A Curse for True Love

Throughout these final chapters, Evangeline’s actions continue to illustrate The Foundations of Power. Her power is her belief in love and the hope it engenders, and by rushing to save Jacks from himself, Evangeline reaffirms that belief. Even if she wasn’t successful, she chose love, showing that she believes in its power and in the strength of finding a happy ending. Though she fears kissing Jacks could kill her, she does it because she refuses to give up on him. However, Evangeline is also realistic in her belief. In Chapter 43, she observes that “happy ever after” is an idea, not a reality, illustrating how finally being with Jacks does not end all their problems. Apollo continues to pose a threat, as do the Valors, showing that love does not banish hardship. Rather, it gives Evangeline and Jacks the strength they need to keep fighting because they don’t want to lose each other. The novel offers the insight that happy endings, like love, are not a guarantee.

Although Evangeline has often believed, throughout the novel, that Apollo, even if he isn’t doing good things, is doing what he thinks is right. However, in this section, Apollo’s actions both solidify his identity as a villain and end his life. Apollo is willing to sacrifice Evangeline in exchange for power and immortality, showing that he truly doesn’t love her and never did. Rather, Apollo chooses to believe he’s doing this for Evangeline because rationalizing his action in this way allows him to ignore how his actions harm others, connecting to the theme of The Difference Between Right and Good. It also keeps him from acknowledging the terrible person he’s let himself become. As long as Apollo thinks he’s acting in someone else’s best interests, he doesn’t have to realize how poor of a king or person he is. His death at the Tree of Souls, however, reveals his narcissistic nature: He cares only for himself, which means he cannot harness the power of the tree because he is doomed to become part of it. Apollo’s death shows how the Valors have plotted against Apollo all along. It is unclear whether they have done so for their own gain or to save the North from Apollo’s greed, but in the end, the result is the same.

With the story curse’s point of view in this section, Graber shows how the magic of the North will live on long after the events of this book. The story turns its back on Jacks and Evangeline once they find their happy ending because there are other stories to tell now that this one is done. By giving the curse personhood and a perspective, Graber leaves the story world open for more tales of the other characters. Both LaLa and Aurora are static, unchanging characters in this novel, and are open to the possibility of change in the future. Aurora is the same selfish, petty person at the end of the book that she was when it began. When she asks Jacks why he doesn’t love her, she shows that she is still too self-absorbed to understand how her actions have turned Jack against her. LaLa is also open to the possibility of change: In past installments, LaLa wanted to open the Valory Arch because her beloved was trapped inside. However, now that the arch has been opened, LaLa second-guesses the love she once had. When the novel ends, both characters still have the capacity for growth and change, opening the possibility of future installments.