Prodigy
Chapter 5: June 3
by Lu, MarieThe chapter opens with June reflecting on her first day as an official member of the Patriots, avoiding the sight of Day’s surgery to conceal her vulnerability. She grapples with Razor’s plan for her to assassinate the Elector, torn between her brother’s warning about killing for the right reasons and Day’s justification for revolution. The Republic’s injustices—Metias’s death, the Trials, and the engineered plagues—fuel her resolve, yet her trembling hands betray her inner conflict. The quiet apartment contrasts with the weight of her mission, as she watches muted news cycles, questioning the Republic’s propaganda.
June’s focus shifts when the new Elector, Anden, delivers his first speech, exuding confidence and echoing his father’s rhetoric. She analyzes his sincerity, wondering if he’s a pawn of Congress or a power-hungry leader like his predecessor. His youth and potential differences from his father intrigue her, but she forces herself to detach, reminding herself not to humanize her target. The chapter highlights June’s internal struggle as she balances her mission’s brutality with her curiosity about Anden’s character and the Republic’s future.
The tension eases as Tess announces Day’s recovery, and June enters the bedroom to find him awake and in good spirits. Their playful banter and Day’s resilience—evidenced by his paper clip creations—offer a brief respite from the chapter’s heavier themes. June’s relief at his condition underscores their bond, contrasting sharply with the cold calculation of her impending mission. The moment humanizes both characters, emphasizing the personal stakes amid the political turmoil.
The chapter closes with June checking on Day’s healing leg, symbolizing both physical and emotional wounds. Their interaction hints at a deeper connection, while the unresolved tension of Razor’s plan looms. June’s internal conflict—between duty, revenge, and morality—remains central, setting the stage for the challenges ahead. The juxtaposition of intimate moments and political machinations creates a compelling narrative tension, leaving the reader questioning June’s next steps.
FAQs
1. What is June’s role in the Patriots’ plan, and why does she struggle with it?
Answer:
June’s role is to be arrested by Republic soldiers, gain a private audience with the Elector, earn his trust by revealing a fake assassination plot, and ultimately lure him to his actual assassination. She struggles with this plan because it requires her to kill someone, which conflicts with her brother Metias’s advice that “few people ever kill for the right reasons.” Additionally, she questions whether her reasons—revenge for Metias’s death, the Republic’s lies, and the engineered plagues—are truly justified, even as she tries to convince herself they are.2. How does June perceive Anden, the new Elector Primo, and what internal conflict does this create for her?
Answer:
June observes Anden as a young, sincere leader who delivers his speech with conviction, unlike his father. She wonders if he genuinely believes in the Republic’s propaganda or is simply skilled at hiding his doubts. This creates an internal conflict because she must view him as a target for assassination, not as a real person. Her analytical nature leads her to question his motives and the potential differences between him and his father, making it harder for her to emotionally detach from her mission.3. What details in the chapter suggest the Republic manipulates information, and how does June react to this?
Answer:
The chapter highlights the Republic’s manipulation through fabricated warfront victories, controlled news cycles, and arbitrary laws like arresting civilians with red-streaked hair. June openly doubts the truth of these reports, wondering if the Republic is actually losing the war. Her skepticism reflects her growing disillusionment with the regime, reinforcing her willingness to join the Patriots’ radical plan despite her moral reservations.4. Analyze the significance of Day’s high spirits after his surgery. How does this contrast with June’s emotional state?
Answer:
Day’s lightheartedness—shown through his wink, joke, and paperclip crafting—contrasts sharply with June’s anxiety over the assassination plan. His resilience and optimism highlight his ability to recover and adapt, while June remains burdened by guilt and hesitation. This difference underscores their opposing coping mechanisms: Day focuses on the present, whereas June is trapped in her thoughts about morality and the future.5. How does the chapter develop the theme of power and manipulation? Provide specific examples.
Answer:
The theme is explored through multiple layers of control: (1) The Republic manipulates citizens via propaganda (e.g., fake war victories). (2) Congress seeks to influence Anden, the young Elector, as a “chess piece.” (3) The Patriots manipulate June into becoming an assassin by appealing to her desire for revenge. Even June manipulates her own emotions, suppressing empathy for Anden to fulfill her role. These examples illustrate how power dynamics perpetuate cycles of deception and violence.
Quotes
1. “Few people ever kill for the right reasons, June.”
This quote represents June’s internal conflict about her role in the assassination plot. It echoes her brother Metias’s wisdom, contrasting with Day’s revolutionary pragmatism, and highlights the moral dilemma at the heart of the chapter.
2. “Getting rid of the person in charge seems like a small price to pay for starting a revolution. Don’t you think so?”
Day’s provocative question captures the revolutionary mindset driving the Patriots’ plot. This quote is significant as it presents the utilitarian argument that justifies political assassination, which June must grapple with throughout the chapter.
3. “The Republic took Metias away from me. I think of the Trials, the lies about my parents’ deaths. The engineered plagues… Few people kill for the right reasons, but if any reason is the right one, it must be this. Isn’t it?”
This powerful monologue reveals June’s personal motivations and moral justification for joining the assassination plot. It shows her transition from doubt to conviction, listing the Republic’s crimes that she believes warrant violent revolution.
4. “Now is a time of great change. Our resolve is being tested more than ever, and the war with our enemy has reached a climax… It is our manifest destiny.”
Elector Anden’s speech represents the official Republic narrative that June and the Patriots are fighting against. This quote is significant as it shows the propaganda machine they’re up against and introduces the new Elector’s character.
5. “Don’t dwell too deeply on who Anden is. I can’t think about him as if he were a real person—a person I have to kill.”
This moment captures June’s psychological preparation for her mission. The quote is crucial as it shows her suppressing empathy to carry out the assassination, revealing the emotional cost of becoming a revolutionary.