Constructing Normalcy by Lennard Davis asks what is normal, how we make a “normal
standard”, and its impact on our lives. This led me to ask what is a normal human and if being human is even normal. Is being normal even controllable? The text incorporates the concept of the “elimination of “defectives,” (Davis, p. 15), thus giving rise to the idea of eugenics and having the control to make a perfect population. The lens text Constructing Normalcy by Lennard Davis explores the idea of purging the deviations within a population to uphold a specific race to create normalcy, which is seen through The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black through the constant mistreatment and discrimination humans face by the magical faerie. The target text redefines the lens through the human protagonist’s rise to power and establishing herself as queen of the faeries despite initial cruel mistreatment within Faerieland demonstrating her phenomenal capability despite being a human.

The critical lens text Constructing Normalcy by Lennard Davis explores the boundaries of normality by analyzing its history, objectives, and methodology. With the rise of normalcy, the concept of deviance came into existence. Thus eugenics and social Darwinism were formed to address the “evolutionary defectives” (Davis, p. 15) as believed that the “conception of the body [was] perfectible” (Davis, p. 15). The fear that, “if individual citizens are not fit…then the national body will not be fit” (Davis, p. 18), gives rise to the fear of a weakened and damaged society. Thus those who were “different” were considered “unfit” for society and received harsh treatment from members of their community. For example, eugenicists feared that since deaf/mute individuals often married people who were also deaf/mute, this would lead to the rise of a deaf/mute race. This was completely deviant to the perfect normal society that eugenicists were trying to create (Davis, p.15). This prejudice affects available opportunities, limits equitable services, creates conflict and resentment between the “normal” and “deviant”, and often results in isolation. Davis notes how in literature, disability is usually not centrally represented, where deviance is only shown in minor characters to arouse pity or in villains (p. 21). Thus the disabled body became a symbol of exclusion from culture and society. With this in mind, I decided to examine a novel series where the main character is considered a “deviant”, utilizing Constructing Normalcy by Lennard Davis as a lens, to explore this character’s journey within a society that is completely different than her and how she navigates around prejudice and violence to establish her power and status.

Lennard Davis’ Constructing Normalcy discusses how different and disabled individuals often face societal prejudice and exclusion. This is seen through Holly Black’s The Folk of the Air series, as Jude Duarte, a mortal in a world full of magical people, faces and overcomes isolation and discrimination to the point where she holds power over them. The book series demonstrates how negatively individuals perceive and treat those who are different, even though the “nontypical” people are not actively trying to harm those who fit the norm. The series also illustrates the resilience and diligence of the “deviant” individuals as they navigate an unfamiliar
and cruel world. Jude Duarte, the protagonist of the series, is a human who was taken away to Faerieland, a world with magic, faeries, and distinct creatures, after her parents’ murder. She lives in Elfhame, a land in Faerieland, and learned to navigate mistreatment and manipulation throughout a time of political upheaval. In this world, humans can lose control over themselves in multiple ways including glamourization in which faeries can compel humans to act against their will, eating faerie fruit where humans lose control over their mind and easily succumb to the faerie’s demands, and often tricked into making unfair deals where faeries can trick humans into servitude for many years. Humans also lack an extended lifespan, magic, and enhanced
abilities and senses, all of which the faeries have. Faeries also possess beauty and their skin, hair, and physical features are often colorful, a stark contrast from a human’s physical features. Humans are also discriminated against for their ability to lie, a capability that faeries do not possess, thus automatically making them perceive humans as distrustful and liars (Black, The Cruel Prince 46–48). For these reasons, Jude is constantly discriminated against and is isolated especially seen through her being bullied by the prince of Elfhame, Cardan, and his friends. We see this through Cardan’s friend, Valerian, forcing Jude to ingest faerie fruit, so that she loses
control over her mind and is mocked by her classmates. He tries to choke her to death until his attempt is thwarted by Cardan (Black, The Cruel Prince 88–89). This example from the target text supports the lens text with the idea of eugenicists trying to purge those who are considered different. Another example is how Cardan tries to drown Jude as she repeatedly defies his authority and power despite him being a prince. This demonstrates how the target text supports the lens text as “different” individuals who rebel against societal norms are put down to secure
normalcy. Finally, Valerian says that being mortal, a human attribute, is like being born already dead, and tries to glamour and kill her again (Black, The Cruel Prince 135). These actions demonstrate how greatly faeries despise humans and will go to many lengths to humiliate, isolate, and destroy them. The violence portrayed in the target text is supported by the examples provided in the lens text such as the Nazi ideology and racial supremacy. To protect herself from the dangers she faces, Jude trains under her foster father, a war general, so that she excels in combat. Recognizing her usefulness with her ability to lie and in combat, Cardan’s brother
chooses Jude to become a spy and gives her the ability to resist enchantment and glamour. As a spy she learns to scheme, fight, and murder, her foundation to establish and rise to power (Black, The Cruel Prince 31–182). Jude’s training redefines the lens text as Jude demonstrates that those who are different are not weak and defective while also having the potential to make an immense impact on society. After Cardan’s brother is murdered, Jude schemes to put Cardan under her obedience and loyalty, making him king against his will, and becoming the de facto ruler of Elfhame (Black, The Cruel Prince 215-301). This completely shifts the standard notion of a human being under a faerie’s power as instead Cardan, a faerie, is now under Jude’s mercy. This redefines the lens text as the “normal” are now at the mercy of the deviant who was cruelly mistreated before. A series of political decisions leads Jude to be promoted from the seneschal (the king’s advisor) to the High Queen of Elfhame where she publicly solidifies her power over the faeries despite being a human while also having a major impact in reducing discrimination against humans (Black, The Wicked King 293). She shows her prowess in leading and battling as she thwarts a war with the sea and is victorious in a war against her foster father (Black, The Queen of Nothing, 229). This redefines the lens text as she gains the respect of those in Faerieland despite being different and not fitting within normative standards. Jude thus represents how one can challenge preconceived notions and stereotypes over groups of people, leading to possible acceptance and positive treatment of individuals despite their differences.

The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black ultimately redefines many historical ideas
discussed in Lennard Davis’ Constructing Normalcy since, despite many trying to harm and mistreat Jude for being different from them, her perseverance and strength allow her to overcome these struggles and elevate her to have power over them. Davis questions the confines and definition of normalcy, recognizing the struggles that “disabled” individuals face within a society that constantly enforces norms. Holly Black goes beyond this as she makes her protagonist someone who is considered “disabled” due to being human. Black redefines Jude’s struggles by making it the primary motivation force to train, combat, and scheme so that she could have power in Elfhame and end discrimination towards humans. In doing so, Jude Duarte plays a major role in increasing cooperation between various species and establishing peace and stability within Faerieland. Thus Holly Black recognizes that Jude is biologically different and thus doesn’t fit the norm but also questions if the norm is what society truly needs, using Jude’s accomplishments as evidence. Thus those who diverge from the norms are not “evolutionary defectives” (Davis, p.15) but rather the necessary diversity within a society, using their unique skills and attributes to increase cooperation and collaboration.

Using Constructing Normalcy by Lennard Davis as a lens to examine mistreatment and prejudice against those who are deviant, the target text, The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black, redefines the lens by recognizing how the protagonist faces discrimination and harm and utilizes this to motivate her to rise to power to ensure her safety, reduce inequality between species, and question the need for norms in society. By pointing out her weaknesses and recognizing the violence she faced, Jude persists in training herself to resist enchantment and loss of control while increasing her strength in combat to create a stepping stone to rise to power. She learns to utilize optimal opportunities to scheme and establish herself as the de facto ruler, despite once being considered beneath faeries due to her status as a human. She publicly demonstrates her skills by elevating her status to High Queen and is victorious against war campaigns against her, thus gaining the respect and loyalty of her people. Lennard Davis puts forth the idea of ending the “normal standard” while Holly Black shifts the power dynamics between the “normal” and the “different” to question the need for normalcy and emphasize the necessity of diversity.

Works Cited
Black, Holly. The Cruel Prince. Hot Key Books, 2018, pp. 31–182, 215–301.
—. The Queen of Nothing. Little, Brown And Company, 2020, p. 229.
—. The Wicked King. Little Brown & Co, 2020, p. 293.
Davis, Lennard J. Constructing Normalcy. Verso, 1995, pp. 15, 18.