Prejudice and Discrimination in Amari and the Great Game

Thematic Claim: Prejudice as a Self-Perpetuating Cycle

B.B. Alston’s Amari and the Great Game argues that prejudice is a cycle sustained by fear, political scapegoating, and the refusal to see individuals beyond their group identity. Magicians and UnWanteds are judged not by their actions but by the crimes of ancient ancestors, a pattern that nearly traps the heroes until they consciously choose connection over suspicion. The novel shows that breaking the cycle requires both personal courage and the recognition that the powerful often use prejudice to distract from their own ambitions.

Three Plot Movements That Expose Systemic Prejudice

The Blame for the Time Freeze

When a mysterious time freeze immobilizes most of Georgia in Chapter 3, Deputy Minister Bane immediately blames magicians. Amari is uninvited from camp even though she was on a bus and clearly not responsible. The Bureau’s crackdown on UnWanteds accelerates overnight, proving that the accusation is a convenient excuse to persecute an already marginalized group. This event establishes prejudice as the central conflict: the hero is punished for a crime she did not commit simply because of her magical heritage.

The Current Events Classroom Debate

In Chapter 12, a classroom discussion on UnWanteds reveals how deeply prejudice has been institutionalized. Tristan argues that UnWanteds should be segregated, while Bear dismisses their plight entirely. Amari speaks up, asking her classmates to imagine being judged solely on their birth. The exchange shows that bias is not just a government policy but is reinforced daily by peers. Even Lara, who earlier bullied Amari, later becomes a victim of similar harassment, illustrating that prejudice harms everyone in its reach.

Bane’s Personal Vendetta

Prime Minister Bane, himself a wraith and technically an UnWanted, leads the campaign against his own kind. In Chapter 24, he confronts Amari and admits that only anger remains after centuries of being ripped from his body. His prejudice is fueled by trauma, yet he refuses to see that he is repeating the same pattern of exclusion he suffered. Bane’s hypocrisy—condemning others for being creations of magicians while he himself is one—exposes prejudice as a tool of power rather than logic.

Character and Symbol Connections

Amari Peters: The Reluctant Symbol

Amari becomes a lightning rod for both hope and hatred. The “good magician” label is a burden she never asked for. Even when she saves the world, critics question her motives. Throughout the Great Game, she refuses to steal Dylan’s magic, explicitly choosing not to become a monster to win. This decision underscores the thematic claim: prejudice expects the worst, but individuals can defy that expectation by acting with integrity.

Elsie Rodriguez: Embracing Identity

Elsie is an UnWanted—a dragon-shifter whose existence is technically illegal. In Chapter 36, she transforms into a dragon for the first time, protecting Amari and revealing her true nature. Rather than hiding, she uses her power to fight. Elsie’s arc shows that self-acceptance is a radical act against a discriminatory system.

The Van Helsing Family

The Van Helsings are a family divided by prejudice. Dylan, corrupted by his own resentment, tries to steal Amari’s magic. Lara, once a bully, later experiences exclusion herself when Bear taunts her for being a “magician lover.” Maria walks a tightrope, trying to protect Amari while managing her brother’s rage. The family embodies how prejudice fractures relationships and forces individuals to choose sides.

Symbolic Objects

• The Crown of Vladimir represents the ultimate prize: the combined magic of three magicians. It tempts contestants to embrace the very power that society fears, reinforcing the idea that prejudice ignores the person wielding the power.
• Victor’s Rings are gained through dangerous contests. They symbolize the cost of proving oneself worthy in a biased system—Amari must risk death just to earn a chance to save her brother.
• The Time Freeze Stone, though never fully explained by the outline, is blamed on magicians without evidence. The stone becomes a symbol of how quickly society scapegoats an entire group.

Complexity and Contradiction

The novel refuses simple binaries. Amari’s own magic is called “cursed,” and she struggles with the temptation of foul magick during the final duel. Yet she prevails not by denying her nature but by choosing compassion—freeing Dylan’s traumatic memories rather than destroying him. Meanwhile, Bane is both villain and victim; his suffering does not justify his cruelty, but Alston does not let the reader forget that he was made a wraith by magicians. The story suggests that prejudice can only be overcome when the oppressed refuse to become oppressors, and when the powerful stop exploiting fear for control.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Amari’s status as a “good magician” challenge the prejudice all magicians face?
   Amari’s viral video of saving the world creates a public narrative that contradicts the stereotype of magicians as villains. However, as seen in Chapter 1, critics still question her motives, proving that one positive example is not enough to dismantle systemic bias.

2. In what way does Bane’s own background as a wraith complicate the theme of prejudice?
   Bane is himself an UnWanted—created by magicians—yet he persecutes other UnWanteds. This contradiction shows that prejudice can be internalized and weaponized by the very people it harms.

3. What role does the classroom debate in Chapter 12 play in developing the theme?
   The debate reveals that prejudice is taught and normalized among young supernaturals. Tristan and Bear express beliefs that echo official Bureau policy, and Amari’s rebuttal—“I was born this way”—directly challenges the idea that identity determines character.

4. How does Elsie’s dragon transformation in Chapter 36 relate to the theme?
   Elsie has hidden her dragon-shifter identity because UnWanteds are illegal. By transforming publicly to save Amari, she refuses to be ashamed and asserts her right to exist. Her act is both a literal and symbolic rebellion against a system that deems her kind unwanted.

5. What does Amari’s refusal to steal Dylan’s magic say about breaking the cycle of prejudice?
   When Amari has the chance to win the Great Game by stealing Dylan’s magic, she chooses not to. This decision rejects the logic that the end justifies any means, and it prevents her from proving Bane right that all magicians are dangerous. She breaks the cycle by acting contrary to the stereotype.