Power and Control in Leigh Bardugo's The Familiar

Thematic Claim

In The Familiar, Leigh Bardugo presents power and control as a precarious currency, traded through patronage, magic, and fear. Luzia Cotado, a kitchen maid with hidden abilities, enters a world where social rank and supernatural talent are wielded as instruments of domination. Her struggle for agency pits her against a network of patrons, rivals, and the Inquisition, each seeking to harness her magic for their own ends. The novel argues that true power is fleeting and often corrupting, and that control is never absolute—especially for those caught between ambition and survival.

The Web of Patronage

The first major encounter with power dynamics occurs when Víctor de Paredes arrives at Casa Ordoño. Luzia learns that he has offered to become her protector—a title that immediately signals control. When Marius Ordoño tells her to thank God for Víctor’s generosity, Luzia replies, “I thank God for the generosity of selfless men,” a sly jab that reveals her awareness of the transaction. Víctor’s response is immediate and physical: he grips her wrist, whispering, “From now on, think carefully before you speak.” This scene establishes patronage as a form of ownership. Luzia’s magic is now a commodity, and Víctor intends to dictate how it is used.

Valentina Ordoño’s reaction further illustrates how power corrupts from above. When she learns of the invitation to La Casilla, her joy quickly turns to anxiety about her own wardrobe and status. Luzia watches her become a “dying spark” and realizes that even her mistress is trapped in a hierarchy where appearance and wealth determine worth. The struggle for control is not just between Luzia and her patrons; it permeates every level of society.

The Torneo: A Stage for Control

The torneo at La Casilla serves as a microcosm of the power struggles at play. Luzia is paraded before the bishop and other nobles, competing against rivals like Gracia de Valera and Fortún Donadei. The event is framed as a test of magical skill, but it is really a display of submission and manipulation. During the performance, shadow puppets become grotesque, animated monsters that terrify the audience. Luzia realizes that the darkness is feeding on the fear and chaos she and Santángel have unintentionally unleashed. She chants, “En lo eskuro, es todo uno” (In the darkness, all is one), extinguishing the lights and reclaiming control over the shadows.

This moment is pivotal because it shows Luzia wielding power not through mimicry or obedience, but by mastering her own heritage—the Ladino refranes her mother taught her. However, the victory is hollow. The Inquisition’s representatives flee, and Luzia is left physically assaulted by the shadow creature. Power here is shown as double-edged: it saves her but also exposes her as a threat.

The Price of Ambition

Luzia’s internal conflict sharpens after the torneo. In chapter 39, she reflects on the meaning of sacrifice and the inherent danger of her position. She thinks about the Pleiades, or Kimah, and recalls her mother saying, “Nothing is ever just one thing.” This ambiguity applies to power itself. Luzia desires safety and respect, but she also acknowledges, “But I would rather have power,” spoken to an empty room. This admission reveals her hunger for control—the pomegranate symbol recurs, representing ambition that can be both sweet and destructive.

Santángel’s role complicates the theme further. He is both a tool of Víctor’s will and a potential ally. Their intimacy grows, but it is built on a temporary pact. Luzia wonders if she will become “the king’s sword,” used to crush uprisings and kill dissenters. The novel refuses to offer a simple redemption arc; instead, it forces Luzia to confront the moral cost of seeking power within a corrupt system.

Complexity and Contradiction

Bardugo does not present power as a simple binary of oppressor versus oppressed. Luzia’s patrons—Víctor, Valentina, even Hualit—all operate under constraints. Hualit, despite her seeming freedom, is powerless before Víctor, as seen when she yells at Luzia to “just do what you’re told.” Even Santángel, who appears invulnerable, is bound by his master’s orders. The Inquisition looms as a silent third party, ready to claim anyone who steps out of line.

Moreover, Luzia’s own behavior reveals a desire for dominance. She manipulates Valentina’s emotions, using her knowledge of Valentina’s infertility to wound her. This moment of cruelty shows that Luzia, too, can use power destructively. The novel suggests that the desire for control is universal, but its expression is determined by circumstance. Luzia’s journey is not about escaping the system, but about learning to navigate it without losing herself.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Víctor de Paredes establish control over Luzia in their first meeting?
He uses both verbal intimidation and physical force, gripping her wrist and ordering her to think before she speaks. This demonstrates that patronage is a form of ownership, where her magic becomes his asset.

2. What role does the torneo play in the theme of power and control?
The torneo is a public display where nobles judge candidates based on their obedience and entertainment value. Luzia’s chaotic performance reveals how power can slip from the controllers’ hands, but also how fear and darkness can be weaponized.

3. Why does Luzia momentarily regret her harsh words to Valentina about infertility?
This scene illustrates that Luzia is not immune to using her position to hurt others. It shows that power can corrupt even those who are oppressed, and that agency comes with ethical responsibility.

4. How does Santángel’s relationship with Luzia complicate the power dynamic?
Though he is her instructor and enforcer for Víctor, he develops genuine feelings for her. Yet he also withholds information and follows orders, maintaining an ambiguous loyalty that undermines any equal partnership.

5. What does the pomegranate symbolize in relation to power and control?
The pomegranate represents Luzia’s ambition and hunger for a better life. It is a sweet promise of agency, but also carries the risk of corruption—just as the fruit of knowledge brought expulsion from Eden, Luzia’s desire for power may cost her freedom.