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    Legend (Legend #1)

    by Marie, Lu,
    “Legend” by Marie Lu is a dystopian young adult novel set in a war-torn future where the United States has fractured into two opposing nations. The story follows two protagonists: June, a prodigious military cadet from the elite Republic, and Day, a wanted criminal from the impoverished slums. When June’s brother is murdered, Day becomes the prime suspect, leading to a cat-and-mouse chase that unravels government secrets. Themes of class disparity, loyalty, and corruption drive the narrative. The novel’s dual-perspective structure and fast-paced action make it a standout in the genre, appealing to fans of dystopian fiction and political intrigue.
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    Legend (Legend #1)

    Chapter 28: Part Two: June 3

    by Marie, Lu,

    The chap­ter opens with June reflect­ing on past minor rebel­lions her broth­er Metias han­dled, con­trast­ing them with the unprece­dent­ed scale of the cur­rent riot. Hun­dreds of pro­test­ers, most­ly impov­er­ished cit­i­zens, clash with Repub­lic sol­diers out­side Batal­la Hall. June, armed and uneasy, ques­tions their motives while observ­ing the chaos. Thomas, her col­league, dis­miss­es the pro­test­ers as fools and hints at the com­man­ders’ impend­ing retal­i­a­tion. June’s thoughts drift to Day, the rebellion’s cat­a­lyst, whose accu­sa­tions against the Repub­lic fuel her anger. The ten­sion esca­lates as sol­diers box in the crowd, devi­at­ing from stan­dard riot pro­to­cols.

    June notices the pro­test­ers’ desperation—their tat­tered cloth­ing and scar­let-streaked hair, a trib­ute to Day. Thomas cold­ly remarks on Day’s impend­ing exe­cu­tion, under­scor­ing the Republic’s ruth­less­ness. The scene grows dark­er as June spots exe­cu­tion­ers posi­tion­ing them­selves on rooftops, their pres­ence sig­nal­ing lethal intent. Con­fused and alarmed, she con­fronts Thomas, who remains sto­ic. Com­man­der Jameson’s orders, relayed through Thomas, cul­mi­nate in a sud­den com­mand to open fire. June’s hor­ror mounts as she real­izes the pro­test­ers are being trapped and slaugh­tered rather than dis­persed.

    The gun­fire erupts, and June’s attempts to inter­vene are vio­lent­ly thwart­ed by Thomas, who shoves her to the ground. Wound­ed and pow­er­less, she watch­es in dis­be­lief as the square trans­forms into a blood­bath. The gun­fire lasts only a minute but leaves over a hun­dred dead and hun­dreds more arrest­ed. Thomas’s guilt appears lim­it­ed to his rough treat­ment of June, not the mas­sacre. June, trau­ma­tized and furi­ous, refus­es to meet his gaze as he departs, her faith in the Repub­lic fur­ther shat­tered.

    The chap­ter con­cludes with June sur­vey­ing the car­nage, her mind reel­ing. The bru­tal­i­ty of the Republic’s response—executioners, indis­crim­i­nate gun­fire, and mass arrests—reveals its true author­i­tar­i­an nature. June’s inter­nal con­flict inten­si­fies as she grap­ples with her loy­al­ty to the sys­tem and her grow­ing empa­thy for the rebels. The mas­sacre marks a turn­ing point, fore­shad­ow­ing her even­tu­al reck­on­ing with the Republic’s atroc­i­ties and her own role in per­pet­u­at­ing them.

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    FAQs

    • 1. What triggers the riot in this chapter, and how does the Republic’s response escalate the situation?

      Answer:
      The riot is triggered by widespread anger over the Republic’s oppressive policies, such as plague quarantines, taxes, and the Trial system, which Day publicly accused the Republic of manipulating. The protesters, many from poor sectors, imitate Day’s scarlet-streaked hair as a symbol of rebellion. Instead of using standard crowd-control methods like tear gas, the Republic escalates by deploying executioners and soldiers with guns, trapping and firing upon the crowd. This brutal response results in a massacre, highlighting the regime’s willingness to use extreme violence to suppress dissent.

      2. How does June’s reaction to the riot reveal her internal conflict about the Republic?

      Answer:
      June’s reaction shows her growing unease with the Republic’s brutality. While she initially dismisses the rioters as “fools,” she secretly hopes they disperse to avoid harm. Her horror at the executioners’ presence and the subsequent massacre—especially her failed attempt to intervene—reveals her moral struggle. She contrasts Thomas’s compliance with her brother Metias’s hypothetical outrage, indicating her disillusionment. However, her inability to act decisively underscores her lingering loyalty and the difficulty of breaking from the system she’s been trained to uphold.

      3. Analyze the significance of Thomas’s actions and demeanor during the riot. What do they suggest about his character and role in the Republic?

      Answer:
      Thomas embodies the Republic’s indoctrinated enforcer: obedient, remorseless, and pragmatic. He calmly relays Commander Jameson’s orders, including the command to fire, and physically restrains June when she resists. His lack of guilt over the massacre (only regretting hurting June) underscores his loyalty to the regime over morality. His earlier failed kiss attempt and avoidance of eye contact hint at personal complexities, but his primary role is as a tool of state violence, contrasting June’s developing conscience.

      4. How does the chapter use symbolism (e.g., the scarlet hair, executioners’ uniforms) to reinforce its themes?

      Answer:
      The protesters’ scarlet hair mirrors Day’s bloodstained lock during his sentencing, symbolizing defiance and martyrdom. The executioners’ gray armbands and diagonal white stripes visually distinguish them as agents of death, heightening the scene’s terror. These symbols underscore themes of oppression and resistance: the scarlet represents collective rebellion, while the executioners’ uniforms dehumanize both the killers and victims, emphasizing the Republic’s mechanized cruelty.

      5. Why might the author have chosen to depict the massacre from June’s limited perspective? How does this narrative choice affect the reader’s experience?

      Answer:
      June’s limited perspective immerses readers in her shock and moral turmoil, making the violence more visceral. Her confusion (“I don’t really understand what just happened”) mirrors the reader’s horror, while her inability to act creates tension. This choice also reinforces her arc—witnessing the Republic’s atrocities firsthand pushes her toward questioning its legitimacy. By filtering events through June’s eyes, the author balances graphic action with psychological depth, making the political personal.

    Quotes

    • 1. “I’ve never seen a riot like this one, with hundreds of people risking their lives. Nothing even close to this.”

      This quote captures June’s shock at the scale of the rebellion, highlighting the unprecedented defiance against the Republic and foreshadowing the brutal crackdown that follows. It sets the tone for the chapter’s tension.

      2. “A poor choice for a hero. Day will be dead in less than a week.”

      Thomas’s dismissive remark about Day underscores the Republic’s ruthless attitude toward dissenters and contrasts with June’s growing sympathy for Day. It also hints at the propaganda machine at work.

      3. “They’re not dispersing them, Thomas. They’re trapping them in.”

      June’s realization reveals the Republic’s true intent—not to quell the protest but to execute the protesters. This moment marks a critical point in her awakening to the regime’s brutality.

      4. “Metias would kill you for this, Thomas, if he were alive.”

      June’s internal thought reflects her moral conflict, comparing Thomas’s actions to her brother’s hypothetical disapproval. It emphasizes her disillusionment with the Republic’s violence and her own role in it.

      5. “I can’t even concentrate enough to count them.”

      This stark admission underscores the horror of the massacre and June’s emotional paralysis. It serves as a powerful conclusion to the chapter, emphasizing the human cost of the Republic’s tyranny.

    Quotes

    1. “I’ve never seen a riot like this one, with hundreds of people risking their lives. Nothing even close to this.”

    This quote captures June’s shock at the scale of the rebellion, highlighting the unprecedented defiance against the Republic and foreshadowing the brutal crackdown that follows. It sets the tone for the chapter’s tension.

    2. “A poor choice for a hero. Day will be dead in less than a week.”

    Thomas’s dismissive remark about Day underscores the Republic’s ruthless attitude toward dissenters and contrasts with June’s growing sympathy for Day. It also hints at the propaganda machine at work.

    3. “They’re not dispersing them, Thomas. They’re trapping them in.”

    June’s realization reveals the Republic’s true intent—not to quell the protest but to execute the protesters. This moment marks a critical point in her awakening to the regime’s brutality.

    4. “Metias would kill you for this, Thomas, if he were alive.”

    June’s internal thought reflects her moral conflict, comparing Thomas’s actions to her brother’s hypothetical disapproval. It emphasizes her disillusionment with the Republic’s violence and her own role in it.

    5. “I can’t even concentrate enough to count them.”

    This stark admission underscores the horror of the massacre and June’s emotional paralysis. It serves as a powerful conclusion to the chapter, emphasizing the human cost of the Republic’s tyranny.

    FAQs

    1. What triggers the riot in this chapter, and how does the Republic’s response escalate the situation?

    Answer:
    The riot is triggered by widespread anger over the Republic’s oppressive policies, such as plague quarantines, taxes, and the Trial system, which Day publicly accused the Republic of manipulating. The protesters, many from poor sectors, imitate Day’s scarlet-streaked hair as a symbol of rebellion. Instead of using standard crowd-control methods like tear gas, the Republic escalates by deploying executioners and soldiers with guns, trapping and firing upon the crowd. This brutal response results in a massacre, highlighting the regime’s willingness to use extreme violence to suppress dissent.

    2. How does June’s reaction to the riot reveal her internal conflict about the Republic?

    Answer:
    June’s reaction shows her growing unease with the Republic’s brutality. While she initially dismisses the rioters as “fools,” she secretly hopes they disperse to avoid harm. Her horror at the executioners’ presence and the subsequent massacre—especially her failed attempt to intervene—reveals her moral struggle. She contrasts Thomas’s compliance with her brother Metias’s hypothetical outrage, indicating her disillusionment. However, her inability to act decisively underscores her lingering loyalty and the difficulty of breaking from the system she’s been trained to uphold.

    3. Analyze the significance of Thomas’s actions and demeanor during the riot. What do they suggest about his character and role in the Republic?

    Answer:
    Thomas embodies the Republic’s indoctrinated enforcer: obedient, remorseless, and pragmatic. He calmly relays Commander Jameson’s orders, including the command to fire, and physically restrains June when she resists. His lack of guilt over the massacre (only regretting hurting June) underscores his loyalty to the regime over morality. His earlier failed kiss attempt and avoidance of eye contact hint at personal complexities, but his primary role is as a tool of state violence, contrasting June’s developing conscience.

    4. How does the chapter use symbolism (e.g., the scarlet hair, executioners’ uniforms) to reinforce its themes?

    Answer:
    The protesters’ scarlet hair mirrors Day’s bloodstained lock during his sentencing, symbolizing defiance and martyrdom. The executioners’ gray armbands and diagonal white stripes visually distinguish them as agents of death, heightening the scene’s terror. These symbols underscore themes of oppression and resistance: the scarlet represents collective rebellion, while the executioners’ uniforms dehumanize both the killers and victims, emphasizing the Republic’s mechanized cruelty.

    5. Why might the author have chosen to depict the massacre from June’s limited perspective? How does this narrative choice affect the reader’s experience?

    Answer:
    June’s limited perspective immerses readers in her shock and moral turmoil, making the violence more visceral. Her confusion (“I don’t really understand what just happened”) mirrors the reader’s horror, while her inability to act creates tension. This choice also reinforces her arc—witnessing the Republic’s atrocities firsthand pushes her toward questioning its legitimacy. By filtering events through June’s eyes, the author balances graphic action with psychological depth, making the political personal.

    Note