The Night Circus

The Night Circus By: Erin Morgenstern “People see what they want to see. And in most cases, what they are told to see” (). What we see and how we perceive varies person to person. Although our imagination is a gift, we often disregard it due to not only our own beliefs, but the beliefs of others. It allows us to think outside the societal box we are so often trapped in by those around us who try to control our ideas. The Night Circus is really more about a matter of perception above all else and focuses on the deepest corners of our imagination. When talking about the setting’s involvement in this story, one has to explore their own imagination and delve into their fears and desires in order to truly understand the circus. The time period

However this circus is not a regular circus. Throughout the course of this novel the reader isn’t just observing, they are part of the story. We travel through the perspectives of various characters during the book and are able to feel and see as if we were in the story as well. The story begins with a magician Prospero and his daughter who shows up unbeknownst backstage after one of his shows. She meets a man whose identity is undisclosed throughout the continuation of the story. Her father trains her in the art of magic whilst disclosing her actions as a “trick of the eye.” Simultaneously a boy named Marco is plucked from an orphanage and trained through repetition and numbers. All the while midnight gatherings at a prominent social figure’s house are being held long before Celia and Marco are even aware of it. They are soon invited to work on a circus unlike any other. Magic is deeply rooted into the circus without the knowledge of many of its own employees. During the novel Celia and Marco come to become friends even though we learn early on that they are dueling and the circus is their battleground, An innocent bystander, Bailey, who finds himself in the right place at the right time gains control of the circus when Marco and Celia go too far. Their unbreakable bond truly makes for an interesting turn of

One member of the circus tries to meddle with the balance of circus causing Marco to almost die. Victory means nothing to either player and Celia sacrifices her victory in order to save her friend. They both turn into ghostlike figures who keep the circus balanced and functioning after their departure. No one could get between their friendship even though that was the main point of the whole game. Human instinct is to help yourself and Celia breaks free from this stereotype and does what her heart tells her to and saves Marco.

Theme is evident in every story whether it be something as simple as a children’s story or as complicated as a classic novel. It varies due to whatever steps the character takes just like in The Night Circus. The message of this story is that we create our own destinies based on our hopes and dreams. People try to meddle with our lives but they don’t have an effect unless we let them. When we hope and strive for achievement we can do just about anything if we truly believe. We all need something to look forward to and having aspirations and something to try for allows us to achieve these