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The 'Six Of Crows' Duology: Analysis

In Leigh Bardugo’s ‘Six of Crows’ duology, contextual influences shape the thematic portrayal of revenge and vengeance, freedom and justice, and remorse. Set in Ketterdam, a corrupt and unequal city, characters’ motivations and actions are deeply influenced by their environment. The desire for revenge arises from a society where power abuse and elusive justice prevail, compelling the protagonists, known as the Crows, to seek retribution against their oppressors. Their pursuit of freedom is driven by a yearning to escape societal constraints and an oppressive system. Themes of justice and remorse emerge as characters confront the consequences of their choices, questioning their morality in an ambiguous world.

Revenge & Vengeance

In ‘Six of Crows’ revenge is portrayed as a creature which can consume someone and transform them into someone essentially inhumane and temporarily insane in a situation where they are consumed by vengeance. This concept is strongly depicted in a scene early on in the first book, where Inej has just been stabbed and Kaz is consumed by anger, anxiety and a craving for revenge, due to his intense care for Inej (who, in his words, is an ‘investment’ and, in Inej’s, ‘a very valuable investment’) and fear for her possible impending death at Oomen, a rival gang member’s, hand. In

“‘Listen to me,’ he hissed, his face inches from Oomen’s. ‘You have two choices. You tell me what I want to know, and we drop you at our next port with your pockets full of enough coin to get you sewn up and buy you passage back to Kerch. Or I take the other eye, and I repeat this conversation with a blind man.’”

Bardugo employs vivid visual imagery, enhancing the intensity of the moment. Kaz’s intimidation tactics highlight his calculating nature, showcasing his reputation as a strongly feared character. Furthermore, the power dynamics between Kaz and Oomen are emphasized, with Kaz holding control and Oomen's fear accentuating his vulnerability. This concept is continued in this scene with

“‘Don’t make me ask again, Oomen,’ Kaz said quietly. ‘Whoever it was can’t protect you now.’ ‘He’ll kill me.’ ‘And I’ll make you wish for death, so you have to weigh those options.’ ‘Pekka Rollins,” Oomen sobbed. “It was Pekka Rollins!’”

employing tone as a literary technique. The hissing tone of Kaz’s voice adds an element of intimidation and threat, emphasizing his determination to get the information he wants. This showcases Kaz's coercive nature, presenting Oomen with an ultimatum and demonstrating Kaz's ruthlessness, as well as underscoring Kaz's determination, the desperation of Oomen, and the high stakes involved, ultimately heightening tension and propelling the plot. Kaz is further portrayed as a highly vengeful character in

“Pekka Rollins couldn't count the threats he'd heard, the men he'd killed, or the men he'd seen die, but the look in Brekker's eye still sent a chill slithering up his spine. Some wrathful thing in this boy was beginning to get loose, and Rollin's didn't want to be around when it slipped its leash.”

Bardugo employs visual imagery in the phrase “sent a chill slithering up his spine” creating a vivid image of the fear and unease Pekka Rollins experiences when he sees the intensity in Kaz’s eyes, consequently emphasising the power and menacing presence Kaz holds. Furthermore, the quote characterizes Kaz Brekker as a formidable and dangerous individual, capable of instilling fear in his enemies. It portrays him as someone driven by a deep desire for retribution, highlighting his determination to seek revenge and the potential consequences for those who stand in his way. This portrays the fear and apprehension felt by Pekka towards Kaz, suggesting that Kaz’s wrath and desire for revenge is growing stronger. The mention of the “wrathful thing” within Kaz implies his intent to seek vengeance and suggests that he poses a significant threat to Rollins, unlike anyone else Pekka has faced in the past. This reflects the theme of revenge and the impending retribution that Kaz seeks against his enemies, conveying that Kaz’s vengeance, though once hidden, was something becoming more visible and essentially consuming as his resolve to achieve vengeance hardened and strengthened, becoming visible to Pekka as his target. Throughout the duology, Kaz is portrayed as someone who is consumed by revenge and vengeance, both in thoughts and in action. The duology thematically portrays revenge and vengeance as a living concept which has the inherent ability to twist the minds of those it enthralls and devours.

Freedom & Justice

The duology delves into the themes of freedom and justice, exploring how retribution and revenge can be perceived as a form of justice, and how striving towards these can foster intense strength, motivation and determination within someone, as well as how one’s sense of freedom and justice is shaped by their personal experiences. The notion of justice as retribution is explored through Kaz in

“Brick by brick,” he muttered to himself. They were the only words that kept his rage in check, […] Brick by brick. It was the promise that let him sleep at night, that drove him every day, that kept Jordie’s ghost at bay. Because a quick death was too good for Pekka Rollins.”

Bardugo employs foreshadowing, symbolising Kaz’s determination for The repetition of this phrase “brick by brick” hints at Kaz’s long-term strategy of dismantling his enemy's empire, piece by piece. It suggests that he is willing to invest time and effort to ensure a thorough and satisfying revenge, rather than seeking a quick and easy resolution, foreshadowing the intense and methodical approach Kaz intends to take in seeking and delivering justice, consequently avenging his brother, Jordie’s, death at the hand of Pekka Rollins. Ultimately, it expresses how this became a fuel and motivation for Kaz, and a goal for him to strive towards, as he wanted Pekka to suffer, similarly to how he caused Jordie and Kaz to suffer greatly as children. It encapsulates Kaz’s sheer determination for achieving vengeance, and underscores his deep resentment towards Pekka and alludes to how Kaz intends to destroy Pekka’s life and unravel it at the seams before finally killing him. This motivation is supported in

“The heart is an arrow. It demands aim to land true.”

By metaphorically delving into the nature of the heart and emphasizing the need for purpose and direction in order to achieve desired outcomes, this suggests that one must have a clear aim or objective to make the heart's desires a reality. This, in consequence, supports Kaz’s intent on avenging Jordie and destroying Pekka, as he has a defined purpose, and because of that, he will achieve what he strives towards. Bardugo’s ‘Six of Crows’ duology also delves into the notion of how one’s past experiences can shape their motivations for the future, and their personal interpretation of freedom and justice as a loose concept. This is explored through Inej, as seen in

“‘I want to use my money to hire a crew and outfit a ship.’ Saying the words wrapped her breath up in an anxious spool. Her dream still felt fragile. She didn’t want to care what Kaz thought, but she did. ‘I’m going to hunt slavers.’”

Inej’s statement of wanting to use her money to hire a crew and hunt slavers reveals her proactive nature and her willingness to take action in pursuit of justice, showcasing her determination and moral convictions. This is a significant moment as Inej has been pondering this dream and plan for her future for a while yet, and the main reason she wants to do this is her own past experiences with slavery, as she herself had been enslaved for 2 years prior to Kaz paying off her indenture with Heleen, the brothel owner. Furthermore, this is significant as Kaz is the first person she is sharing this with, and her internal thoughts show that she does value his opinion, despite not wanting to. This conveys how she herself suffered at the hands of slavers for years, and how in her freedom she wants to now, as a consequence, fight for the freedom of others to avoid them enduring what she did herself. Furthermore, through Kaz, Bardugo explores how when people hold importance in one’s life, they can alter one’s plans for the future and transform how they view their life. In

“‘What do you want then?’ The old answers came easily to mind. Money. Vengeance. Jordie's voice in my head silenced forever. But a different reply roared to life inside him, loud, insistent, and unwelcome. You, Inej. You.”

Kaz’s internal monologue provides insight into his thoughts and conflicting desires, allowing the reader to understand the internal struggle and conflict that has risen within him due to his complex feelings for Inej clashing with his long standing desire to destroy Pekka’s life. This expresses that although Kaz has wanted revenge for a lengthened amount of time, and he still intends to get his revenge on Pekka, he now does not only see revenge in his future, but has other things he cares about and wants. The mention of this being ‘loud, insistent [and] unwelcome’ implies that he does not want for his focus to change from his vengeance for Jordie on Pekka, as he wants more than anything to be able to achieve that, however he now also wants love and freedom, and he sees Inej as that. By saying he wants a future with Inej, he essentially alludes to the fact that he wants for his life to have some other meaning than the constraining one of him getting revenge for what Pekka did to Jordie and himself as children. Overall, the 'Six Of Crows' duology delves into the thematic exploration of freedom and justice from various differing angles and perspectives.

Remorse

‘Six of Crows’ also delves into themes of remorse, and how though one may not immediately feel remorse, the feeling may later sneak up on them unexpectedly. This concept is conveyed in

“Bright flashes of memory sparked through Kaz’s mind. […] The first time he’d seen Inej at the Menagerie, in purple silk, her eyes lined with kohl. The bone-handled knife he’d given her. The sobs that had come from behind the door of her room at the Slat the night she’d made her first kill. The sobs he’d ignored.”

The bright flashes of memory that spark through Kaz's mind evoke the technique of flashbacks, with Kaz reminiscing about past events and experiences, providing insight into Kaz’s previous and current perception of events in his life. The quote itself alludes to Kaz feeling at least some form of remorse for ignoring Inej’s crying the night she had first killed someone, despite him knowing how hard it had been for her at the time due to her faith. It expresses that though at the time he did not consciously care for her as much, he has developed a deep sense of care and love for her over the course of their relationship, and now feels remorseful and regretful of things he had done long in the past. Furthermore, it shows that though Kaz usually asserts himself to be emotionless and confident in his choices, he does indeed have feelings and regrets towards decisions he had made in the past, implying the same for the present.

Summary

In Leigh Bardugo's duology, 'Six of Crows,' the thematic portrayal of revenge, freedom, justice, and remorse is intricately shaped by the corrupt and unequal city of Ketterdam. The characters' motivations and actions are profoundly influenced by their desire for revenge against their oppressors and their yearning for freedom from societal constraints. As the story unfolds, the themes of justice and remorse come to the forefront, challenging the characters' moral compass in a morally ambiguous world. Through powerful imagery and intense moments, Bardugo vividly depicts the all-consuming nature of revenge and the unwavering determination of the characters in their pursuit of justice. Additionally, personal experiences, such as Inej's history as a slave, deeply impact their motivations and convictions. The duology also delves into how relationships and evolving desires can reshape one's path of revenge and redefine their understanding of freedom. Overall, Bardugo masterfully explores complex human motivations and the profound consequences of actions within a richly developed and morally intricate narrative.

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