51 pages • 1 hour read
The Stolen Queen
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Symbols & Motifs
The Cerulean Queen
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death child death.
The Cerulean Queen is a fragmented statue of Hathorkare that the Met owns; both Charlotte and Annie are deeply moved by it. It helps them feel a closer sense of emotional connection to a historical figure since Charlotte marvels, “[I]f the rest of the statue came anywhere close to being as beautiful as the lips, it must have been a sight to behold” (8). The statue symbolizes the connection between women across history and the resilience of women in the wake of suffering. Even though the statue is thousands of years old, Charlotte and Annie both feel a strong sense of connection whenever they gaze upon it. The statue and other similar artifacts are what provoke Charlotte to muse, “[W]ho had these women loved in their lifetimes? What had they accomplished?” (57). While Charlotte is extremely knowledgeable about Egyptian history, Annie’s similar response shows that the artwork can move even someone who knows relatively little about it. The statue, therefore, also symbolizes the power of institutions like museums and galleries to make historical works widely accessible to the public.
Because the statue has been broken and only parts of it remain, it also functions as a powerful symbol of Resilience in the Face of Personal Loss. Despite believing that her husband and baby have died, Charlotte can go on and retain her ambition and intellectual curiosity. She directly draws comfort from the statue, reflecting that “the Cerulean Queen g[ives] her hope. Hope that one could be broken and crushed and still carry on” (10). The broken statue reflects attempts to erase Hathorkare and her legacy, and yet, because a fragment of the statue remains visible and powerful thousands of years later, it also symbolizes how she endured, nonetheless. The statue simultaneously symbolizes how women face many challenges and obstacles due to Negative Responses to Women’s Ambition but can often still persist and survive.
The Silver Streak
Charlotte has a distinctive silver streak in her hair; it is genetic and appears quite early in her life. Eventually, Annie will confirm that Fatima (Layla) is Charlotte’s long-lost daughter because she notices that Fatima has an identical silver streak in her hair. The distinctive hair pattern symbolizes the eternal endurance of family bonds and Complex Loyalties Between Mothers and Daughters. Even though decades pass, Charlotte never stops longing for her daughter and grieving the loss. As soon as it seems possible that Layla is still alive, Charlotte doggedly pursues every chance to track down her child. Likewise, from the time that Fatima learned that she was adopted, she was interested in learning more about her birth parents. While she is shy to approach both Henry and Charlotte, Fatima feels a keen sense of connection to them, although she has never known them.
Once Fatima/Layla and Charlotte are reunited, they immediately feel a bond and a sense of closeness. They have lived extremely different lives (Fatima has grown up in Egypt, and the detail about her headscarf implies that she may be a practicing Muslim), but they share a sense of affinity because of their connection as mother and daughter. The novel celebrates bonds that are not necessarily genetic (Charlotte and Annie become extremely close despite not being related), but it also affirms that Fatima and Charlotte have an inherent connection because they are mother and child. Even if time and space separate them, their physical bodies are marked by their affinity.
Butterflies
In the lead-up to the Met Gala, Diana Vreeland asks for butterflies. She thinks that they will evoke a feeling of grandeur and add to the ambiance of the party. Diana is speaking vaguely and metaphorically, but Annie takes her literally, which leads to the catastrophic situation when the moths are released. The butterflies symbolize the gulf between Annie’s working-class experiences and the affluent world of the Met Gala. Annie has an intuitive aesthetic sense, and she has been exposed to beautiful spaces like the Met since her childhood. However, she has grown up with very limited finances and is initially working as a waitress and a cleaner. Annie is ambitious but doesn’t have any knowledge of the social norms to which individuals like Diana ascribe.
Because she is insecure and wants to please Diana, Annie also doesn’t ask for clarification or further instructions. In addition to her naivety, the butterflies also symbolize how Annie’s lack of self-confidence hinders her. Annie aspires to be part of a world of butterflies (elegant, confident women like Charlotte and Diana), but she perpetually feels more like the moths that end up being unleashed at the party. However, while the butterflies symbolize the constraints that Annie first faces, they also symbolize her hidden potential. Since butterflies begin as caterpillars and then abruptly emerge as beautiful and ethereal creatures, they often symbolize the possibility for transformation and growth. While Annie is not initially well equipped to step into her new role, she is positioned as deeply capable of learning what she needs to know.
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