The Book of Life

Again, Family as Both Comfort and Grief plays a significant role in this section. Baldwin, specifically, is a grief to this branch of the de Clermont family. Baldwin forces Diana to plan a formal dinner and insists on escorting her. He attempts to control the de Clermont men, threatening them if they refuse to obey him. Matthew chafes under Baldwin’s dictatorial behavior but feels he must comply or risk losing the de Clermont name for Diana and the children. Fernando points out that Matthew “enjoyed outflanking Baldwin. But since your father died, you have let your brother treat you abominably” (1240). Matthew argues that he had to follow Baldwin to keep Ysabeau at Sept-Tours. Baldwin enjoys misusing his power at every opportunity, and Fernando uses this propensity to push Matthew to split from the main family. In the process, Matthew is plagued with internal conflict as he finds himself at a crossroads.

Though Baldwin’s threats are a concern, the more significant familial grief comes from Matthew’s son, Benjamin. Benjamin clearly hates the de Clermont family and seeks to destroy it. He delights in taunting Matthew about his relationships with witches, referring to Diana as a “fascinating creature.” Benjamin claims he wants Matthew’s attention, then threatens the end of the de Clermonts. Fernando and Miriam tell Matthew that he should have killed Benjamin long ago: “You knew he was a monster” (1244). However, Matthew is tortured by his own dark past, stating that, “even monsters can change…look at me” (1244). Unfortunately, Matthew’s projection of his faults onto Benjamin makes Benjamin’s betrayal all the more painful. At a high-stakes moment with the family being hunted by members of the Covenant, Matthew is dealt another blow. Moreover, as Benjamin is his son, Matthew’s sense of doubt in his own goodness deepens following Benjamin’s betrayal. Throughout the series, Matthew has struggled to reconcile with his past: Benjamin serves as a representation of Matthew’s dark side, pulling him deeper into inner turmoil.

Just as family creates grief, it also inspires comfort. Diana actively seeks help from the local witches for the first time, and these witches help Sarah overcome her grief. Additionally, Sarah and the coven work together to help Diana better understand and control her weaver powers. As such, the coven not only nurtures the family’s bonds but also serves as an extension of family in the form of community. Similarly, Fernando pushes Matthew—who is too wrapped up in fear and guilt—into action. While there are definite struggles within the family, the family also comforts and pushes each other to take necessary action to fortify itself as outside threats swarm around them.

In this section, Diana in particular grows as character and a witch, ultimately demonstrating the theme of the Challenges of Power through her struggle to control her magic. As in the previous books, Diana’s powers continue to grow and change as she becomes more comfortable with herself and her magic. One of the biggest challenges Diana faces in dealing with her power is accepting that she cannot learn to control it on her own. Diana, particularly early in the series, is portrayed as a loner with few trusted friends. She actively shuns attempts by various covens to recruit her. As such, Diana asking Vivian for help is a huge step in her character growth: Diana not only recognizes the uniqueness of her powers but also seeks to share it with others, as well as understand it rather than repress it.

Diana also faces the Challenge of Power in keeping her magical abilities hidden from unfriendly eyes. Diana’s immense power shimmers around her in a glaem. Without spells to keep it hidden, Diana’s strength is apparent to those who wish her well and those who wish her ill. Matthew objects to Diana’s disguises, claiming that he does not want their children to feel uncomfortable with magic. While this is a reasonable statement from a father whose children will straddle two identities, the reality is that Diana’s power puts her life and freedom in jeopardy, especially in the eyes of the Congregation. Indeed, there are plenty within the magical world who would use her power for themselves, and she was previously sought out for capture. Moreover, her parents were murdered by other witches because of their immense powers, but Diana’s own magical abilities dwarf those of her late parents. As such, she struggles with her power internally and externally, making it a primary conflict in the novel.

Diana’s power also means that Matthew and Diana must be skeptical of those around them to ensure their safety. This skepticism separates them from their communities and leaves both Diana and Matthew feeling isolated; moreover, Matthew faces Baldwin’s heavy criticism from within his family, and the loss of Emily leaves Diana even more alone. Neither Diana nor Matthew realized how negatively this loss of community affected them until they spent time with Vivian and the Pratts. Becoming part of a larger community positively affects the entire family: “This Is what Matthew needs, I realized. Home. Family. Pack. Without other people to take care of, he retreated to that dark place where his past deeds haunted him” (1250). Diana is the first to realize Matthew’s need to belong, and it also spurs her to recognize this need in herself. With their recent losses, their statuses as covenant violators, and the heightened stakes that come with Diana’s pregnancy with potential witch-vampire hybrids, Diana and Matthew are othered in many ways and ultimately crave acceptance and community. However, Diana’s many secrets force her to maintain a careful distance from strangers and even acquaintances; while the presence of the Pratts and Vivian is certainly healing, it does not mean full acceptance or vindication for the couple, or Diana in particular.

The Impact of Secrets, for Diana, is her removal from the larger community. Had she told Sarah and coven of her abilities earlier, they could have assisted her, but the loss of her parents at the hands of witches gave her pause and left her in ignorance of the extent of her powers. Additionally, Matthew’s secrets, mostly based on past mistakes, haunt and plague him. These secrets shackle Matthew to a path of stagnation, and he instinctively turns to isolation. Matthew keeps secrets to protect others: Matthew’s past makes him feel guilty and unworthy of community. Moreover, this guilt is all-consuming, and instead of proactively seeking solutions, Matthew’s fear of being discovered makes him reactive and isolated.

This section of The Book of Life focuses mostly on family and community dynamics rather than the larger threats that follow Diana and Matthew. However, these seemingly small problems allow Diana and Matthew to slowly grow into and accept their new roles, ultimately leading them to consider core values and the necessity of community and family. While it often feels like it is them against the world, they cannot face the Congregation alone.