I'm getting pretty irritated at seeing the argument that Pro Eluciens don't respect what Elain wants because she's "declared she's part of this Court" when we envision her elsewhere in Prythian or that Cassian's voice should not trump that of Elains when he counters that by saying no matter what she says about being part of the NC, the color black (which is symbolic for the NC and can easily mean the NC itself) literally sucks the life out of her.
- Elain is not a real person. She is not standing in front of you and I right now telling us what she wants. She is not someone we can ask follow up questions to, in an effort to see exactly why she's making that claim and whether it's the full truth. People often say things they don't mean. Or that they're trying to convince themselves of. So Elain making a one off comment is not the same thing as hearing that comment, having a lengthy conversation after it and really digging into the validity of it to find out if she truly feels that way or is trying to convince herself that she feels that way. If as a reader you're choosing to focus on one sentence Elain speaks (and without actually getting into her thoughts) as being more important than the many other clues the author has left for us indicating the opposite than I personally feel you're approaching this authors writing style the wrong way. Not to mention there's a whole lot of "the character said this before but it turned out to mean something else later down the line once we really get their thoughts or detailed explanation" going on in these books. Of course that is just my opinion but.... 🤷
- It's extremely funny that "Cassian" shouldn't be speaking for Elain but it's alright for Az to. Not to mention Cassian isn't speaking for Elain. He had a thought that he kept to himself. That even though Elain claimed she belonged, he observed (to himself) that he still noticed she looked lifeless in a place and color that is still part of the Night Court and that the characters regularly visit as it is part of their duties. And that it's cruelty bothers her. Yeah, none of them like the Hewn City because they think the people who live there are pieces of shit. But they have no issues stepping into their roles, playing their parts and no one can deny that they play their parts well. That regardless of whether they like the Hewn City, they all look like they belong ruling over it. Which is in direct contrast to Cassian thinking to himself that Elain doesn't quite fit in like the rest. But for some reason Cassian's out of line for thinking something doesn't line up with Elains words yet Az is a cutey wittle boy for announcing to everyone (behind her back) that Elain shouldn't be doing something she volunteered to help with.
- Elain glowing and healthy in purple means absolutely nothing in regards to her belonging in the NC. It's mentioned twice in SF that Elain in purple equals good health. That means Elain could be wearing purple anywhere in their world and she would be glowing with good health. Also, Nesta notes Elain has always been special because creating friends and a place for herself had always come easily to Elain. It's not the NC helping her recover. It's Elains character that's getting her to a better place. Not necessarily the right place for her, just better than the depression she was in before. And the bigger take on the color of her dresses is what happens when they are placed side by side. Black while in the Hewn City versus purple when she leaves it. Purple is not a Night Court color whereas black is (and the one she looks ill-suited in). That's not to say no one in the Night Court is ever allowed to wear purple. I'm sure they can and have. But based off the authors writing, I haven't seen any real symbolism given to the color purple and the NC. Purple for SJM is usually associated with her Healers. Or outside of SJM, it's the color associated with royalty. Things that are given symbolism in the NC? The color black. Illyrian leathers. One which Elain looks dead in and one she refused to wear.
Can others just stop accusing Eluciens of not having Elains best interest at heart? She doesn't have her own best interests. She has whatever the author tells her she's going to have. And based on many many clues, the author is building a very compelling argument that regardless of Elain doing her best to make a life for herself, regardless of what she's trying to convince herself of, the NC is not going to be where she thrives.
That's what usually happens in a characters story. They start off in one place thinking certain things, and grow and change by the end of the book. It happens alllllll the time in novels. It makes a lot less sense for Elain to claim (in someone else's book) that she's happy in the Night Court, that she's already got her friends and love life figured out and by the end of her book to be in exactly the same place, with exactly the same friends, with exactly the same love interest.
If anything I'd say Eluciens care more for Elains character considering they want more for her than what's currently been shown in the series so far.
