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Chapter 36
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Cinderella is Dead, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Sexism and Feminism
Love
Oppression and Control
Coming of Age
Revolution, Solidarity, and Teamwork
Summary
Analysis
Sophia wakes up outside with Constance sitting over her, demanding Sophia stay alive. Constance saved Sophia from the fire, and now they and the cotillion guests are outside. Sophia addresses the guests, who stand in the pairs they formed when the suitors picked brides at the dance. She announces that Manford is dead and that Cinderella’s story is a lie. A man tries to stop her, but Constance threatens him into silence. Émile stands with her. The men are startled to see women defending themselves and each other.
Sophia spent much of her relationship with Erin trying to save Erin. Constance saving Sophia once again demonstrates that her relationship with Sophia is a more equal one. Sophia saved Constance––and all the women of Lille––from Manford, and in turn, Constance saves Sophia from the fire. Émile joining Constance and Sophia against the angry men also demonstrates the importance of solidarity and the strength of women committed to protecting one another.
Active
Themes
Sophia tells the fathers in the crowd that they can keep their daughters safe now, but more importantly their daughters can keep themselves safe. She tells the men to treat women better not because they are wives, sisters, and daughters, but because they are people. She sees her own parents, Eve and Morgan, and they embrace her. Sophia feels seen by her parents for the first time, and she sees Luke hugging his parents too. Constance kisses Sophia, who looks forward to the future they have before them.
Active
Themes
