Who is Tikalie Uxmal?
Tikalie Uxmal is one of the most intriguing characters from the novel “Mermaid Princess Amelia and the Lost Symphony” by Maxine Foti.
She is a mermaid princess who was rumored to have been electrocuted by eels that snuck into her chamber; but in reality, the death was fake, staged by her and the ultimate ruler of Antemidia, General Asvald Altamira. In this article, we will explore why Tikalie Uxmal made this difficult decision to remove herself from the Antemidian court, and what happened afterwards. We will also analyze her character in terms of her motivations, goals, and relationships with other characters. Are you ready? Dive in!
Tikalie Uxmal’s family story and roots
Tikalie Uxmal, the highly gifted descendant of the Uxmals — a very important family line that played a crucial role in the politics of Atanga, the capital of Antemidia — was seventeen years of age when she took over the position of the Elective Princess of Antemidia, a position she wasn’t ultimately thrilled with.
How did Tikalie Uxmal become the elective princess of Antemidia?
Although she didn’t want to take part in the elections, her mother had proposed her candidacy to the council without consulting her, and General Asvald immediately gave her the position without a second thought. After all, she was recognized as a teenage prodigy.
Despite being so young, there was no one that could rival Tikalie’s intellectual prowess. To the people of Antemidia, she was their savior, an angel that dropped from heaven to help them with their burdens, and her distinct beauty added to her charm.
As if brains and beauty weren’t enough, Tikalie possessed the disposition of a true princess due to the years she’d spent at one of the temples in Artenidad, the main center of spiritual development in the country’s inner ring. It was an undeniable fact that she was the best choice that could’ve been for the post of the elective princess.
Why was Tikalie Uxmal so depressed despite being so successful?
One would think Tikalie should be happy about all this. She had everything, and got everything others wanted without batting an eyelid. Many wanted to be like her; they looked up to her, but rather than be thrilled about it, she felt pressured and lonely.
Although she had everything, she wanted just two things. Friends, and freedom. Due to her exceptional self, she had lost all of her friends (envy), and always felt like she was standing on a rope in the air — one wrong step and she’d plummet to destruction. Despite being so beautiful, she had no admirers, because no one thought they could truly match up to her.
She handled the affairs of the country with ease, but with time, the pressure she felt from all sides, especially General Aalona, began choking her. All eyes were always on her and she couldn’t afford to fail. She was already perfect, and now she had to be even more perfect.
Tikalie Uxmal’s physical and mental health issues
On the outside, she looked perfect both physically, but she was slowly losing her health, both physical and mental. For example, we know that she suffered from back pain, probably due to wearing heavy princely robes and decorations for hair. But, she had mental issues as well. She was fascinated by the idea of dying, which she disclosed to one of her closest friends, Lumina Mond. That was probably because she felt like a caged bird, one that had no hopes for ever escaping the cage.
Tikalie Uxmal’s first love that changed everything
After meeting Agosto Toscano and falling in love with him, Tikalie decided to resign, but because it was impossible, she agreed to stage her death. Even though it was a difficult decision, she went for it which further reinforces the idea of her being suicidal (at least to some extent).
Tikalie Uxmal and the concept of Thanatos
Thanatos is a term that describes the desire to die or the attraction to death. It is a concept studied for centuries by psychologists and philosophers; one that has also been linked to various psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Even though the word “Thanatos” was never used, it was one of the things that defined her in the last year of her career as the mermaid princess of Antemidia. Following her staged death, Tikalie kept in touch with Lumina, as well as with her family in the Uxmal Manor. She also continued dating Agosto.
Final thoughts on Tikalie Uxmal
Are you curious whether we’ll learn more about Tikalie, over time? The answer is yes, she’s one of the most important characters in the series. She’ll be seen again in the sequel to Mermaid Princess Amelia’s adventures, “Mermaid Princess Amelia and the Destiny’s Theater.”
Grab your copy of “Mermaid Princess Amelia and the Lost Symphony” here:
English: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08T6BJ6RG
Spanish: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08Z8GK1JX
Italian: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0953PN3Y7
…and a copy of “Stories from the Undersea World of Mermaid Princess Amelia, Vol. 1” here:
English: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BPM2JKMZ
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