Chapter 56 Summary: A Perfect Day Shattered by a Guilty Secret
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Baz narrates a rare perfect day spent with Simon at IKEA, where Simon buys furniture and household items for his new apartment, including a navy sofa, plates, cutlery, towels, pillows, bedding with purple stripes and green apples. They hold hands openly; Simon jokes that “if you can’t be gay at Ikea, where can you?” Later, they attend a Smith-Richards meeting in a packed pub. Daphne drags them to the front row. Smith-Richards gives an emotional pitch about helping more mages, promising to expand his power-up ritual to six people at once. As he names the six loyal supporters—including Daphne—Baz suddenly realizes the quiet girl at the door is Philippa (Pippa), Agatha’s old roommate, whose voice he stole in fifth year and which never returned. Overwhelmed by guilt, Baz flees the meeting, leaving a confused Simon behind.
Key Events
- Baz and Simon spend the day at IKEA, where Simon buys furniture and bedding.
- They hold hands openly, and Simon rests his arm on Baz’s chair at lunch.
- They attend Smith-Richards’ meeting; Daphne leads them to the front row.
- Smith-Richards announces he will ritually empower six followers the next night.
- He names the six: Patrick, Melinda, Eliza, Gloria, Daphne, and Martin.
- Baz recognizes Philippa as the quiet girl; flashbacks reveal he stole her voice in fifth year and it never returned.
- Baz stands up, tells Simon he must leave, and runs out of the pub.
Character Development
- Baz: For the first time in the chapter, Baz experiences unguarded happiness during the IKEA trip—a domestic, normal day with Simon. This bliss is shattered when he identifies Philippa, confronting the lasting harm of his past action. His immediate flight shows guilt and fear of facing consequences.
- Simon: Simon is cheerful, optimistic, and eager to build a life with Baz. He is also drawn to Smith-Richards, wanting to believe in a new Chosen One who seems more comfortable with power. His willingness to trust Smith-Richards highlights his desire to shed his own burdens.
- Smith-Richards: He continues to present himself as a savior figure, escalating his promises and attracting more followers. His naming of Daphne and others as “faithful” reveals his strategy to bind loyalists.
- Daphne: She is completely enthralled by Smith-Richards, appearing “angelic” and oblivious to Baz’s distress. Her involvement raises stakes for the Pitch family.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Domestic Normalcy vs. Magical Chaos: The IKEA trip represents a longed-for ordinary life—shopping, meatballs, holding hands—that contrasts sharply with the magical conflict and guilt Baz carries.
- Guilt and Unpunished Wrongs: Baz’s theft of Philippa’s voice is a crime he believed was a minor childhood mistake; its permanence shocks him, reinforcing the theme that past harm can have irreversible consequences.
- False Prophets and Cultish Appeal: Smith-Richards uses emotional rhetoric, naming individual followers to create a sense of belonging. The packed room and Daphne’s openmouthed awe show how easily people can be drawn to a miracle worker.
- The Chosen One Complex: Simon’s hope that Smith-Richards is the real Chosen One reveals his exhaustion with being the “Mage’s heir.” He seeks someone else to bear the burden of destiny.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a pivotal moment for Baz’s internal arc. His joy with Simon is undercut by the sudden, painful recollection that he stole Philippa’s voice and it never returned. This revelation will likely force Baz to reckon with his past choices and may affect his relationship with Simon, who witnessed the original incident. Additionally, the meeting escalates Smith-Richards’ influence, setting up a major confrontation. The inclusion of Daphne among the six chosen followers ties the Pitch family more deeply to the antagonist’s plans.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Baz flee the meeting in such a panic?
Baz recognizes Philippa (Pippa), the quiet girl who guards the door, as the girl whose voice he stole in fifth year. He realizes that her voice never returned, despite Miss Possibelf’s promise. Overwhelmed by guilt and shock, he cannot remain in the room and runs away.
2. How does Simon’s attitude toward Smith-Richards reflect his own character development?
Simon is eager to believe in Smith-Richards because he wants to hand off the responsibility of being the Chosen One. He sees Smith-Richards as someone who wears the crown “more comfortably” than he ever did. This shows Simon’s desire for a normal life and his longing to escape the weight of his magical destiny.
3. What does the IKEA scene reveal about Baz’s priorities and emotional state?
Baz describes the IKEA trip as “the best day of my life.” He values simple acts of domesticity—choosing sheets, eating toast in bed, holding hands in public—over magical politics. His happiness hinges entirely on being close to Simon, revealing that his primary priority is their relationship, not the conflict brewing around them.