Chapter 11 - Fortunes Fool Overview

Chapter II

Fortunes Fool

Theodore

The first five chapters of book two are opening chapters, they introduce the reader to five plots that will run through the next two books. Theodore’s story is an intricate part of Eveline’s. He is both the protagonist and antagonist and some may agree that the actions of Eveline may also make her both a protagonist and antagonist depending on your views of her character and the prophecy. Theodore is one of those characters that frustrates you, because he has so much potential and yet wastes it by allowing his pride and arrogance rule his decisions. However in this book in particular, Theodores theme is ‘redemption’, it challenge’s his corrupt qualities and forces him to become the better person. As the author, I wanted Theodore to redeem himself, if not for Galean then for Eveline. In this chapter we see him struggling to come to terms with Eveline’s departure and the fact that he lost out to Galean, who is a descendant of the great angel, Gabriel and an heir to a kingdom, everything Theodore isn’t. I am of course partial to feeling sorry for Theodore, but his past would prove likewise, even in his courtship with Jophiel he saw it as a competition with other men and acted outside of what was expected of him as a guardian. Even as he considers aiding Eveline he is weighing up the costs and still feels that he can win against Galean who lies dying. It is worrying that he feels nothing but personal gain in Galean’s situation and worrying more so that he would go as far as to try and kill his best friend in order to make a point, but Theodore is complex and grey, he can shift either way if it is to his advantage

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The issue for Eveline is that before Theodore’s veil of deception had fallen away he was in essence a good and honourable man and this was to show his potential and his story is a test to see if he can with the veil taken away still prove himself worthy. His journey in this book will be interesting to observe and I think very frustrating, I hope he can overcome his inner conflicts and do the right thing, but I have an uncomfortable feeling as well. His journey over all in this series is definitely darker than other characters, but it is hard not to feel for him because even I as his author would like him to follow the path of redemption and not pride because then the prophecy holds no power.

Iseult O’Shea