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Chapter 8
Themes
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
Taryn refuses to tell Jude what Cardan said to make her cry. She also admits that sometimes she wishes Jude wasn’t around because it would be easier to pretend certain events didn’t happen, as Jude is far less willing to let things go. Again, Taryn asks Jude to drop out of the tournament. However, Jude still refuses. The following day, Jude and Taryn go to the tournament together. Many of the important members of the court are there, and Jude notices that many of the attendees are eager to see what happens between her and Cardan.
Again, Taryn’s concerns are pragmatic. Although Cardan may never leave her alone altogether, she suspects her life would be better if Jude did not antagonize him. However, Jude refuses to let other people dictate how she lives her life, regardless of the consequences. While the faeries may treat Jude as an outsider, they also find her fascinating, especially because of her relationship with Cardan.
Themes
There are three organized bouts between two separate teams. Jude is on the opposite team from Cardan and his friends. During the first fight, Jude stays away from Cardan and fights defensively. After the fight, Cardan approaches her and suggests she is fighting soft to appease him. He also says that Taryn is so passive that he could seduce her if he wanted to and that he would not be the first person to have done so. Cardan’s words irritate Jude, so for the next two fights, she unleashes all of her fury on Cardan and his friends. Although she gets some bruises, she largely emerges victorious, though no one in the crowd seems to care. Although Madoc sees some of the event, he doesn’t even stick around to the end.
Because faeries cannot lie, Cardan’s words—both about Jude’s fighting and Taryn’s romantic life—cut extra deep. In the end, Jude gets to take out her frustration on Cardan and his friends, although, presumably, there will be repercussions for her actions. Jude feels triumphant but her personal sense of triumph is not something that is shared among the rest of the faeries. Madoc, who she wanted to impress the most, did not even stick around to see her best work.
Themes
After the event, Cardan approaches Jude and grabs her by the hair. He orders her to get on her knees and beg his forgiveness. At first, Jude considers obeying him; she drops to her knees and tries to do as he says. However, she finds that she is physically unable to force the words out of her mouth. Instead, she delivers a short speech where she promises to continue to defy Cardan and be a thorn in his side no matter what, even if he is more powerful than her.
Here, Jude demonstrates that, even if Cardan has social and physical power over her, he will never break her psychologically. In part, she is trying to give Cardan a taste of his own medicine. Jude is constantly thinking of Cardan, and she wants him to think of her as well. If all else fails, she hopes to torment his mind.
Themes
Afterwards, Jude stands up and walks away without looking at anyone. She enters a tent and begins washing herself when Locke appears behind her. Locke helps her clean up and tells her that he enjoys how much she manages to get under Cardan’s skin. He encourages her to continue and gives her a wry smile. Jude is pleased with how both Cardan and Locke react to her behavior. However, she knows both reactions could spell trouble in the future.
Here, Locke demonstrates that, while he might be different from Cardan’s other friends, he still has a hankering for mischief. The fact that Cardan’s suffering pleases him suggests that he is not really friends with Cardan at all. Still, in the past, Locke has been willing to go along with Cardan’s schemes, including throwing Jude and Taryn in the river.
Themes
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