How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"Beautiful, aren't they?" "Beautiful," he agreed, and he might have been talking about the knives, but he was looking straight at her. (31.12)
As a man of war, Akiva can appreciate the beauty of a good knife. However, this scene is rife with double meaning. The knives are beautiful. Karou is beautiful. But Karou, and the knives, are beautiful to Akiva because they remind him of Madrigal, who was also beautiful… Is anyone not beautiful in this book? Oh, right. Bain.
Quote #8
Madrigal was of high-human aspect, as was said of races with the head and torso of man or woman. […] [Chiro] was of creature aspect, with the head of a jackal. (48.4, 48.16)
Appearances are a big deal in the world of the chimaera. When some of them die, they want to come back as "high-human." Why do you think this is the valued appearance in their culture? Is it just an arbitrary form of prejudice, like skin color?
Quote #9
"Would you want to be me?" Hurt and confused, Madrigal said, "I don't understand." "No, you wouldn't," said Chiro. "You're beautiful." (50.39)
Chiro is extremely self-conscious about her appearance, which isn't surprising when you consider how prejudiced her culture is against those with creature aspect. The desire to be human after death is eerily similar to some people's real-world desire to put their life on the line for extreme plastic surgery.