The Unwanteds

Many of the characters in the novel have a natural counterpoint. Alex has Aaron, Mr. Today has High Priest Justine, and Samheed and Lani have their fathers. The narrative focuses on the friction between these two sides, part of a wider animosity between Artimé and Quill. These conflicts and these dualities drive the narrative forward, feeding into the thematic and ideological battles which are explored throughout the text. 

Aaron and Alex are the clearest examples of this theme of duality. Alex is the best possible product of Artimé, and Aaron is the best possible product of Quill. The bond shared between twins is more powerful than the bond shared by most family members, and Alex believes it means that Aaron is never truly lost to him. He eventually learns the truth, however, that his brother is far more cynical and ambitious than he ever imagined. But while Aaron is the embodiment of Quill’s relentless social programming, he cannot help but share traits with Alex. Aaron has the nascent skills of an artist, though raw and unshaped. He can lie and cheat, as well as use magic, because he has a powerful imagination. This makes him Alex’s equal in many ways, though their common traits are expressed differently.