The Book of Laura 17
by Link, KellyIn this chapter of *The Book of Laura*, Laura searches the house for her sister Susannah, frustrated by the disorder and Susannah’s absence. She attempts to remedy the damage, particularly focusing on a stained white couch that symbolizes the chaos left behind. Using magic, Laura transforms the couch multiple times, but none of the colors or patterns seem right. Finally, she turns it into a small black lamb, signaling her unsettled state of mind. This act introduces Bogomil, a mysterious figure who appears unexpectedly, setting the stage for a significant conversation about past events and hidden secrets.
Bogomil and Laura engage in a candid dialogue about Laura’s efforts to resurrect their mother and the limitations of magic. Bogomil reveals his own past ambitions, including a plan to overthrow Malo Mogge by taking her power. He explains the elusive nature of a key, which has taken the form of a coin passed through many hands over centuries. This key is central to the power struggles involving Malo Mogge, Anabin, and Bogomil himself, underscoring a long history of conflict and pursuit that has shaped their current reality.
The narrative delves into the key’s mysterious journey, describing how it disappeared about two hundred years ago and resurfaced in the possession of various mortals. Bogomil recounts the story of a foolish man who tried to conceal the coin with a magical seal, only for his wife to steal it and keep its existence secret. This tale highlights the coin’s significance as a powerful yet dangerous talisman, capable of influencing lives in unexpected ways. Bogomil’s reflections also reveal his loneliness and weariness from dealing with mortal visitors to his realm.
The chapter concludes with Bogomil’s account of the coin’s recent history, including its possession by Maryanne Gorch, Malo Mogge’s grandmother and a writer of romance novels. Though Bogomil did not cause her death or torment her, he acknowledges the impact of her use of the coin in pivotal life decisions. Through this story, the chapter contrasts the magical and often harsh realities faced by Laura and Bogomil with the hopeful, if improbable, happiness found in human stories and romances. This interplay between magic, mortality, and human emotion forms the thematic core of the chapter.
FAQs
1. How does Laura’s interaction with the couch reflect her emotional state and the role of magic in the chapter?
Answer:
Laura’s attempts to clean and transform the couch symbolize her struggle to regain control amid chaos after her mother’s death and Susannah’s disappearance. The couch, stained with both shoe marks and blood, represents the tangible mess left behind. Her magical transformations—from a stained couch to various colors and patterns, ultimately turning it into a black lamb—mirror her unsettled and conflicted feelings. The failure to find a “suitable” color and the appearance of smoke from a hole in the cushion suggest her frustration and emotional turmoil. Magic here serves as both a practical tool and a metaphor for her desire to reshape reality, yet it also highlights her limits and inner unrest.2. What is the significance of the key (the coin) in the story, and how does Bogomil describe its history and challenges in obtaining it?
Answer:
The key, which takes the form of a coin, symbolizes power and control central to the conflict among supernatural beings. Bogomil explains that the key was once Malo Mogge’s but disappeared about two hundred years ago, eluding capture by hiding behind a chain of mortal protectors. This concealment made it nearly impossible to seize despite Bogomil’s efforts, as the coin never stayed with one person long enough to be located. Its elusive nature emphasizes themes of power’s fragility and the limits of supernatural control. The story of the coin passing through mortal hands—especially the foolish husband and clever wife—highlights human unpredictability and the key’s role as a coveted yet mysterious talisman.3. Analyze Bogomil’s motivations and plans as described in the chapter. How do they reveal his character and the broader conflict?
Answer:
Bogomil’s motivations center on acquiring Malo Mogge’s power by killing her and taking her place, while also granting Anabin the freedom to live mortal life. This plan reveals Bogomil as ambitious and pragmatic, willing to manipulate others to achieve his goals. However, his failure to anticipate Avelot’s interference and the key’s cunning concealment shows limitations to his power and foresight. His polite but somewhat detached demeanor during the conversation with Laura, as well as his handling of visitors to his realm, portrays him as a complex figure balancing authority with a degree of loneliness. The broader conflict involves struggles for power, control, and freedom among supernatural beings, with the key as a focal point.4. How does the chapter explore the theme of mortality versus immortality through the characters and their desires?
Answer:
The theme of mortality versus immortality is central in Bogomil’s recounting of his arrangement with Kristofer and Thomas, who assume roles that allow Anabin to choose mortality or eternal life. This choice contrasts the eternal existence of beings like Bogomil and Malo Mogge with the finite lives of mortals. Laura’s wish to bring her mother back from the dead also touches on mortality’s finality and the limitations even magic faces in reversing it. The key’s passage through mortal hands and the protective chain of mortals further emphasize the interplay between mortal vulnerability and immortal power struggles. The chapter invites reflection on the value and consequences of both states.5. Considering the relationship between Laura and Bogomil in this chapter, what does their interaction suggest about trust and alliance in the narrative?
Answer:
Laura and Bogomil’s interaction is marked by cautious engagement and subtle power dynamics. Laura initiates the conversation seeking information and possibly assistance, but she remains guarded, as seen when she hesitates over the coffee. Bogomil is polite yet reserved, revealing important backstory but withholding deeper emotions. Their exchange suggests a tentative alliance based on mutual need rather than full trust. Bogomil’s willingness to help with information and to perform small acts like washing the coffee items indicates some rapport, but the underlying tension about power, death, and the key remains. This interaction sets up a complex relationship where cooperation is possible but fraught with suspicion.
Quotes
1. “You came back from the dead and your mother and sister had splurged for some reason on a white couch. Laura, had she been alive at the time, would have told them it was a mistake. But magic could be useful here, too.”
This quote introduces the chapter’s blend of mundane concerns and magical solutions, highlighting Laura’s coping mechanism and the surreal circumstances she navigates. It sets the tone for the interplay of everyday life and supernatural elements.
2. “I have spent most of the day trying to figure out how to bring my mother back from the dead, but I haven’t gotten anywhere with that. And I’m guessing you can’t help, either.”
This statement reveals Laura’s central emotional struggle and quest, grounding the narrative in personal loss and the desire for resurrection, while also establishing Bogomil’s limited power and the obstacles they face.
3. “All of us, in our power, in pursuit of what amounts to a bus token!”
Bogomil’s reflection on the elusive key’s true nature as a seemingly trivial object despite its immense significance captures the chapter’s theme of power, pursuit, and irony. It underscores the futility and comedy in their epic struggle.
4. “The coin that had been Malo Mogge’s key disappeared altogether perhaps two hundred years ago… I surmise she sold it as a lucky piece, perhaps warning the buyer never to take it out of its casing, lest the luck run out.”
This passage explains the mysterious disappearance and concealment of the key, blending magical intrigue with human folly and superstition. It provides essential backstory on the key’s history and how it slipped from the grasp of powerful beings.
5. “’They’re romance novels,’ Laura said. ‘They’re supposed to be improbable. But, unlike you, they make people happy.’”
This sharp, poignant retort contrasts the world of magic and power with the human realm of stories and happiness. It highlights Laura’s perspective on what truly matters—joy and connection—even amid the fantastical and tragic.
Quotes
1. “You came back from the dead and your mother and sister had splurged for some reason on a white couch. Laura, had she been alive at the time, would have told them it was a mistake. But magic could be useful here, too.”
This quote introduces the chapter’s blend of mundane concerns and magical solutions, highlighting Laura’s coping mechanism and the surreal circumstances she navigates. It sets the tone for the interplay of everyday life and supernatural elements.
2. “I have spent most of the day trying to figure out how to bring my mother back from the dead, but I haven’t gotten anywhere with that. And I’m guessing you can’t help, either.”
This statement reveals Laura’s central emotional struggle and quest, grounding the narrative in personal loss and the desire for resurrection, while also establishing Bogomil’s limited power and the obstacles they face.
3. “All of us, in our power, in pursuit of what amounts to a bus token!”
Bogomil’s reflection on the elusive key’s true nature as a seemingly trivial object despite its immense significance captures the chapter’s theme of power, pursuit, and irony. It underscores the futility and comedy in their epic struggle.
4. “The coin that had been Malo Mogge’s key disappeared altogether perhaps two hundred years ago… I surmise she sold it as a lucky piece, perhaps warning the buyer never to take it out of its casing, lest the luck run out.”
This passage explains the mysterious disappearance and concealment of the key, blending magical intrigue with human folly and superstition. It provides essential backstory on the key’s history and how it slipped from the grasp of powerful beings.
5. “’They’re romance novels,’ Laura said. ‘They’re supposed to be improbable. But, unlike you, they make people happy.’”
This sharp, poignant retort contrasts the world of magic and power with the human realm of stories and happiness. It highlights Laura’s perspective on what truly matters
— joy and connection—even amid the fantastical and tragic.
FAQs
1. How does Laura’s interaction with the couch reflect her emotional state and the role of magic in the chapter?
Answer:
Laura’s attempts to clean and transform the couch symbolize her struggle to regain control amid chaos after her mother’s death and Susannah’s disappearance. The couch, stained with both shoe marks and blood, represents the tangible mess left behind. Her magical transformations—from a stained couch to various colors and patterns, ultimately turning it into a black lamb—mirror her unsettled and conflicted feelings. The failure to find a “suitable” color and the appearance of smoke from a hole in the cushion suggest her frustration and emotional turmoil. Magic here serves as both a practical tool and a metaphor for her desire to reshape reality, yet it also highlights her limits and inner unrest.
2. What is the significance of the key (the coin) in the story, and how does Bogomil describe its history and challenges in obtaining it?
Answer:
The key, which takes the form of a coin, symbolizes power and control central to the conflict among supernatural beings. Bogomil explains that the key was once Malo Mogge’s but disappeared about two hundred years ago, eluding capture by hiding behind a chain of mortal protectors. This concealment made it nearly impossible to seize despite Bogomil’s efforts, as the coin never stayed with one person long enough to be located. Its elusive nature emphasizes themes of power’s fragility and the limits of supernatural control. The story of the coin passing through mortal hands—especially the foolish husband and clever wife—highlights human unpredictability and the key’s role as a coveted yet mysterious talisman.
3. Analyze Bogomil’s motivations and plans as described in the chapter. How do they reveal his character and the broader conflict?
Answer:
Bogomil’s motivations center on acquiring Malo Mogge’s power by killing her and taking her place, while also granting Anabin the freedom to live mortal life. This plan reveals Bogomil as ambitious and pragmatic, willing to manipulate others to achieve his goals. However, his failure to anticipate Avelot’s interference and the key’s cunning concealment shows limitations to his power and foresight. His polite but somewhat detached demeanor during the conversation with Laura, as well as his handling of visitors to his realm, portrays him as a complex figure balancing authority with a degree of loneliness. The broader conflict involves struggles for power, control, and freedom among supernatural beings, with the key as a focal point.
4. How does the chapter explore the theme of mortality versus immortality through the characters and their desires?
Answer:
The theme of mortality versus immortality is central in Bogomil’s recounting of his arrangement with Kristofer and Thomas, who assume roles that allow Anabin to choose mortality or eternal life. This choice contrasts the eternal existence of beings like Bogomil and Malo Mogge with the finite lives of mortals. Laura’s wish to bring her mother back from the dead also touches on mortality’s finality and the limitations even magic faces in reversing it. The key’s passage through mortal hands and the protective chain of mortals further emphasize the interplay between mortal vulnerability and immortal power struggles. The chapter invites reflection on the value and consequences of both states.
5. Considering the relationship between Laura and Bogomil in this chapter, what does their interaction suggest about trust and alliance in the narrative?
Answer:
Laura and Bogomil’s interaction is marked by cautious engagement and subtle power dynamics. Laura initiates the conversation seeking information and possibly assistance, but she remains guarded, as seen when she hesitates over the coffee. Bogomil is polite yet reserved, revealing important backstory but withholding deeper emotions. Their exchange suggests a tentative alliance based on mutual need rather than full trust. Bogomil’s willingness to help with information and to perform small acts like washing the coffee items indicates some rapport, but the underlying tension about power, death, and the key remains. This interaction sets up a complex relationship where cooperation is possible but fraught with suspicion.
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