The Stolen Queen

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death child death.

The Cerulean Queen is a fragmented statue of Hathorkare that the Met owns; both Charlotte and Annie are deeply moved by it. It helps them feel a closer sense of emotional connection to a historical figure since Charlotte marvels, “[I]f the rest of the statue came anywhere close to being as beautiful as the lips, it must have been a sight to behold” (8). The statue symbolizes the connection between women across history and the resilience of women in the wake of suffering. Even though the statue is thousands of years old, Charlotte and Annie both feel a strong sense of connection whenever they gaze upon it. The statue and other similar artifacts are what provoke Charlotte to muse, “[W]ho had these women loved in their lifetimes? What had they accomplished?” (57). While Charlotte is extremely knowledgeable about Egyptian history, Annie’s similar response shows that the artwork can move even someone who knows relatively little about it. The statue, therefore, also symbolizes the power of institutions like museums and galleries to make historical works widely accessible to the public.

Because the statue has been broken and only parts of it remain, it also functions as a powerful symbol of

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