Chapter 37: Thirty-Three (Caspia) – Summary and Analysis
Spoiler Notice
This summary and analysis contains full spoilers for Rites of the Starling, Chapter 37. If you haven’t read the chapter yet, consider returning after finishing it.
Summary
Caspia returns to Andreas’s house after wandering Roslo. She finds him teaching Kos to draw, a tender domestic scene that deepens her love for him. When Andreas sees her dirty feet from walking, he draws her a bath. Caspia shows him a paperman article she found that announces his betrothal to a noblewoman, with the wedding planned for the winter solstice. Andreas confirms the contract was arranged by his mother while he was away and that he does not love the woman, but the political arrangement is complicated to void. Caspia, though frustrated, chooses not to fight. Instead she initiates one final, passionate night together. Afterward, grief overwhelms her and she sobs in Andreas’s arms. When he falls asleep, she moves to the balcony to watch the ship Malynn, determined to stay a little longer but knowing she will leave before the wedding.
Key Events
- Caspia returns from a long walk to find Andreas patiently teaching Kos to sketch faces.
- Andreas notices her bare, dirty feet and guesses she went to the docks.
- In the bathing chamber, Caspia reveals the paperman article announcing Andreas’s betrothal.
- Andreas admits the marriage was arranged by his mother and that he is trying to void it, but he hasn’t told Caspia sooner.
- Rather than argue, Caspia silences him with a kiss.
- The two have an emotionally charged sexual encounter, with Caspia clinging to a sense of ownership.
- Afterward, Caspia breaks down crying; Andreas holds her and apologizes until she falls asleep.
- Caspia wakes in the night, leaves the bed, and spends hours on the balcony watching the Malynn.
Character Development
- Caspia: Wavers between numbness and raw grief. She chooses to delay her departure for selfish love, even as she knows the betrothal makes their future impossible. Her physical surrender is an act of claiming him one last time.
- Andreas: Shown as a patient father figure to Kos, then as someone burdened by duty and shame. His instant apology and explanation confirm his feelings for Caspia, but his secrecy undermines trust.
- Kos: Remains a symbol of domestic peace and Andreas’s capacity for gentleness; his presence intensifies Caspia’s longing for a life with Andreas.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- The thrum in Caspia’s chest: The recurring physical sensation of foreboding or fate. In this chapter it becomes a “thrum” she tries to fight, representing the inevitable pain of separation.
- Betrothal as a contract vs. love: The arranged marriage is a political obligation devoid of affection, contrasted with the fierce, genuine bond between Caspia and Andreas.
- The Malynn as escape: The ship with white sails becomes a visual anchor for Caspia’s impending departure; watching it all night symbolizes her counting down the hours until she must leave.
- Naming and possession: Caspia mentally labels the betrothed woman “Envy” and claims Andreas as “mine” during sex, highlighting her possessiveness born of impending loss.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter marks the emotional turning point where Caspia fully accepts that her time with Andreas is limited. The betrothal revelation externalizes the internal prophecy she’s felt. By choosing intimacy over conflict, she prioritizes memory over resolution. The chapter also deepens Andreas’s character by exposing his helplessness against political entanglements. Finally, it sets up Caspia’s inevitable choice: to sail away on the Malynn before the winter solstice, leaving behind the man she loves.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Caspia decide not to argue with Andreas after learning about the betrothal? Caspia is emotionally exhausted and realizes they have limited time together. She prefers to spend their remaining moments in intimacy rather than in anger, hoping to store up memories before she leaves.
2. What role does Kos play in this chapter’s emotional landscape? Kos represents the family life Caspia craves but cannot have. Watching Andreas teach Kos to draw makes Caspia’s love for Andreas feel urgent and painful, knowing that a child of their own will never exist.
3. How does the author use the symbol of the Malynn to foreshadow future events? The Malynn is the ship that will carry Caspia away from Roslo. By having her watch it throughout the night, the chapter signals that her departure is imminent and that she is mentally preparing herself to leave Andreas behind.