How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
[…] Randa was clever. He could see that in time his niece might serve a practical purpose. He sent her to her chambers and kept her there for weeks as punishment [for killing her cousin], but that was all. When she emerged, they all ran to get out of her path. They'd never liked her before, for no one liked the Graced, but at least they'd tolerated her presence. Now there was no pretense of friendliness. (1.32)
Eight years old and friendless. But not just friendless—feared, avoided, treated like a freak. You'd think the Graced would have banded together and formed some kind of support group given how outcast they all are. And yet Katsa manages to reach age eighteen as a relatively stable individual, and we think there are three reasons for that:
- Ultimately, as one of many Gracelings in the kingdoms, she does belong to a group; and
- Raffin; and
- Katsa's true Grace isn't killing—it's survival. That's got to help, too.
Quote #2
Sometimes members of the court would come by to watch her practices. But if she caught their gaze, their eyes would drop and they would hurry on. (1.43)
Now that's isolation. Can you even imagine what it would be like to never have anyone look you in the eye? Think about how many times you make eye contact with people over the course of a day. What would it be like if every single one of those times, instead of meeting your eyes, the person in question looked away? Crazy-making, right? Right.
Quote #3
The girl paused. Then she leaned and held her hand out to Katsa. Something welled up inside Katsa, something she couldn't quite name. A sort of sad gladness at this little creature who wanted to touch her. (5.36)
We half expect Katsa to cry out "I am not a animal!" like the Elephant Man here, but Katsa kind of does consider herself a monster, so clearly that's not about to happen. Still, this scene makes it achingly evident how little contact Katsa has had with people over the years. Actually, scratch that. She's had plenty of contact, it's just been in the form of her fist meeting people's faces. What she hasn't had is much in the way of kind and tender contact, and that has to have taken a toll on her.
Quote #4
"I didn't mean to startle you," Katsa said. "I'm only looking for a space to practice my exercises."
The boy climbed from his stool and fled. (5.43-44)
Yeah, that's kind of the stock response Katsa gets from children. And adults. Which kind of puts her in the same boat as Frankenstein (who's not actually called "Frankenstein" in the novel, FYI). So the monster comparisons she keeps making? We can kind of see why she views herself that way. Lots of people seem to. And that would be pretty isolating.
Quote #5
His hand dropped, returning to his side, and he looked at her calmly, as if this were normal, as if friends she'd only just made always touched her face with their fingertips. As if she ever made friends. As if she had ay basis for comparison, to decide what was normal when one made friends, and what was not.
She was not normal. (9.129-130)
"As if she ever made friends." Ouch. It's pretty obvious that Katsa has felt so isolated for so long that she can't even see that she does, in fact, have friends. Raffin, for instance. And Oll. Giddon? He's got ulterior motives, so we're not sure we'd count him, but surely Helda and Bann are among her fans. As is Grandfather Tealiff. The thing is, she feels so separate from others because of her abilities and how she's had to use them over the years, that she can't see the forest for the trees. Or the friends she's made for the slights she's endured.
Quote #6
"My brothers gave me that name when I was little. It's a kind of tree in Lienid, the po tree. In autumn its leaves turn silver and gold. Inevitable nickname, I guess."
Katsa […] wondered if the name had been given fondly, or it had been an attempt by Po's brothers to isolate him—to remind him always that he was a Graceling. (10.26-27)
Of course this is where Katsa's mind would go. She's always been excluded—isolated, ostracized—for her Grace, and so she assumes that must be the case with Po, too. Like all people, Katsa tends to view the world through the lens of her experiences, and hers, so far, has been an experience of isolation.
Quote #7
"Most people won't look into my eyes," she said. "Most people fear them." (16.43)
Again with the eye contact. Why? Because it's really important. So much is communicated through the eyes, which is likely why people often refer to them as the windows to our souls. And maybe they really are. What's interesting is that Katsa has a hard time meeting Po's eyes at first. Of course she recognizes this and works hard to correct it because she knows how rotten it feels to have people avoid making eye contact. She's been on the receiving end of that game enough.
Quote #8
Katsa […] looked out into the sea of men. […] Katsa was the only woman in the room, save a harried serving girl, the innkeeper's daughter, who ran among tables with a tray full of cups and pitchers. (18.6)
Katsa often finds that she is the only woman in a roomful of men—at least the only woman who could be perceived as an equal—but that's to be expected. Because of her Grace, and because of her nature, many of her undertakings fall into the realm of typically masculine pursuits. Because she is not content to follow a more traditional path for a woman in her time, she frequently find herself as the only woman among men, often having to justify her presence there.
Of course, that's what it's like for pioneers in any area, and that's why being a pioneer can be so isolating.
Quote #9
"I don't want to go back to my home. I've been thinking of staying here, where it's peaceful and far away from everyone. I—I want to be alone." (37.46)
Po attempts to isolate himself from the pain of his blindness by isolating himself from the world around him, particularly the people and places he loves. Do you think this is a strange response to his situation? Why or why not? And if Katsa had just taken him at his word and left him then and there, what do you think would have become of Po?
Quote #10
[…] of course, if alone was what he needed, alone was what she should give. But […] she was going to require proof. He was going to have to convince her, convince her utterly, that solitude was his need. (37.55)
Thankfully Katsa, who's had plenty of experience with isolation, is finally able to put that experience to good use. She understands what Po is asking here, but more importantly she understands the difference between solitude and isolation. The former can be healing and rejuvenating—a chance for reflection and personal growth. The latter can be debilitating, especially when it's the result of self-pity.