64 pages • 2 hours read
Rainbow RowellCarry On: The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2015A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Magical Fire
Throughout the novel, fire is often associated with magic, which is one of the most formidable and versatile forms of power. In Chapter 1, Simon recalls Baz’s advice about how to control magic: “Light a match inside your heart, then blow on the tinder” (6). Baz learned this metaphor from his late mother, who possessed tremendous magical and political power as the headmistress of Watford and the leader of the magical world.
A match represents potential. Once lit, it can be used to provide warmth and light or to cause destruction. In the novel, magical power likewise can be used either to help or to harm depending on the intentions of the person casting the spell. In Chapter 33, Baz observes, “Sharing a room with the person you want most is like sharing a room with an open fire” (177). In this appearance of the motif, Simon’s power over Baz stems not from his status as the Chosen One but rather from Baz’s love for him. The comparison of Simon to flames is especially significant because vampires are highly flammable: A fire spell gave Baz’s mother the power to destroy herself and the vampire who bit her. In Chapter 61, Baz sets a forest on fire when guilt and despair overpower him, and Simon saves him from self-immolation. The woods near the Pitch estate are set ablaze again in Chapter 71 when Simon cannot contain his magic. Later that chapter, Simon learns that the Insidious Humdrum grows stronger whenever he unleashes his power.
In the Epilogue, Simon compares himself to “a house after a fire” (516). Simon tried to use his power for good, but he unwittingly created holes in the magical atmosphere. Even after he gives up his power and stops being the Chosen One, the damage lingers both out in the world and within Simon’s psyche. Rowell uses the motif of fire to show that, while power can be used for good, it can easily cause grievous harm if misused.
Simon’s Wings
Simon’s wings symbolize his perception of his role in the narrative. They make their first appearance in Chapter 36. There are no spells for sprouting wings, but the Chosen One achieves the impossible and gives himself wings made of “bones and feathers and magic—and will” (194) by wishing that he could fly. The feathery wings make Simon resemble an angel—a fitting image for a hero who saves his best friend and carries her far from the Insidious Humdrum.
However, his wings take on a different form as the novel continues and Simon’s self-perception grows more complicated. In Chapter 71, Baz realizes that Simon and the Humdrum are somehow the same person and calls his boyfriend “a bad guy” and “the greatest threat to magic” (420). Simon internalizes Baz’s words and externalizes his self-doubt by sprouting red-and-black leathery wings that make him look “like Satan incarnate” (425). Simon sports these wings throughout the climax, during which the Mage tells Simon that he is not the Chosen One. The Mage’s words reinforce Simon’s belief that he is a menace to the world he loves and wants to save.
Simon’s wings change their appearance once more. Although they remain even after he gives up his magic, they are enchanted to be invisible. In this way, they become an unseen weight on his shoulders—a symbol of the trauma he begins to process with the aid of a psychologist in the Epilogue.
The Sword of Mages
The Sword of Mages is a direct reference to the Sword of Gryffindor, a magical item from the Harry Potter universe that similarly only comes when summoned by a deserving person. In this novel, the sword acts as a symbol for Simon’s trustworthiness, a trait the Mage exploits to use the Chosen One as a weapon against his foes. Simon summons the sword by reciting the following pledge: “In justice. In courage. In defence of the weak. In the face of the mighty. Through magic and wisdom and good” (28). The magical weapon possesses a sentience and will of its own; it “belongs to no one” (28) and only answers the call if it trusts the summoner. Likewise, Simon answers the Mage’s call and lends his power to the headmaster’s cause. He sincerely believes that the Mage is acting with justice and wisdom and advancing the greater good. In Chapter 23, Simon argues that the conflict between the Mage and the Old Families is “not just politics” but a matter of “right and wrong” (130). Simon has good reason to be personally invested in the headmaster’s egalitarian reforms. Previous administrators would not have permitted him to attend Watford because everyone believes he has Normal parents. For most of the novel, Simon remains unaware of the lengths the Mage will go to in order to advance his ideals.
Simon’s status as the Chosen One makes him the most formidable magical weapon in the world. His allies are aware of this and fear how the Mage might abuse his power. During the climax, Simon finally realizes that the Mage doesn’t deserve his trust. The Mage disregards Simon’s agency and tries to take his power, but Simon gives all of his magic to the Humdrum instead. Like the Sword of Mages, Simon retains his own free will and chooses who is worthy of his power.
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By Rainbow Rowell
