“That was what magic did. It revealed the heart of who you'd been before life took away your belief in the possible. It gave back the world all lonely children longed for.”
The pursuit of power through magic is at the core of the story with some seeking to control while others protect themselves. Alex harbors a dark past that involves sexual assault and murders coupled with a difficult childhood and poor background. Though magic contributed to her trauma, it is also the solution towards healing and saving herself from the darkness. Magic gives her back the part of her she thought she had lost during the traumatic experiences and addiction problems in the past. It also gives her the opportunity to join the prestigious institution without qualifications due to her potential. She turns her ability to see and contact the spiritual world into her strength as she navigates the treacherous secret society. The upward trajectory of her life echoes the quotation since magic becomes a source of power and exuberance.
“Maybe all rich people asked the wrong questions. For people like Alex, it would never be what do you want. It was always just how much can you get?”
The dichotomy between the rich and poor is a common motif throughout the story. As such, once Alex joins the institution her experiences seem to contrast with that of other students who come from rich backgrounds. Professor Belbalm asks Alex what she wants from her time at Yale since she is part of their society. She responds that she hopes to get money because that is what she has wished to have her entire life. Alex points out that the privileged can never know what it is like to lack thereby cannot relate with her request. The privileged individuals at the school are portrayed as lacking a sense of responsibility and even accountability. Furthermore, delves into the realities of the have and have-nots when it comes to charting their path in society.
“Peace was like any high. It couldn’t last. It was an illusion, something that could be interrupted in a moment and lost forever. Only two things kept you safe: money and power.”
Escapism defines the lives of the characters whether through drug abuse or magic even though a majority are rich individuals. Alex is certain that obtaining wealth and power will give her a chance at a normal life and offer her safety. She observes that the affluent for instance Belbalm seek tranquility and peace in order to feel safe. This illusion bothers her because she is quite aware that their affluence and power are the sources of their sense of safety. Through magic, she gains power since the powerful folks seek her help in their rituals at the secret society. Alex does not take the importance of money for granted like her peers because she knows it is will solve her problems.
