The Night Circus Essay: The Loyalties Of Celia Bowen

The loyalties of Celia Bowen, main protagonist of The Night Circus, shift throughout her life, extending her feelings of protectiveness from strictly herself to incorporate the lives of both the members of the Night Circus and Marco, her competitor. Throughout her life, Prospero, Celia’s father, forces her to play different roles. As a child, she was often clothed in ribbons and lace in order to complement Prospero’s image. When she spent a few years pretending to be a medium, Celia dressed in older gowns designed to make her appear ethereal to convince her clients of her genuineness. Allowing Prospero to dress her as such, extended her usefulness while permitting her to retain some degree of personal freedom. Upon learning that she must join …show more content…
However, over the course of the novel she does begin to allow her wardrobe to alter when she is with others, such as in the case with Thiessen, one of the reveurs, or main patrons of the …show more content…
Celia repeats the color-changing trick at a party with Thiessen and the orchestrators of the circus when the author describes her as someone “...whose elaborate gown changes color, shifting through a rainbow of hues to complement whomever she is closest to” (Morgenstern 301). Celia adapts her character to reflect those around her in order to garner support and camaraderie with those that she can use to aid her in the game. By complementing the images of the other circus members, she makes them all feel as if she is on their side despite the changeability of her nature, ensuring that her chances of success won’t waver if the usefulness of one is found lacking. This also reveals another side to her when her dress transforms to match Marco, her opponent’s, suit when he kisses her and then leaves. Her attire remains green after he has departed, signifying that she has decided to add another person to the list for which she is fighting to protect from the damage that the game