The Unwanteds

“In Quill all the trees were confined to one place so that no one would get notions about introducing such a bright color into the housing quadrants.”

The gray desolation of Quill seems even more desaturated and dystopian in contrast to the world of Artimé. In such a short space of time, Alex and the other Unwanteds go from facing certain death to being welcomed into a colorful, naturalistic world. The juxtaposition serves to highlight the depressive nature of Quill and explain the extreme shock the Unwanted children experience.

“Quill prevails when the strong survive.”

This mantra, with its inherently fascist overtones, is repeated by the Quill Secretary when she is told she will be retired from her position and sent to her death. The flat, emotionless way she repeats the phrase reveals how constant brainwashing has affected the people of Quill. Everyone has bought into the idea that they live in a perfect society, even though that is clearly far from true.

“Strange tears flooded her eyes and bubbled over as he caught sight of her.”

Amid the magic and wonder of Artimé, Meghan’s reunion with her brother reveals the emotional capabilities made possible by the Unwanteds’ new world. While the giant flying animals might be more visually spectacular, the emotional reality of Meghan’s reunion is more affecting. At this stage, when Artimé is still unusual and wonderous, the focus on emotional freedom confirms to the reader how truly novel the world is for the children.

“Because this will feel like a failure to your friends.”

In addition to learning art and magic, the children begin to express themselves emotionally. Meghan does not consider that her rapid progress might make others jealous because she has never been taught to consider anyone’s feelings—not even her own. The learning curve is steep and trickier to navigate than those lessons involving art or magic.

“Alex slumped back in his seat, trying to comprehend.”

Prior this moment, Samheed’s animosity toward Alex is revealed: Alex’s brother Aaron reported Samheed for a minor infraction a week before the Purge. Doing so meant condemning Samheed to his ostensible death because Aaron had no idea that the Unwanteds are actually sent to Artimé. Samheed refers to Aaron as Alex’s evil twin, and Alex is stunned to discover that his brother could be so vindictive and cunning.

“In and out he breathed, wishing with all his might that he could just go back to Quill, where he wouldn’t have expectations or dreams or hopes or imagination or responsibilities at all.”

Though Artimé is a paradise for most of the Unwanteds, Alex finds himself socially isolated and depressed. He is driven away from his friends because he has not begun magic training. This also leads to him feeling dissatisfied by the entire magical kingdom. He arguably has everything he wants in Artimé, but he yearns for life in the dystopic Quill simply because he was less alone.

“Mr. Today shook his head and sank back in his chair.”

Trying to protect Artimé, Mr. Today created a situation in which Alex’s social isolation poses a threat. Mr. Today faces a difficult decision: allow Alex to begin training, though this might lead to Aaron discovering Artimé, or leave Alex in social isolation and risk him becoming so disenchanted that he does something destructive.

“He was just the sort of boy who grows up to be a dangerously powerful man.”

Aaron Stowe’s capacity for ruthlessness has been evident throughout the novel. His cynical, dangerous streak is recognized as a positive by the powerful figures at Quill, so Aaron is trained by some of the town’s leading figures. Just as Alex starts to receive his Magical Warrior Training, his twin receives special training of his own.

“Desperately, Alex wished it would set in motion a better, happier time.”

Despite his self-imposed exile, Alex craves companionship. He is embarrassed and annoyed but feels lonely. Though he has caused a scene in the dining room by fighting with Samheed, he secretly delights in the fact that one of Artimé’s animals came to his aid. He hopes that a better, brighter future will come, and the others in Artimé will think of him as an equal, rather than a risk.

“It’s too late for that.”

Though Samheed explicitly warns Alex against getting his hopes up, Alex cannot help it. He still pines for Aaron’s company, even knowing what he knows about his brother’s distasteful nature. This suggests that Mr. Today was correct in his worry that the bond between the two twins is stronger than anyone could have expected. Alex’s inability to abandon Aaron sets up a future concern for the community of Artimé.

“That boy had just kissed her, right on the cheek.”

Though the relationship between Alex and Lani is strained at times, there has always been a romantic tension between them. However, as they are still young, they are unable to recognize or act on this nascent bond. Lani mocked and teased Alex, so he withdrew from her out of resentment. But after learning to make himself invisible through magic, Alex has the courage to kiss Lani. The action shocks her, providing everything she had hoped for and cutting through all their previous tension.

“The only thing he was painfully aware of was the single question that pounded rhythmically in his head.”

Alex’s obsession with Aaron shows no sign of halting. Having seen inside Mr. Today’s office, he is only left with more questions. The more he learns about the mage’s powers and connections to Quill, the less he seems to know. Alex is determined to find out the truth, but his obsession has the potential to damage the relationships he is establishing with his friends.

“Alex turned his back on his brother, and, using the shovel as he always did, he slowly, methodically, filled in the hole.”

The truth about Aaron is presented in a flashback. Aaron was guilty of creative expression too, but Alex took the blame so his brother could avoid the Purge. Alex guarded their secret for years because—before he knew the truth about Artimé—it had the potential to condemn his brother to death. This showcases Alex’s nobility, caring nature, and propensity for self-sacrifice. It suggests that Aaron could have had a brighter future if he had joined Alex in Artimé.

“He froze, and willed Samheed to think it was nothing.”

Caught in a compromising position, worried about being caught, Alex finds himself unable to do anything to rectify the situation. Rather than relying on magic, he hopes Samheed with ignore him as he has in the past. Surprisingly, the boys’ unique bond compels Samheed to say nothing when he sees Alex.

“Alex’s heart began to crack.”

Aaron’s emotionless reaction to learning that his brother is not dead reveals how the opposing doctrines of Quill and Artimé have impacted the separated brothers. While Alex has learned to embrace his feelings, Aaron’s successes in Quill have only diminished his capacity for emotions. Alex could not have imagined a world in which Aaron was not happy to see him, so this experience drives the brothers even further apart.

“I follow the law, and I do my duties. You’ll never learn that, will you?”

The more time Alex spends with Aaron, the more he realizes that he hardly knows his brother. Aaron, after sitting through an hour’s explanation of the magical world, is not compelled to stay. He instead focuses on his duties to fulfill in Quill. Alex begins to see just how different he and his brother are.

“Alex’s eye widened.”

The more Alex tries to save his brother, the more he is confronted with the idea that he will never succeed. But because Alex is still a teenager, he refuses to back down. When Mr. Today reveals that he has been aware of Alex’s actions for some time, Alex is surprised. He realizes that he has been allowed to try and fail to reach his brother because failure is just part of the creative process, which Artimé encourages.

“Aaron straightened his already extreme posture to a state of rigid.”

Aaron cannot stop thinking about his brother. Even as he sits in a meeting with the High Priest and the most senior governors, he is devising a way to test what he has learned. The plan is a risk, and Aaron’s body betrays his nervousness. He has everything to gain and everything to lose.

“For the first time since the incident in the mud Alex sensed his brother’s true fear.”

Though those in Quill have forsaken emotions and bury their feelings as deeply as possible, Alex is in tune with his brother’s thinking and knows fear when he sees it. It is a chink in Aaron’s armor, enough to assure Alex that there might be a part of Aaron that is salvageable.

“I’d rather die fighting to keep us free to do as we wish, fighting to be free to come and go as we please, fighting so we no longer need to hide.”

Mr. Today created Artimé in direct opposition to Quill. As Quill is an authoritarian, desolate hellscape that walls itself off, Mr. Today endeavors to make Artimé a warm and welcoming place. Even if it means exposing his charges to danger, Mr. Today believes in ensuring Artimé never becomes anything like Quill. In doing so, he reveals himself to be just as much of an ideologue as Justine.

“Control your emotions, and you will hit every time.”

There is an irony in this final piece of advice given by Mr. Today as the Artiméans march to battle against the Quillitary. Telling Alex to control his emotions is the exact directive that the leaders of Quill provide to their citizens. In many ways, Mr. Today and Justine act as different sides to the same coin.

“Whatever I do—it’ll never be enough.”

As Mr. Today and Alex ride toward Quill, Mr. Today reveals his motivations. All his efforts to make Artimé a creative utopia have been an attempt to undo the damage he did while working with his sister Justine. He is motivated to be her opposite because he has seen the damage she has done. For Mr. Today, the war is the chance to undo his past.

“I’m sorry… about everything.”

Samheed’s moment of redemption allows him to make peace with his previous misdeeds. Though he came close to betraying Artimé, his actions in the final battle put him in a position to be forgiven. But it is Alex’s forgiveness that means the most to him. After working so hard to betray Alex, Samheed’s regret is genuine, and he becomes a full-fledged member of Artimé at last.