59 pages • 1 hour read
The Magicians
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The Magic Buttons
The magic buttons represent the malleability of physical reality and also the openness of any world, whether real or fantasy. The buttons symbolize the fact that physical objects can be repurposed to be used for whatever reason their creator has in mind. The buttons demonstrate that magic is a craft, and that it uses physical reality as a material to sustain or enhance the world of magic. In this case, the buttons are used as a teleportation device to get in and out of the Neitherlands/Fillory. However, the purpose of their use also points to the fact that they can breach the rules by which magic and fantasy define their worlds. Under the law in Fillory, outsiders are allowed in only by invitation and only if they’re worthy. The magic buttons can bypass those rules, and enable anyone to come to Fillory. This implies their origin came from something or someone other than those who created and govern Fillory.
Brooklyn
For Quentin, Brooklyn is a symbol of the banality of the real world. Brooklyn is the dreariness of his parent’s home, the melancholy weight Quentin sees in Julia’s eyes, and the numbness that leads Quentin and Eliot to seek refuge in alcohol. Brooklyn stands for darkness and the loss of hope in contrast to the meaningfulness and promise of tomorrow that defines the magic of Brakebills.
Fillory
Fillory is a symbol for happiness and a better world. It represents an escape to a realm not tainted by the pursuit of greed and status. For Quentin, Fillory acts as a beacon of light that draws them away from his parent’s home and toward the world of magic. So long as Fillory remains an ideal, it acts as an anchor for Quentin and the others, who live through the adventures it offers. Yet once Quentin experiences the real Fillory, its symbolic role changes, and Quentin begins to understand that his idealistic belief of Fillory as a kind of quasi-Eden is overblown.
Alcohol
The use and abuse of alcohol is prevalent in The Magicians. It is an essential component in almost every gathering between Quentin and Eliot and with the other Physical Kids, and at times, the desire for alcohol takes precedence over almost any other activity. With the exception of Richard, almost every other character consumes alcohol. Even important moments that would seem to require clear-headedness see characters consume alcohol. For example, despite knowing that going to Fillory represents the biggest day of his life, Quentin lets his anger against Alice fuel an alcoholic binge almost right up to the moment they depart for Fillory. In this way, alcohol, especially for Quentin and Eliot, symbolizes the self-destructive, nihilistic side of both characters.
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