Ysabel is a fantasy fiction novel written by the popular Canadian author, Guy Gavriel Kay. This novel takes place south of France where fifteen-year-old Ned Marriner encounters influencial people and supernatural forces. Ned is in France with his father, Edward Marriner, a well known photographer who is in the midst of taking photos for a recently developing book that is to come out next Christmas called “Edward Marriner: Images of Provence, accompanying a text by Oliver Lee.” (31) His mother, Meghan Marriner, is in “…an insanely dangerous place.” (24) in Sudan working with Doctors Without Borders. With Ned’s mother “having flown far away from them… again…” (36), his father distracted by his work, and a constant yearn for attention, the women
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Melanie’s traumatic transition into Ysabel mid-way through the novel frames unification between the real world and the fantasy world, as well as expresses how crucial tying the past and present together are to this story. As Cathy Caruth, a trauma theorist, describes in her book “Trauma: Explorations in Memory,” trauma “… does not simply serve as a record of the past but… the force of an experience… not yet fully owned.” (151) Becoming Ysabel is an experience Melanie is not yet aware of, therefore, this makes it impossible to fully face the trauma that becomes her. Ned’s aunt, Kimberly Ford, illustrates the lack of connection between Ned and his parents and the relationship that ceases to be made. Because Kim has “her own [traumatic] experiences…” (221) with the fairy tale world that Ned is recently exposed to, she becomes a personal connection to …show more content…
The three women that Ned meets, Kate, Melanie, and Kim, become exceedingly significant to the development of Ned’s character. Kate is significant to Ned’s evolution as she helps to exhibit the extensive history of Provence, as well as the perplexing way that one can get pulled into a parallel world just by interacting with someone like Ned, who has powers to communicate with beings of a different time. Because Ned’s mother is gone regularly working with Doctors Without Borders, Melanie illustrates a mother figure to Ned. Her traumatic transition into Ysabel half way through the novel truly effects the way Ned views his involvement in the fairy tale world. When Ned meets his aunt Kim, she helps in demonstrating a lack of connection between Ned and his parents. Kim’s knowledge of the family history, as well as what Ned is going through, provides Ned with someone to depend on. These three women are shaped throughout the novel and in return, play an essential component in forming Ned’s persona. As the historical events of Provence and the alternate world’s story line are revealed, we encounter powerful and impactful women that guide Ned, both appearing from the past and showing up in the
Melanie’s traumatic transition into Ysabel mid-way through the novel frames unification between the real world and the fantasy world, as well as expresses how crucial tying the past and present together are to this story. As Cathy Caruth, a trauma theorist, describes in her book “Trauma: Explorations in Memory,” trauma “… does not simply serve as a record of the past but… the force of an experience… not yet fully owned.” (151) Becoming Ysabel is an experience Melanie is not yet aware of, therefore, this makes it impossible to fully face the trauma that becomes her. Ned’s aunt, Kimberly Ford, illustrates the lack of connection between Ned and his parents and the relationship that ceases to be made. Because Kim has “her own [traumatic] experiences…” (221) with the fairy tale world that Ned is recently exposed to, she becomes a personal connection to …show more content…
The three women that Ned meets, Kate, Melanie, and Kim, become exceedingly significant to the development of Ned’s character. Kate is significant to Ned’s evolution as she helps to exhibit the extensive history of Provence, as well as the perplexing way that one can get pulled into a parallel world just by interacting with someone like Ned, who has powers to communicate with beings of a different time. Because Ned’s mother is gone regularly working with Doctors Without Borders, Melanie illustrates a mother figure to Ned. Her traumatic transition into Ysabel half way through the novel truly effects the way Ned views his involvement in the fairy tale world. When Ned meets his aunt Kim, she helps in demonstrating a lack of connection between Ned and his parents. Kim’s knowledge of the family history, as well as what Ned is going through, provides Ned with someone to depend on. These three women are shaped throughout the novel and in return, play an essential component in forming Ned’s persona. As the historical events of Provence and the alternate world’s story line are revealed, we encounter powerful and impactful women that guide Ned, both appearing from the past and showing up in the