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Chapter 24
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Cruel Prince, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Power and Control
Cycles of Violence
Identity and Coming of Age
The Nature of Love
Summary
Analysis
Jude returns to the Court of Shadows and finds the Bomb, the Ghost, the Roach, and Cardan drinking and playing cards. Jude reminds her colleagues that Cardan is supposed to be their prisoner. She asks them what Cardan offered them. The Ghost tells her that Cardan knew where all the good wine was in the palace. Additionally, Cardan offered them money and status, though they have yet to accept his offer.
Although the Ghost and the Roach gave Jude their word that they would keep Cardan as their prisoner temporarily, Cardan’s promises offer them the opportunity to change their mind as soon as the allotted time is up. Even in his current position, Cardan is powerful.
Active
Themes
Wanting to speak with Cardan in private, Jude orders him into the back room. Although Cardan is not eager to leave the others, he does as Jude says. There, Jude holds a crossbow up to him and tells him he is going to answer all of her questions. First, she asks him how long Taryn and Locke have been seeing each other. Cardan responds that their fling has been going on for quite some time. Cardan also suggests that Locke does not care whether he ends up with Taryn or Jude; he simply wanted one of them.
Jude takes Cardan into the back room to prevent him from further corrupting the Court of Shadows while also getting her personal questions answered in private. Cardan’s answers are hurtful but also truthful, given that he is unable to lie. Again, it appears that Locke will not be the faithful and loving spouse Taryn wants him to be.
Active
Themes
Then, Jude asks Cardan why he hates her so much. Cardan responds that he hates her because, even though she is a lowly human, Madoc still loves her and treats her with respect. Meanwhile, Cardan is a prince and does not get love from anyone. Jude cannot believe that this is the only reason Cardan hates her and tells him so. Cardan admits that he also hates her because he has romantic feelings for her and cannot stop thinking about her. He loves and resents her at the same time. Jude moves close to him as if she is going to kiss him to see how he reacts. When Cardan expresses discomfort, Jude puts her lips to his.
