The Cruel Prince

Power is a running theme through the narrative of The Cruel Prince and is explored in a variety of ways. In general, Black portrays power as corrupting, leading to greed and exploitation. Jude observes this dynamic rather succinctly when she says of her bullying classmates, “The more they get away with, the more they believe they’re entitled to have” (47). She views these privileged faeries as having an insatiable desire for control over others, presenting a link between power and immorality. Because these faeries are from elite families, they feel entitled to treat the twins badly.

The powerless in Faerie’s society—such as mortals like Jude, and the servant class—are generally exploited. Because only some of the kingdom’s inhabitants can wield magic, there is a pronounced power imbalance. The vulnerable can try to compensate for their disadvantage in some ways, like wearing rowan necklaces to shield themselves from magic, but those measures don’t completely even the playing field. Jude still can’t wield magical power, for instance, even if she is immune to it. This theme helps explain Jude’s pull toward her role as Dain’s spy. The role helps Jude continue compensating for her strategic disadvantages in the kingdom, as well as protecting her from other faeries’ magic through Dain’s spell.