Rumination

In the novel The Legend by Marie Lu, the United States has been separated into two: the Republic and the Colonies. The two factions are fighting for control of the country. The novel’s story takes place in the Republic. The two main characters of the novel, Day and June, live in two complete different worlds; Day is the Republic’s most wanted criminal, and June is the Republic’s most beloved prodigy. They are brought together because of the murder of June’s brother, Metias. The prime suspect is Day and the Republic sends June to hurt him down as her first field mission.

In the end, after a series of dirty secrets of the Republic was revealed to June, June helps Day, the prisoner she captured, escape his public death sentence just minutes before by enlisting the help of the Colonies. In the process, Day’s older brother, John, sacrificed himself to save Day and June. I was not surprised when Day’s brother died because it was foreshadowed when Day dreamed about John saying to him, “I would rather die than see them hurt you” (p.275). To make it more obvious, Day thought, “what he said in the dream will come true” (p.275). The ending was very predictable because of the constant foreshadowing incorporated by Marie Lu. But the ending was very satisfying, for Day and June are finally able to get together. Also, June’s view of the Republic changed from a government that is constantly trying to help its people to a government that wants absolute control over its people; she was very naïve about her government until she found out the truth about Metias’s murder. Therefore, June switches side and asks the Patriots, Colonies’ army, for help in rescuing Day. She did this because she wanted justice and vengeance against the Republic for the mu...

... middle of paper ...

...in down on the square. People in the crowd collapse like levees in a flood” (p.214). The bullets “rain down” onto the people which meant it was basically a free for all; the soldiers just fired like it’s a casual thing to do. They don’t even feel sorry about the all the people they are killing. The people there had job, friends, families, and a life, but the soldiers were following orders. I felt a sense of rage, and anger when I read this. I question if the soldiers have any moral because they had a choice of obeying or disobeying their orders.

Overall, this was a great book because I finished it in two days. It was filled with suspense, action, valuable themes, and it made me feel a wide variety of emotions. The book explored the value of family, the corruption of government, and the fundamental question of “Should one follow the order if it’s immoral to one?”