Agency

Through Dawn, Cassia, and Junie's attempts to claim autonomy within and over their lives and identities, the author explores the importance of freedom and choice in a woman's life. In the case of Dawn's character, music is central to her sense of self. In "Musical Cells," Dawn tells Momo that music contains "the inklings of all the emotions we've never felt, and those we haven't dared to feel and might one day discover. In this way, music is also prophetic" (47). Though Momo is drawn to, and admires Dawn, her deep relationship with music unsettles him. He believes that one's life and identity cannot be defined by creative work. As soon as Dawn realizes this about Momo, she severs their relationship. Over the years, and thus the chapters that follow, Dawn strives for independence of thought and action. Not long after marrying Iron Monkey, Dawn travels to...