#Alexander H—

[courfaeriedust]

Alexander H— and the Merlin Story

So almost anyone who has talked to me about The Night Circus has been treated to my pet theory that Alexander is Merlin, which I’ve never really explained. I’ve changed this slightly based on my latest reread, and I figured it was time to finally write it down. My theory is no longer that Alexander is Merlin. It’s that Merlin is Alexander.

So, first off: the story of Merlin in the Night Circus is usually there as a metaphor for being trapped. Widget tells the story to Poppet, and they have a conversation about whether it’s such a bad thing to be trapped somewhere (which is heartbreaking because they’re 8 at the time of this scene, but that’s another post.) It also comes up later, when (spoiler) Tsukiko intends to imprison Marco in the Bonfire.

Tsukiko doesn’t call it the Merlin story, though. She calls it the story of the Wizard in the Tree. And Kiko always, always knows more than she is saying. Now that could just be that — it could just be about entrapment and confinement. But the ground is soft and I’m here to dig.

Here are some facts about Alexander:

He doesn’t have a shadow

He doesn’t interact with the world as others do (as a child Marco never manages to be as silent as him in museums; at the party to celebrate the 13th anniversary of the Night Circus Alexander doesn’t stir up the rose petals littering the floor as everyone else does)

He is very, very old (though not immortal)

He is always grey. He’s introduced as the Grey Man, and he’s never associated with colour (aside from maybe the black cradle he sends for the twins, and the black rose at Tara’s funeral. However, when it’s just him everything associated with him is grey.)

Alexander has seen the decline of magic in the world. This is inferred, I grant, but he’s very dismissive when Widget says that there’s still some magic about, as if to him it is nothing. And although we never actually see him do much magic (he binds Celia, manipulates Tara, and teaches Marco, but that’s all I believe we see directly), his power feels present.

Following from that, very few people remember his name. Is this the manipulation Marco picked up? It could be. It could also be that he’s not fully there. Furthermore, his name isn’t really Alexander.

He is, at heart, a kind man. (This isn’t relevant to the theory, I was just surprised by how often it showed up. Anyway.)

I have always taken these things to mean he attempted what Hector did, but much more successfully. He disdains what Hector tried to do, though — he’s uninterested in immortality, and unimpressed that Hector attempted that. And so, I posit: what if Alexander did this to himself not as a choice, but because the other option was being a tree? What if the tree is his touchstone, just as Celia and Marco’s is the Circus, just as Hector doesn’t have one and is therefore diluted? A smaller area, and presumably stronger magic (assuming this is long ago when magic was more than it is today), would make him more able to interact with the world than any of the other three. This explains his lack of shadow, and his minimal interaction with the world.

It’s unclear how old Alexander is; the only real clue we get is Widget at the end saying that “if I calculated the ages of everyone I have behind this proposition, the total might trump your own age.” That doesn’t actually help that much, because we don’t know how many the Circus number, and theoretically Rêveurs could count amongst that number. So he’s very old, but human. I have just now realised that Hector is one of his first students, which means he can’t be that much younger, so what I’m about to say won’t hold up with this revelation but hey, we got here already so I’ll keep going. Trees can live a lot longer than a regular human. Trees can lose branches in the way that some parts of Alexander’s history are lost to Widget. Tree growth is non-linear, much like the circles and overlaps Widge sees in his history too.

Okay, back to things I won’t immediately poke holes in myself: Alexander lived through the downfall of magic. And what if that’s because it happened to him? I do think this makes Hector the beautiful student he told all his secrets too, which is again another post for another time, but the tale it has become doesn’t have to be the tale of how it started. Hector is, frankly, awful. He’s a horrible man. Can you see him imprisoning his teacher to get more power for himself? Easily. Now Alexander isn’t much better, but he claims he was a romantic “in his youth”, and also, when he gets the chance to be he is so often kind. He tells Celia she’s an Angel. He takes Marco out of an orphanage for his own ends, yes, but also to give Marco a better life. He does care, deeply, about Marco. He tries to save Herr Thiessen. He has many many moments of small kindnesses throughout the book. Can you not imagine him trying his best to share his knowledge of magic? Can you not imagine him settling for more knowledge by way of a challenge, instead of enacting revenge?

(Hey look at that, Alexander’s kindness did turn out to be relevant!)

There’s also something about young Celia pointing out that Alexander is to him as Prospero is to Hector. I don’t know what to make of that — perhaps Alexander’s true name is just old, and would draw too much attention. When Marco summons him, he inscribes symbols in the shape of an A, though. The Night Circus feels like it takes place in a world where true names have power.

In conclusion: I think Alexander is the basis of the Merlin story, and textually there is little that denies that. I hope you’ve enjoyed this freshly ploughed ground; feel free to plant seeds in it should you wish.

[judy-ley]

[frootloopsl]

[melikedraw]

My champs💕

Without the wba belt because holy shit y'all why is it so complicated u don't even wanna know

I think volg would look up to Ricardo since he used to be featherweight and we'll y'know Ricardo's THE goat

Ricardo would respect him as a fellow world champ

Awwgg I want them to interacttt they're so cute... My babys both of them

[danlebanc]

I love this meme, I’ll make another version for Amrev and Antebellum too 💔

Chase doesnt appear in the film (or I didnt notice…)

But! Secretary of State Seward and Secretary of the Treasury Chase had a disagreement. Close enough, welcome back T.Jefferson and A.Hamilton.

Mentioning Hamilton, does the ACW space also have an Alexander Hamilton Stephens?

(Seriously, I was quite surprised when I read his bio.)

This is the last time I draw Stephens, his hair drives me crazy. (Stephens hói next time)

Oh- And, I FUCK UP with Hamilton hair so it look like an ice cream, Hamilton fan pls dont kill me…

P/s: Thanks for explaining the story behind that “H”, you are my favorite Alexander H Stephens teacher Jenxiez 👍

This is the end of the ACW doodles, until I have another new idea, I will back with my Amrev and Antebellum era (I miss mr.Madison and H.Clay now💔)

[angryblueoat]

I realized I never posted my art on here. My poor roommate came home the other day to discover I had like ten sticky note drawings posted up on our wall

[dragonroilz]

Judas Prime - The Kiss of Piece

Do not mistake his pale hands for purity, for he has commited the worst crime known to man.

i imagine that his flesh prison mightve been something similar to lucifer, where his head was being chewed on and his claws dug so deeply into judas' back until they went out the other side.

his mechanic might be area denial using ice walls since in dante's inferno he's in treachery. or maybe something with coins since he kissed jesus for 30 silver pieces.

no other lore for this mf tho so feel free to make stuff up if you have ideas.

[hubba1892]

Fullback Friends celebrating at full-time

[rata-novus]

i'll admit i was not a murderbot appletv+ believer but that trailer does look pretty great? actually????

[zezozproductions]

More magma!

Ford without Alex :'>

Silly doodles I did with someone!

I only drew the Ford, BUT- it's silly.

I did not draw the original wizard, just the red.

THIS TASTY ART.... (same person that did the wizzard)

OUR ART ON A LARGER SCALE! ^^

[brbuttons]

he's just a lil' guy.

[ comms // shop ]

[farbexx]

my boys

,,, doodle

[miltonworshiper1]

oh alka seltzer my beloved

fun fact all pharmaceuticals were invented by milton! so next time you take your antidepressants so you don't kr1lL yourself, be sure to thank milton!

[danlebanc]

I rewatch Lincoln 2012 bc I need bg noise when I drawing, so here the ACW doodle

It's been a long time since I drew Lincoln and Seward.

Wanna draw Jeff Davis bc he did not appear in the film but mentioned many times, so I'll put him next to his poor little vice-president.

(Stephens in a warm towel is pretty cute, in my eyes 👁️)

Does this guy really have eyebrows? But he still pretty hot even he didnt have, ngl=)))).

STILL HOT EVEN BALD!!!

P/s: Why does no one notice this guy?

Bonus: Mr.Seward and “Mouth like an incense bowl”

[choixpeaudirectory]

Nicholas Alexander Chavez

Né en 1999, aux USA (origines : mexicaines et américaines)

📸 instagram

crédits avatars : 1. @medusa-rpg 2. @deathlesssaints 3. @lachrymarum-m

Note : si vous refusez que vos créations ne soient utilisées sur ce tumblr, veuillez nous avertir afin que l'on respecte votre choix.

[06605]

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