Isolation In 'The Scorpio Races'

In the novel, The Scorpio Races, the author develops a story about two young adults coming to age by means of enduring the violent reality that is the Scorpio Races. The novel provides a clear outline of the struggles the protagonists face - seizing the opportunity to explore their vulnerabilities. Throughout the novel, the author explores the effects that isolation, senseless-violence, and desperation have on a character’s ability to maintain courage and emotional connections.

One of the most prominent ways the author challenges the emotional stability of the main characters is by placing them in isolation. The author decides to place the story on an island frozen in time, purposely free from outside influence. The combination of the vibrant

The races serve as the isolated islands only attraction; thus, bringing in spectators and gamblers from the mainland. With a chance to win a hefty sum, Puck Connolly takes the opportunity to join the race when it is revealed that Gabe will be leaving the island. Desperate for money, Puck enters the races despite intense scrutiny and ridicule over her gender and lack of professional training. Puck overcomes these unwarranted attacks and further demonstrates her ability to maintain her sense of spirit. By selecting a horse whose physical characteristics are subpar to the rest in the race, Puck makes her chance of winning statistically marginal. The returning champion of the Scorpio Races, Sean Kendrick expresses his understanding of Puck’s choice, “I reckon,” Sean says, in that same slow voice, “that it’s wise of you to ride your own horse, Puck, even if she is just an island pony. Better that your heart’s your own”( Stiefvater 262). Puck’s choice to maintain her horse, despite its apparent weaknesses, reveal her to maintain a sense of personal identity even when involved in the heated conflict of the Scorpio Races: an event where losing and dying are closely intertwined.

At the end of the novel, Puck wins the race despite her apparent flaws and questionable choices. This conclusion reveals the character’s ability to maintain true to herself while still committing