What Is The Main Conflict In 'Fairest' By Marissa Meyer?

The central conflict in 'Fairest' is Levana’s war against reality itself. She refuses to accept anything—her appearance, her sister’s death, Evret’s rejection—without distortion. Her glamour isn’t just a tool; it’s her crutch. When characters like Sybil or the royal guards see through it, she reacts with murderous rage. The political strife on Luna is just a backdrop; the real tension is her unraveling sanity.

Meyer cleverly mirrors this with Lunar society’s dependence on bioengineered beauty, making Levana both product and perpetrator of their toxic culture. Her conflict isn’t with heroes but with truth, and that’s what makes her terrifying. Every atrocity—like the shells’ persecution—stems from her inability to face the mirror. By the end, you almost pity her. Almost.

The main conflict in 'Fairest' by Marissa Meyer revolves around Queen Levana's desperate pursuit of power and validation, driven by her deep-seated insecurities and obsession with beauty. As the ruler of Luna, she uses her glamour to manipulate others, hiding her true monstrous appearance. The core struggle is internal—Levana’s inability to accept herself fuels her cruelty, leading to external conflicts like her forced marriage to Emperor Evret and the brutal suppression of anyone who opposes her. Her obsession with control and fear of vulnerability create a toxic cycle of violence and deception, making her both a villain and a tragic figure.

In 'Fairest', the conflict is layered and brutal. On the surface, it’s Levana’s tyrannical rule over Luna and her war against Earth, but the real battle is psychological. Her childhood trauma—being burned by her sister’s rejection and her parents’ neglect—twists her into a monster. She craves love but only knows how to take it by force, like her grotesque 'marriage' to Evret, where she enslaves him with her mind. The Lunar people suffer under her illusions, believing her lies while she murders dissenters.

What’s chilling is how her power corrupts absolutely. She’s not just evil; she’s trapped in her own delusions. The more she tries to control others, the more hollow she becomes. Even her 'love' for Winter is possessive, setting up the child’s future misery. The book’s brilliance lies in showing how unresolved pain can warp into tyranny, making Levana one of the most complex antagonists in the 'Lunar Chronicles'.