48 pages • 1-hour read
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon
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Symbols & Motifs
Cinnamon
The spice cinnamon is a symbol of freedom throughout That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon. From Chapter 1, cinnamon is used to break the curse Myva placed on demons, allowing them to regain themselves so they are no longer overwhelmed by the mindless need for violence. Since Cinnamon freeing Fallon from Myva’s control in Chapter 1 is an unintended consequence, the spice also symbolizes the complex nature of magic within the story world, as well as what happens when the status quo is questioned. Though no reason for cinnamon’s freeing powers are given by the end of the book, the fact this seemingly innocuous spice has such power suggests there is great strength in everyday things. The discovery of cinnamon’s power also leads to Cinnamon—and, later, others—feeling more comfortable questioning what they know. Seeing the effect cinnamon has on Fallon convinces Cinnamon to give him a chance when he reveals information about Myva that counters what Cinnamon knows. Since Fallon turns out to be right, Cinnamon then further trusts him enough to leave her home and embark on a quest to help all demons while saving the world from Myva’s lies. When taken across the plot of the entire novel, Cinnamon symbolizes the power of small changes and how strength may be found in unexpected places. Even more, it shows that great change can be accomplished from small beginnings.
The Phylacteries
Myva’s phylacteries represent both the lies Myva has told humanity, as well as the quest storyline in general. By definition, Merriam-Webster specifically links phylacteries to symbols worn by men who practice Judaism or as synonymous to “amulet,” then defining an amulet as “a charm (such as an ornament) often inscribed with a magic incantation or symbol to aid the wearer or protect against evil (such as disease or witchcraft)” (“Amulet.” Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Lemming departs slightly from this definition by using phylacteries as objects holding pieces of Myva’s soul. However, the phylacteries of the novel are also imbued with protective magic for Myva herself, which links directly to Cinnamon’s inciting incident. Since Myva’s phylacteries protect her temples from demon influence, Fallon recruits Cinnamon to help him destroy them because, as a human, she is not affected by their magic. In doing so, the phylacteries become a broader symbol for Cinnamon’s character arc. Her quest, as well as her emotional journey toward acceptance of herself and her feelings for Fallon, are motivated by her drive to destroy the phylacteries and end Myva’s tyranny, making the phylacteries themselves a catalyst for Cinnamon’s choices and changes.
Cinnamon’s quest to destroy the phylacteries makes her a hero, if an initially reluctant one. In keeping with heroic journeys across literature, Cinnamon’s quest is marked by milestones that show her progress toward the final goal of Myva’s destruction. Each phylactery brings Cinnamon one step closer to saving both humans and demons from the evil presence driving them apart and promoting the lies informing the world. Since Cinnamon works to destroy the phylacteries to secure her own comfort, rather than for fame and glory, the phylacteries also represent how Cinnamon’s heroic arc diverges from traditional tales of heroic valor. In doing so, the phylacteries promote the idea that heroes are everyday people who demonstrate The Importance of Doing What’s Right, not those who defend goodness for the notoriety it would bring. Cinnamon expects no thanks or reward for her actions. She simply sees what she knows is wrong and works to right it to make the world safer and better for everyone, which makes the phylacteries a means to an end.
Demons
Within the world of That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon, demons represent diversity across races and cultures, including how members of groups get unfairly lumped together. Under Myva’s curse, all demons are affected the same way, showing, that, despite their differences, demons are a specific species that is fundamentally different than humans, who are unaffected by Myva’s curse. As a result of how Myva’s curse works, demons are categorized as violent and dangerous by humans when they are not, which shows how external forces promote division between groups. Once Cinnamon learns the truth of Myva and how she has affected demons, she is able to see past Fallon’s demon nature and, later, to understand that demons, despite their nonhuman appearances, are little different from humans mentally or emotionally. Together, the arc of humans and demons learning to work together shows the importance of inclusion and the harm that is done when a group either intentionally or unknowingly dehumanizes those they deem different.
The range of demons in the novel shows the wide range of inspiration Lemming used in creating her fantasy world. As a dragon, Fallon is extraordinarily powerful and at the top of the demon hierarchy. By both humans and other demons, he is revered and seen as the group’s greatest asset, which sets him apart from the others. Fallon is also able to change forms, sometimes appearing human except for his horns and others as a dragon, and this taken alongside other demons symbolizes the diversity among the demon race. Like Fallon, Felix has shapeshifting abilities and can appear either human or as a wolf. Creatures like Ambros (a lamia) or centaurs have a constant form that is part human and part animal (snake, horse, etc.), and still other creatures like orcs are humanoid, meaning they have the basic shape of humans but are otherwise different from humans in appearance. Together, these different types of demons show that race is not a symbol of sameness.
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