woman behind the building, marked every detail about them as they used her, then slit her throat from ear to ear.”
This powerful quote exemplifies Celaena’s transformation into a vengeful force and her unrelenting desire for justice. It illustrates her capacity for brutal retribution and the depths of her pain, which fuel her actions in the chapter.
4. “It was the cold, hopeless rage that had taken hold and shut everything down when she’d awoken from the dream of the stag and the ravine.”
This sentence captures the core of Celaena’s emotional state—her overwhelming anger and despair that have driven her beyond the point of human emotion, highlighting her internal struggle and the darkness she has embraced.
5. “That it was not the weapon in her hands but her eyes that made them stupid with panic, that cut deeper than any blade.”
This quote signifies the psychological power Celaena wields, using her presence and gaze as weapons. It reveals how her fearsome reputation and inner strength intimidate her enemies more effectively than physical weaponry, emphasizing her transformation into a lethal and intimidating figure.
Quotes
1. “Some things you hear with your ears. Others, you hear with your heart.”
This quote highlights the subtlety of understanding and the importance of intuition and emotional perception over mere auditory information. It underscores a recurring theme of hidden truths and unspoken secrets in the chapter, particularly in relation to Nehemia’s guarded knowledge about Celaena’s past.
2. “She didn’t offer to free them, and they didn’t ask; they knew how useless it would be.”
This line reflects Celaena’s brutal reality in Endovier and her understanding that true freedom is elusive under her circumstances. It emphasizes her hardened attitude and the harsh environment that has shaped her worldview, marking a pivotal moment of her past trauma.
3. “She had marked their faces the day they’d dragged that young Eyllwe woman behind the building, marked every detail about them as they used her, then slit her throat from ear to ear.”
This powerful quote exemplifies Celaena’s transformation into a vengeful force and her unrelenting desire for justice. It illustrates her capacity for brutal retribution and the depths of her pain, which fuel her actions in the chapter.
4. “It was the cold, hopeless rage that had taken hold and shut everything down when she’d awoken from the dream of the stag and the ravine.”
This sentence captures the core of Celaena’s emotional state
— her overwhelming anger and despair that have driven her beyond the point of human emotion, highlighting her internal struggle and the darkness she has embraced.5. “That it was not the weapon in her hands but her eyes that made them stupid with panic, that cut deeper than any blade.”
This quote signifies the psychological power Celaena wields, using her presence and gaze as weapons. It reveals how her fearsome reputation and inner strength intimidate her enemies more effectively than physical weaponry, emphasizing her transformation into a lethal and intimidating figure.
FAQs
1. Question 1
What significant revelations about Celaena’s past are uncovered in Chapter 21, and how do these details deepen our understanding of her character?
Answer:
In Chapter 21, it is revealed that Celaena was only eight years old when she witnessed her parents’ murder during the upheaval in Terrasen, with her screaming at the duel with Cain and being covered in her parents’ blood. This traumatic event, occurring ten years prior, exposes her early exposure to violence and loss. These details deepen our understanding of her character by illustrating the profound pain and trauma that have shaped her, explaining her capacity for brutality, her hardened exterior, and her internal struggles. It also highlights her resilience, as she survived such horrors and continues to fight, carrying the weight of her past with her.
2. Question 2
How does Nehemia’s response to Chaol’s questions about Celaena’s past reflect her understanding of her friend’s secrets, and what does this suggest about their relationship?
Answer:
Nehemia’s response that “Some things you hear with your ears. Others, you hear with your heart” indicates her intuitive understanding of the importance of unspoken truths and her awareness of the depth of Celaena’s hidden pain. Her calculated stillness and guardedness suggest she knows more than she reveals and respects Celaena’s privacy. This exchange reflects a relationship built on mutual trust and understanding, where Nehemia recognizes the need to protect her friend’s secrets. It also hints at a deep bond, where Nehemia’s empathy allows her to sense Celaena’s inner struggles without full disclosure.
3. Question 3
Describe Celaena’s mindset and emotional state during her walk in the forest, and explain how her memories from the previous year influence her actions.
Answer:
During her walk in the forest, Celaena is in a contemplative, somber state, seeking solitude and silence to reflect on her past. Her mention of “brutal clarity” and the description of her previous year’s actions reveal a sense of cold determination fueled by rage and pain. Her memories of unleashing her fury at Endovier, where she brutally fought her oppressors, influence her current mindset by reinforcing her identity as a fierce, vengeful survivor. These memories serve as a reminder of her capacity for violence and her desire for retribution, fueling her resolve to confront her enemies and her own inner darkness.
4. Question 4
Analyze the significance of Celaena’s actions in the mines, particularly her decision to kill the overseers with an ax, and what this reveals about her character and her internal struggles.
Answer:
Celaena’s decision to kill the overseers with an ax, deliberately choosing a brutal method to make them understand “what Endovier felt like,” underscores her desire for justice and her refusal to be a passive victim. It reflects her fierce sense of vengeance and her willingness to embrace violence as a means of reclaiming power. This act also reveals her internal struggle: beneath her cold exterior lies a woman haunted by past trauma, who channels her pain into violent retribution. Her calculated brutality demonstrates her complex morality—she is neither purely good nor evil but driven by a need to confront and punish her oppressors.
5. Question 5
Considering the chapter’s depiction of Celaena’s past and her current actions, how might her history influence her future decisions and relationships within the story?
Answer:
Celaena’s traumatic past, marked by early loss and violent revenge, shapes her as a fiercely independent, guarded, and sometimes ruthless individual. Her history of violence and survival likely makes her wary of trusting others and prone to acting decisively, especially when confronting injustice. Her past experiences may also influence her to seek vengeance or justice in her own way, potentially putting her at odds with allies or authority figures. Understanding her history allows readers to see her as a layered character who struggles with inner darkness but also possesses resilience and a desire for redemption—elements that will influence her future decisions and relationships as she navigates her complex world.
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