The Obelisk Gate
Chapter 20: Nassun, faceted
by Jemisin, N.K.The chapter opens with an enigmatic narrator describing how they and others like them sense and influence the activation of obelisks, ancient and powerful artifacts. Nassun, a young girl with latent magical abilities, awakens at dawn, drawn by an unsettling sensation emanating from the north. She perceives a vast, interconnected network of obelisks resonating with immense power, which Steel, a stone eater, identifies as the opening of the Obelisk Gate. He reveals that Nassun’s mother, Essun, is channeling this power for destructive purposes, echoing the misguided actions of the Gate’s original creators.
Nassun reflects on the cyclical nature of oppression and violence, recognizing how the weak manipulate the strong until both are broken. She confronts the harsh reality that no one will save her—she must seize her own freedom. This realization coincides with the arrival of her father, Jija, who stands armed with a knife, his cold demeanor betraying his intent to harm her. Nassun, resigned to his hatred, expresses her sorrow that he could never love her despite her flaws, contrasting his cruelty with the unconditional love of her guardian, Schaffa.
As Jija lunges to attack, Nassun instinctively commands the sapphire obelisk, which transforms into a weapon and intervenes, crashing to the ground with thunderous force. The obelisk’s power merges with Nassun, granting her a fleeting connection to the broader network of the Obelisk Gate. In this moment, she wavers, giving her father a final chance to retreat, but his hesitation is brief. The chapter ends on a cliffhanger, leaving Nassun’s fate unresolved as she stands poised between survival and vengeance.
The chapter explores themes of power, betrayal, and the struggle for autonomy, juxtaposing Nassun’s emotional turmoil with the cosmic scale of the Obelisk Gate’s activation. Her confrontation with Jija underscores the destructive cycles of familial and societal violence, while her connection to the obelisks hints at her potential to transcend these patterns. The narrative maintains a tense, introspective tone, blending personal drama with mythic stakes.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the “Obelisk Gate” in this chapter, and how does Nassun perceive its activation?
Answer:
The Obelisk Gate represents a powerful geological mechanism connecting multiple obelisks across the continent, channeling the planet’s core energy. Nassun perceives its activation through her sessapinae (sensory organs for magic) and deeper cellular connections, sensing reverberations in the earth and silver threads binding her to the environment. The chapter describes this as an “irritating, gummy” pull northward, culminating in her realization that “every obelisk stationed above this half of the continent” is resonating. Steel explains this network was designed for immense power—originally by ancient creators, now wielded by Nassun’s mother for destructive purposes. Nassun’s perception highlights her growing attunement to geological forces and foreshadows her own potential to harness them.2. Analyze the symbolic contrast between Jija’s opal knife and Nassun’s transformed sapphire. How do these objects reflect their relationship dynamics?
Answer:
Jija’s red opal knife—beautiful but lethally sharp—symbolizes his concealed violence and fractured love for Nassun. Its crafted perfection mirrors his facade of paternal care (“Sweetening”), while its hidden sharpness parallels his simmering hatred for her orogeny. In contrast, Nassun’s sapphire transforms from a distant celestial object into a “flickering knife of blue stone,” representing her agency and inherited power. Where Jija’s weapon is static and personal, hers is dynamic and tied to cosmic forces. This dichotomy underscores their irreconcilable positions: Jija clings to human-scale violence, while Nassun accesses primordial power, culminating in her heartbreaking admission, “I tried to keep loving you, but it was too hard.”3. How does Steel’s commentary about the Obelisk Gate’s “frivolous purpose” contribute to the chapter’s themes of power and consequence?
Answer:
Steel’s lament that the Gate’s power is used for “the destruction of one’s enemies” critiques cyclical violence. He contextualizes Nassun’s mother’s actions within a historical pattern of misuse, noting the original creators similarly weaponized the obelisks, provoking Father Earth’s retaliation. This frames power as inherently corrupting when deployed selfishly, echoing Nassun’s realization about “the weak poisoning the strong.” Steel’s wistful tone suggests tragic inevitability, reinforcing the chapter’s theme that unchecked power—whether geological, parental, or systemic—breeds destruction. His observation also foreshadows Nassun’s potential to break or perpetuate this cycle as she gains control of the sapphire.4. Examine Nassun’s emotional climax with Jija. How does her monologue about being “bad” reflect her psychological transformation?
Answer:
Nassun’s confession—”I don’t know how to not do [bad things]… I wish you could love me anyway”—reveals her internalized guilt and abandonment trauma. Having internalized societal and paternal rejection of her orogeny, she equates her innate abilities with moral failure. Yet this moment also marks her transition from seeking paternal validation to self-liberation. Her weariness (“hate is tiring”) mirrors Father Earth’s exhaustion, suggesting a nihilistic awakening. By concluding “it was too hard” to love Jija, she rejects the victimhood he imposes, paralleling her physical defiance with the sapphire. The scene crystallizes her tragic maturity: recognizing love’s conditional nature, she begins wielding power as self-preservation rather than seeking approval.5. What narrative function does the italicized opening section (“I listen through the earth…”) serve in relation to Nassun’s story?
Answer:
The enigmatic prologue introduces a collective consciousness of observers (“we”) who monitor obelisk activity, implying Nassun is being manipulated or guided by external forces. Their statement—”we can influence its direction”—retrospectively reframes Nassun’s actions as part of a larger geopolitical struggle. This creates dramatic irony: while Nassun believes she’s asserting independence (e.g., summoning the sapphire), unseen actors may be shaping her choices. The section also contrasts with her personal drama with Jija, juxtaposing cosmic-scale power plays with intimate family violence. This duality reinforces the novel’s core tension between individual agency and systemic forces.
Quotes
1. “The way of the world isn’t the strong devouring the weak, but the weak deceiving and poisoning and whispering in the ears of the strong until they become weak, too.”
This quote captures Nassun’s bleak worldview, revealing her understanding of power dynamics and betrayal. It reflects a key turning point in her character development as she grapples with the cyclical nature of oppression.
2. “I wish you could love me anyway, even though I’m bad.”
A heartbreaking moment where Nassun confronts her father, expressing her deepest longing for unconditional love. This quote represents the emotional core of the chapter and Nassun’s tragic self-perception.
3. “The transformation of the sapphire is instantaneous. It causes a concussion of air that rushes inward to fill the vacuum.”
This dramatic description marks the climax of the chapter, showcasing Nassun’s powerful connection to the obelisks. The imagery captures both the physical and metaphysical impact of her abilities awakening.
4. “I tried to keep loving you, but it was too hard.”
Nassun’s final words to her father before their confrontation, representing her emotional turning point. This simple statement encapsulates her painful journey from love to self-preservation.
5. “The thing in her hand is the same monstrous, mountainous dynamo of silvery power that it has always been. The same tool, just more versatile now.”
This quote beautifully describes Nassun’s mastery of the sapphire’s power, symbolizing her transformation. It represents the chapter’s central theme of hidden potential being unleashed.