Tuesdays at the Castle

Castle Glower is said to be a magical place, yet that description doesn’t offer a helpful definition. Much of Tuesdays at the Castle concerns itself with defining the nature of the palace. In mapping the ever-changing physical landscape of the place, Celie is also probing what the castle is on a metaphysical level. Initially, the castle is merely described as having a will of its own because it adds or removes rooms on a whim. Of greater significance than the castle’s changing moods is its ability to judge the personalities of the people who inhabit its walls.

These traits suggest that the castle isn’t simply a giant Aladdin’s lamp that fulfills the wishes of its residents. It possesses sentience and an agenda of its own. The structure is merely the castle’s body. Celie can sense its walls breathing. She sometimes feels a pulse beneath its stones. Like any sentient organism, the castle has likes and dislikes. It decides that it likes Celie and would do anything for her. Celie’s family often remarks on her special connection to the place.

As the story unfolds, this connection develops a visceral quality to such an extent that Celie becomes a part of the castle herself.