The Character Development Of Celia Bowen, The Night Circus By Aubrey Jones

The Character Development of Celia Bowen, “The Night Circus” by Aubrey Jones

"The circus arrives without warning," (Morgenstern 1) and one of its many performers goes by the name of Celia Bowen, an illusionist. In the beginning, Celia is presented to the reader as a five-year-old girl who hardly speaks; Celia becomes hardened by the teachings of her father during the rising action; at the climax, Celia's ties with her father become close to broken and she slowly becomes a more happy and open person; finally, Celia's character is classified as a well-rounded person, having a knowledge and understanding of a great many things and really becoming more herself. In The Night Circus, the character development of Celia Bowen goes from quiet and nonchalant

with her hands folded in her lap. Her gaze is fixed downward... There is a small scuff on the toe [of her boots], but the laces are knotted in perfect bows" (10). Once her father realizes her gift for magic, he immediately sets her on a path to become a contender in a challenge of magic. "As soon as Prospero recognizes his daughter's talent, he begins obsessively training her to dark tasks like repairing her fingertips after he slits them open and resetting her bones after he smashes them" ("Celia Bowen"; bookrags.com). Due to Prospero's forced teachings, Celia becomes increasingly pessimistic and cautious for a child her age: "Her pessimist personality shows especially when she spends what should be worry-free years of her childhood training and learning what her father shoves down her throat. "I can't do it," Celia says with tears in her eyes" (31)" ("Celia Bowen"; thenightcircusx.weebly.com). Between her father constantly leaving her so that he can

"Besides becoming optimistic, Celia also becomes aware that life is what you make of it." ("Celia Bowen"; thenightcircusx.weebly.com). "While she enjoys [her first performance] more than she thought she would, she is grateful that she has stretches of time to herself in between" (Morgenstern 126). As her time with the circus increases, she gradually becomes more independent; especially when she ignores her father's wishes to be with Marco: "You do not get to dictate how I spend every moment of my time, Papa" (174) "Celia dislikes being treated like a child, or having to follow orders and rules she does not understand" ("Celia Bowen"; thoughtspresso.wordpress.com). Although she has fallen in love with Marco, her competitor, her guarded nature compels her to push him away. "She ends up very self-protective, often not allowing Marco to love her. She tries to be in control of things and pushes away the people, especially Marco, who hinder that control" (thoughtspresso.wordpress.com). Although Celia is at a constant push and pull of her bonds with other people, she cares deeply for everyone at the circus. "Celia's caring personality makes her close to many at the circus..." ("Celia Bowen"; thenightcircusx.weebly.com). When it comes to the point that Celia has had enough of the competition and how it will affect the inhabitants of the