Night Circus

Many have drawn comparisons between Morgenstern's Night Circus and Rowling's Harry Potter for their magic and whimsy, as well as their subtext of romance and maturation amongst young adults. What Night Circus also shares with Rowling's work, however, is a slew of moral quandaries and trials posed to the young protagonists. The idea of Free Will is one that Night Circus plays with frequently; Marco and Celia are not only both heavily influenced and guided by their mentors, but their entire lives are contextualized by the competition that sustains the circus. The questioning of authority becomes a feature as both begin to uncover the truth of their competition with one another, and this is sustained as both confront their mentors to argue the terms of the competition. Ultimately, the story climaxes with Celia's sacrifice, an act of both Free Will and disobedience of authority, which seals her fate along with Marco's but results in the two being set free of their burden together. Though their final circumstance isn't completely ideal, they are happy, which suggests that Morgenstern is suggesting that going one's own way is the key to transitioning to adulthood.