Week 07: The Narrative of Spiritual Education - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (6 pts)

  This week I am putting aside from re-reading my beloved Harry Potter and instead read Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. This reading truly made me sit down and think about how much our view of a fantasy world is based on the wizarding world of Harry Potter and how us readers are used to certain norms that are not seen in the Night Circus. An example is the distinction of two worlds living together but ignoring each other as much as they can. In the Harry Potter saga we see this constantly when one compares the world of muggles compared to those of wizards and how the wizarding world is a fun club secret that only the cool kids know. And because of these two worlds basic morals are taught to children on the differences between good versus email and how not every child is born with the same privilege as others but have the same potential to be someone great. In the Night Circus these rules established by Harry Potter are blurred to the point that the reader does not feel completely transported to a world to escape to but rather a harsh reality.

We explore such perspectives with Celia and Marcos who are young adults born from unfortunate circumstances who are tossed to a life of hardship in which they are preparing for a great match/game that is being put into motion by their guardians. The book explores a harsh reality where the fantasy world we are all dreaming and waiting for is as harsh and nonexistent as how our normal world works. How it is all a bunch of illusions and there is not a lot that our protagonist can control. We readers see this as Celia and Marco grow up. Both being trained and educated in magic and illusions but are being taught in very different ways. Celia is being taught through blood, sweat and tears while Marco has been learning all the theory and dictionary definition of magic rather than putting it in constant practice. The reader observes the different morals that these kid’s mentors participate in. For example Hector’s morals are to do learn through not only pain and practice but to use such abilities to survive in the world even if it means selling others a false reality. Meanwhile Mr. A.H. is not as flamboyant and cunning as Hector but agrees in only needing what’s necessary but on different levels compared to Hector. Mr. A.H. did not become a traditional guardian to Marco as Hector was to Celia. The gray suit man did not attach himself to his newly acquired pawn and only visited when needed rather than actually spending time getting to know Marco.

It’s because of such morals that this book truly gave me a real shock as I came to discover that this was not a sweet tale of a brave orphan who always tries his best for everyone else’s well-being but just a chess game where our protagonist turns out to being major pawns.  This is not a world one would like to escape to but rather one that reminds readers of a world that is not that different from the norm where people take advantage of others hard work and talents. Tiss the reason why this story was a very intriguing read and that broke the mold for books in this genre. I would recommend this to all potterheads out there who have grown up and want to see a different side to the wizarding world.