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The Night Circus Analysis

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The Night Circus Analysis
“‘My new game, as you so appropriately call it, is a circus’” (Morgenstern 76).
~This marks the beginning of The Night Circus or Le Cirque des Réves.
“The card inside is not a note of sympathy nor a condolence for her loss. It contains no greeting. No signature. The handwritten words across the paper read: Your move” (Morgenstern 80).
~The card was in response to the “death” of Celia’s father; this is the beginning of the “challenge” that will act as the antagonist throughout the book.
“‘I suggest you keep your distance from her and concentrate on your own work.’
‘I’m in love with her’” (Morgenstern 307).
~The response of Marco, a main character in the novel, will not go without consequence as the reader will learn that only one may survive
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However, the circus is only a front for a challenge between two illusionists, herself and the circus owner’s assistant. Let the games begin (Morgenstern 99)!
Mood and Tone
The novel, The Night Circus, certainly has a very serious mood. Death is a common theme throughout the novel, which results in an extremely morbid tone at times. For example, the graphic death of Herr Friedrick Thiessen is drawn out over several chapters. As Morgenstern goes into deeper detail, the reader obtains a sense of how Thiessen’s death has affected most, if not all, of the characters (Morgenstern 374).
Celia Bowen
Celia is a young adult woman and the daughter of the famed illusionist, Prospero the Enchanter. She spent the first few years of her life with her mother until her mother committed suicide. Celia was turned over to her father, who raised her to compete in a challenge against the pupil of his rival. She joins the circus as an illusionist and searches for her opponent, who is later revealed as their challenge continues in the background. Interestingly she enjoys modifying her appearance by changing the colors of her apparel (Morgenstern
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In an ironic turn of events, the two illusionists fall in love with each other. However, the challenge is won when one challenger may no longer continue and dies. So the question is, who will die? Will it be Marco or Celia? Or is there a third option? An example of the internal conflict is when Marco confesses his love for Celia to his teacher, Mr. A.H. (Morgenstern 307).
Marco
Marco, the second main character of The Night Circus, is the most important thing to Celia. This is shown when Celia attempts to sacrifice herself in order to be with Marco forever. Celia is successful, and she and Marco remain trapped inside the circus bonfire for the remainder of the book ending their challenge (Morgenstern 461).
Significant Event
While breaking into the circus, Baily meets a young red head named Poppet for the first time. She is kind and helps him out of the circus, but there is more to their meeting than that (Morgenstern 65). Baily will eventually return to the circus several years later in search of Poppet. After being reunited, Baily, Poppet, and her brother, Widget, go on a few adventures through the circus. When the circus is preparing to leave, however, Poppet has visions of the circus in jeopardy and Baily as its savior. Eventually, Baily will save the circus so that it may continue, all because of Poppet and Baily’s first

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