In the novel "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare, the character of Thomasin is portrayed as a kind and innocent young woman who faces accusations of being a witch. However, it can be argued that Thomasin was never a witch, but rather, a victim of superstition and fear in the Puritan community. From the beginning of the story, it is clear that Thomasin is not like the other girls in Wethersfield. She is described as having long, flowing hair and a free spirit, which contrasts with the Puritan ideals of modesty and conformity. While Thomasin's unique qualities may lead some to believe she is a witch, it is important to note that her actions and intentions do not support this accusation. Thomasin befriends Kit, a young girl who has recently moved to town from Barbados.

The Witch Has One of Horror’s Greatest Endings

Just in time for Halloween, we re-examine The Witch ending, and how it is a macabre triumph in storytelling and theme.

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This article contains The Witch spoilers.

The Witch is one of those special kind of moviegoing horror experiences. Rather than relying on jump scares, copious amounts of gore, or the kind of cheap thrills that mirror being at an amusement park, director Robert Eggers in his stunning debut picked up unsuspecting audiences and transported them to 1630s New England. As deliberately paced as the modest lives of its Calvinist protagonists, The Witch takes its delicious time stirring the cauldron and, ever so slowly, increasing the demonic heat until only in the last moments do you realize how monstrous things are about to turn.

While the film may not ultimately be for everyone, it is an undeniably unique cinematic experience that feels authentically archaic in its superstitions, yet modern in its grim implications about oppression, misogyny, and the bitter fruits borne of distrust. It also features a baby being turned into a crimson body wash, thirsty ravens with acute oral fixations, and a talking goat that convinces a young girl to sell her soul.

It is a triumphant debut for Eggers with an ending that’s true implications send chills up the spine once the gravity sinks in.

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With that said, there is also apparently some apprehension online about why a good Christian girl who saw her family just slaughtered by Satan-worshipping witches would then join their killers!? How could someone raised not only to be a Puritan, but also so visibly long to inhabit that ideal, literally succumb to the Devil, surrendering her body and soul to his dubious charms mere hours after the Dark One took the shape of a beast and personally slaughtered her father?

Quite honestly, it is the only dramatically satisfying and queasily tragic outcome that could occur in this perverse nightmare…

First let it be said that Thomasin—wonderfully played by newcomer Anya Taylor-Joy—is a good girl. Or at least she really, really, really wants to be one. It is why she is so full of self-loathing before even her family turns on her. Indeed, from the very first scene, Thomasin is the single sheep in her father’s flock to express visible and severe distress over their banishment from the Commonwealth. She is the last one to leave the church from which her father William (Ralph Ineson) has sought separation, and she is the only one to look back, almost pleading for a chance to stay in the fledgling colony.

This is underscored in her first scene with dialogue where Thomasin is witnessed praying to God. Before the horrors of supernatural forces have even beset her family, Thomasin is filled with doubt about her faith and her worthiness for the Kingdom of Heaven. Nonetheless, she longs for Christ’s love and begs for His mercy and His grace to save her soul from fiery torment. Implicitly, she is also asking to have her faith restored and to be happy with her father choosing to spirit her away into the wilderness.

After this point, she is marked by the Devil for acquisition. Aye, the entire point of this fantasy hither is about how Satan in the guise of Black Phillip, and along with his cackling followers, will recruit the young, virginal, and pure-hearted doubter to his coven.

And the reason she is such an easy target is that she is an outsider in her family since she longs for the “luxuries” of both first the Commonwealth and then that of dear departed England, whose charms and beautiful glasswork she recounts to her uncomprehending younger brother Caleb (Harvey Scrimshaw). This ability to quietly covet worldly things is also why she hates her own weakness and, on a certain level, desires her family to loathe her too, hence “spinning fantasies” to young sister Mercy (Ellie Grainger) about selling her soul to Satan and eating flesh. The irony of course pays off in the bitter end.

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As for why she makes the terrible decision to disrobe for Black Phillip and then sign her name in his ledger? In her moment of weakness and desperation, it was the only option left to her mind.

Thomasin loved her family dearly and took no joy or solace in their demise. But they are nonetheless dead, and Thomasin is alone. Thus, she has a series of grisly options before her.

1. Starve to death on the abandoned farm.
2. Possibly die while trying to reach the Commonwealth on foot.
3. Or face potential charges of being a witch after arrving at the colony and explaining that her family was killed by supernatural forces (and her own blade in her mother’s case). And again, death is a likely outcome at the end of a Puritan’s rope—just ask the 20 descendants from this generation who were executed 60 years later.

But perhaps most damning of all in Thomasin’s mind is the absence of God’s presence in her life. She prayed—nay, begged—for His mercy and His grace, and instead she saw her family betray her and then die. With the exception of the beloved Caleb, her younger twin siblings bore false witness against her character, her father revealed himself to be a prideful hypocrite that poisoned the mother against the daughter by letting Thomasin take the blame for a stolen silver cup, and finally her mother simply believed Thomasin to be pure evil.

She saw Satan’s power manifest on the farm to devastating effect, and she found herself lost in the dark as a result. And, worst of all for a Puritan, Thomasin likely believed she already broke her covenant with God by taking her mother’s life. Granted, Katherine (Kate Dickie) was trying to strangle her daughter to death in a deranged and irrational fury, but self-defense is a legal nuance that would probably be alien to a 17th century Puritan who believes she already committed an irreparable sin in the eyes of an uncaring Lord.

All of this is to not say that what she did is right or that God had abandoned her. In fact, it is quite miserably tragic that in an act of desperation and despair, she turned her back on a God she loved for the meager charms of “butter, a pretty dress [and] to live deliciously.” However, that is the other strength of the movie’s finale.

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Her family’s puritanical beliefs oppressed and marginalized Thomasin. They were prepared to sell her to another family partly due to disdain after Samuel’s disappearance but also because they implicitly distrusted her sexuality. By virtue of her gender and age, Thomasin was growing into a pretty young woman whose desirous appeal was even distracting the young, lonely, and repressed Caleb. This made her a burden to her parents and something to be wary of having in a plain, Christian household.

But upon taking the Devil to her proverbial bed, Thomasin is allowed to feel free and be accepted in the kinship of other equally liberated women in the woods. The magic with which her new master lifts her up—apparently causing wild physical pleasure and ecstasy to all the women present—is a form of acceptance she did not have at home.

She became a witch in part because her beliefs were so fervent that in absence of one religious covenant, Thomasin immediately sought an alternative from the only kind of replacement she knew. And the culture that bred her to be meek, subservient, and imminently guilty due to her sex pushed her to be that what they feared most: feminine and dangerous. Thus our 21st century understanding of the medieval and early modern fears about witchcraft (strong women) greater informs this nightmarish fever dream taken from the most hideously perverse Puritan superstitions.

Yet lest ye be one to view the ending as a pro-feminist one, consider for a moment another ancient, pre-Puritan legend about witches…

The earliest visions we know about of witches flying (on broomsticks or otherwise) dates back from the 14th century. While today, it is widely believed that the concept came from women pleasuring themselves with molded rye or “ergot,” at the time, clergy prosecutors believed that witches could fly by placing a special ointment on their broomsticks—an ointment derived not from hallucinogenic bread, but from “the boiled fat of a child.”

Now at the end of The Witch, there is a glaring omission about what happened to Thomasin’s young siblings; the twins who the old hag stole the night she slaughtered the family’s innocent goats. The twins are never seen again, but by the time Thomasin reaches the coven, there is a huge bonfire burning with the clear effect of causing all the witches to fly….

WMG / The VVitch

Was to turn Thomasin into a witch. The entire goal of the witches and Black Phillip (or the devil or whatever demon was possessing Black Phillip) was to get Thomasin to become a witch. She was already an outcast, the daughter of a perceived heretic and who was banished from most of society along with him. She could more easily be manipulated and pushed to be completely isolated and left with nothing else but the witches. They took her baby brother first both as an ingredient for the flying ointment and as a catalyst to separate Thomasin from her family while also removing a member of said family. They moved on to Caleb while Black Phillip talked to the twins, all the while taking out the crops (unless the dad was just a spectacularly bad farmer, entirely possible) and driving the family to a degree of tension where almost anything would have set them off. Every move was done to isolate Thomasin from her family both physically and psychologically so that by the end she was left with barely any choice but to become a witch .

Writing off certain supernatural imagery (which can be blamed on Through the Eyes of Madness.) Then Thomasin killed the baby or abandoned it in the forest, got her brother alone and seduced him which naturally would have driven a repressed Puritan right over the edge, killed the twins and the goats in the shack, broke out and killed her father, killed her mother, and then wandered naked into the forest in the grip of another hallucination/fantasy. With all that repression and isolation, one's sanity must be on a very thin string, and there is no one to go to for help if your daughter starts losing it. The whole movie might be chalked up to a truly vicious case of cabin fever. A real colonial nightmare.

It's clear that if the family had a stronger bond and not neglecting their personal issues with blind faith, the influence of the witches and Satan would have never happened. William and his pride of not seeing how his family fell apart by choosing to be exiled. Katherine taking out her frustrations on her oldest daughter Thomasin, even suggesting to sell her to another family. Caleb and his lustful thoughts of Thomasin, his older sister. And the twins who are lying, spoiled brats who needed punishment, but never got it. Then there is Thomasin whose rebellious nature against authority is right up with Satan's origin story, making it no surprise that she would make the Faustian bargain in the end.

Thomasin is the female version of Thomas, which comes from the New Testament and was a common name in Medieval England (just like William and Katherine). All the other children names come from the Old Testament, which gained more importance with the Reformation. Since converts are always more strict believers than people born into the faith, this would explain why the Commonwealth got sick of, and later expelled William. He did nothing illegal but he became too insufferable to have around.

Katherine fits into the gender and age group of the witches seen at the end , and breaking the faith of someone who had so much faith in God for so long and turning her into a damned soul and servile witch would be a tantalizing prospect. With her children dying and being accused of witches, Katherine's sanity began disintegrating and Satan took advantage of her grief to appear to her as Caleb and Samuel, convince her to sign her name in his book, and either he or the Witch fed from her breast in the form of the crow (and if you want to get even squickier about it, considering how witches are supposed to have sex with the Devil and how she had incest on the mind when confronting Thomasin, he may have even seduced her in Caleb's form and contributed further to her snapping). After killing William, he may have then egged her on to attack Thomasin. Katherine was supposed to murder Thomasin to finish off the rest of her family, but then Thomasin killed her and upset all the whole scheme. That's why Black Phillip didn't initially respond to Thomasin - she wasn't supposed to be the one who lived, but after he realized he already had Katherine's soul anyway and now could corrupt another one, he started talking to Thomasin .

Thomasin is the only main character whom we do not see disobey at least one of the Ten Commandments. The twins, in taking orders from Black Phillip, place him above God. William steals Katherine's cup to trade it, and then falsely claims ignorant when Katherine accuses Thomasin. Katherine covets the more fanciful cups of her former neighbors. Caleb lusts after Thomasin, who, being his sister, cannot become his wife and would in theory have married another man one day, and as such he covets his neighbor's wife. Thomasin obeys all the orders of her parents, does not covet, is faithful and regular in prayer, and does every chore asked of her. The devil finds her virtue appealing and seeks to corrupt it.

• The family does keep female goats, though. You can see them in the scene where Thomasin is cleaning the stable while Mercy & Jonas prance around singing their song about Black Phillip.

The common theory seems to be that the twins were witches. However it's also possible that they were simply pretending in order to get back at Thomasin. Mercy mentions not being able to leave the farm alone since Samuel's disappearance, which she blames Thomasin for. If they were angry at Thomasin for the increased restrictions, they may have carried on their ruse to get her into trouble. This may have been done with a little suggestion from Black Phillip, or they were accidentally correct about there being a witch.

They just aren't at the witches' party at the end for whatever reason (and real-life issues regarding children and nudity in film.) They had already signed Black Phillip's book, and the witches in the area spirited them away in order to drive Thomasin's parents off the edge, thereby persuading Thomasin to join the witches as well.

• William is Pride, as he himself admits when begging God to save his family.
• Katherine is Envy, jealous of Thomasin becoming a woman.
• Thomasin is Greed, being easily turned to a Witch by the offer of 'living deliciously'.
• Caleb is Lust, staring at his own sister's breasts, and is seduced by a witch who is either a beautiful woman or in the guise of one.
• Jonas and Mercy, as twins, each share Wrath and Sloth, refusing to ever really listen to anyone who asks them to help with chores, and both furious with Thomasin.
• Samuel would thusly be Gluttony, though being that he's a baby, he isn't really capable of anything more than wanting to be fed.

The Ending Of The Witch Explained

If you're looking for a solid horror movie recommendation, Robert Eggers' directorial debut, 2015's The Witch: A New England Folktale — often stylized as The VVitch — is more than worthy of your watch list if you want an eerie, methodical, and downright unsettling viewing experience. This dark period piece is not for the faint of heart, and will undoubtedly send a shiver or two up your spine as the story unfolds.

Set in the colonial era, specifically the 1630s, this tale follows a settler family comprised of patriarch William (Ralph Ineson), his wife Katherine (Kate Dickie), and their five children as they adjust to life away from their Puritan colony. As if rationing food and water, tending to their livestock, setting up sufficient lodging, and, of course, dealing with the mental strain of isolation wasn't enough, the family soon find themselves targeted by mysterious, evil forces lurking deep in the nearby woods.

All of these factors combine to tell an intriguing and incredibly unique story that'll surely have you sleeping with the lights on, culminating in a finale that's equally as creepy as it is confusing. Here's a breakdown of what exactly the ending of The Witch means, and how the movie built up to its breathtaking conclusion.

Thomasin befriends Kit, a young girl who has recently moved to town from Barbados. Together, they form a close bond and support each other throughout the challenges they face in the strict Puritan society. However, their friendship is seen as suspicious by the townspeople, who believe that Kit is a witch and has corrupted Thomasin.

The consequences of sin

Throughout The Witch's story, religion plays a vital role and helps set the stage for both its climax and resolution. First and foremost, the opening scene depicts the family's exile from their Puritan settlement on grounds of William committing "the sin of prideful conceit", thus kicking off their struggles away from society in the middle of the wilderness. However, William isn't the only one of them who broke their religious tenets, which becomes more apparent as the family is driven further and further over the edge. Almost every member of the family, aside from Samuel the infant, succumbs to the temptation of one of the Seven Deadly Sins (not to be confused with the anime series).

As mentioned before, William's pride gets the best of him as he tries, and struggles, to keep his loved ones alive but refuses to accept his shortcomings. Their Billy goat, Black Phillip (more on him later), brutally gores him to death, subsequently burying him under a pile of chopped logs. Katherine, meanwhile, allows her deranged envy of her daughter, Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy) to poison her mind. She assaults her physically, but the result is a gruesome death courtesy of Thomasin, who defends herself with a bill hook.

As for the children, the eldest son, Caleb (Harvey Scrimshaw) represents lust, as he constantly ogles Thomasin, and takes his final breath shortly after the witch seduces him in the forest. The twins, Mercy (Ellie Granger) and Jonas (Lucas Dawson), die off-screen, but their attitudes throughout the film still place them within the Seven Deadly Sins. Mercy, ever ruthless toward Thomasin after she played a cruel joke on her, first implied she was a witch, using her wrath to turn the family against her. Jonas, on the other hand, embodies sloth, as he rarely contributes anything to the homestead and prefers to laze around and chat with Black Phillip rather than do any legwork.

As the story progresses, Thomasin faces further scrutiny when she helps a sick neighbor, Goodwife Cruff, through the use of herbal remedies. In a community where traditional medicine is heavily reliant on prayer and faith, Thomasin's knowledge of natural remedies is perceived as witchcraft. However, her actions can be interpreted as an act of kindness and compassion rather than practicing dark magic. Furthermore, Thomasin's relationship with Nat, a sailor who is often viewed as an outsider, complicates her reputation. The townspeople believe that Nat is associated with witchcraft due to his connections with the sea, which is often seen as a mysterious and dangerous realm. Their shared moments of solace and understanding are misinterpreted as evidence of witchcraft rather than the natural bond between two kind-hearted individuals. Throughout the novel, it becomes clear that Thomasin is never actually a witch. Instead, she is a victim of the prejudiced and superstitious beliefs of the time. The accusations against her are based on misunderstandings and fear rather than any actual evidence of witchcraft. Thomasin's true nature is one of compassion, kindness, and a deep desire to do what is right, despite the difficulties she faces. In conclusion, Thomasin's character in "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" is wrongly accused of being a witch due to her appearance, actions, and associations. However, a closer examination reveals that she is a victim of superstition and fear rather than a practicing witch. Thomasin's true nature is one of goodness and empathy, which ultimately allows her to overcome the challenges she faces in the Puritan community..

Reviews for "Unmasking the true nature of Thomasin's witchcraft"

1. John - 1/5 Stars - "I found 'Was Thomasin Always a Witch' to be a major disappointment. The storyline was confusing and hard to follow, with the plot jumping around without any clear direction. The characters lacked depth and development, making it difficult to connect with them or care about their fates. Overall, the book felt disjointed and rushed, leaving me feeling unsatisfied and wanting more. I was hoping for a gripping tale of witchcraft and suspense, but unfortunately, this book fell flat."

2. Emily - 2/5 Stars - "I had high expectations for 'Was Thomasin Always a Witch,' but I ultimately found it to be underwhelming. The pacing was slow, and the story lacked the intrigue and excitement I was hoping for. The writing style was also a bit dull, with repetitive descriptions and a lack of engaging dialogue. While there were some interesting elements related to witchcraft, they were not explored in a satisfying way. Overall, I felt the book had potential but failed to deliver on its promises."

3. Sarah - 2/5 Stars - "I struggled to get through 'Was Thomasin Always a Witch' as it didn't captivate my interest. The plot was convoluted and difficult to understand, with too many unnecessary subplots that distracted from the main storyline. The characters felt flat and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with them or root for their success. The pacing was also quite slow, and the writing style didn't keep me engaged. I was disappointed by this book overall and wouldn't recommend it to others."

4. Michael - 1/5 Stars - "I regret picking up 'Was Thomasin Always a Witch.' The story was filled with clichés and predictable twists, making it a chore to read. The characters felt like caricatures, lacking complexity or believability. The writing was uninspired, with clunky prose and repetitive descriptions. I was hoping for an intriguing witchcraft tale, but instead, found myself rolling my eyes at the lackluster execution. Save yourself the time and skip this one."

The forbidden knowledge: Was Thomasin destined to be a witch?