"The Magic Rhlnda Byefne" "The Magic Rhlnda Byefne" is a captivating fantasy novel that takes readers on an enchanting journey through a mystical world. Written by an acclaimed author, this book weaves a tale of adventure, magic, and self-discovery. The story revolves around the protagonist, a young girl named Rhlnda Byefne, who stumbles upon a mysterious object that possesses incredible powers. As she delves into the world of magic and its secrets, Rhlnda discovers her own innate magical abilities, embarking on a quest to unravel the truth about herself and the powers she possesses. Throughout the book, readers are introduced to a vividly imagined universe filled with fantastical creatures, bewitching landscapes, and ethereal realms. The author's descriptive prose brings this world to life, immersing readers in a rich tapestry of sights, sounds, and emotions.
[THE WITCH] Regarding the ambiguity in the movie
I tried to make the title as ambiguous as possible to avoid spoilers, but be warned that this entire post is basically one large spoiler.
I watched The Witch last night, and one thing that stuck out to me was how each scene seemed to have seemingly pointless shots and a very purposeful ambiguity in, not just the story, but even the camera angles.
The movie, on the surface, is about a puritan family banished from their plantation under unmentioned reasons (though it's implied that it's because the father was too much of a religious zealot and that landed him in legal trouble after he held biblical law above commonwealth law). After they move and build a new hovel on the edge of the woods, the baby goes missing. On the surface, this is because a witch took the baby before continuing on to kill the rest of the family.
The movie is actually about a family succumbing to the elements, and the effect that starvation and religious guilt can have on you as a person.
This is first implied when they explain that the baby was taken by wolves. The rest of the movie seems to waver between that and the explanation that a witch took the baby, only fully moving to the witch theory when the family is at their most desperate. However, with that in mind, you can see this ambiguity in even the earlier scenes.
After the baby Samuel is taken, there's a montage where the baby is carried off into the woods by the witch, slaughtered, ground into a pulp and slathered onto the witch's naked body.
However, after that scene, Caleb wakes up and sees Thomasine (the girl who lost the baby) thrashing around in a nightmare. That would imply that the whole witch scene was her nightmare. To add to that, the knife used to slaughter the baby in the witch scene was the same knife later used when bloodletting Caleb.
Another example of this is when Caleb goes missing in the woods. While walking through the woods, Caleb sees a rabbit and follows it through the woods. He then goes missing, only to appear late that night, naked and delirious, seemingly bewitched. One particular scene is right before he dies, where he coughs up blood and spits out an entire apple. Earlier in the movie he says that he thought he saw an apple tree. What at first sight was a paranormal event could just as easily be a case of hypothermia. You'll have to remember that winter is coming and it's been raining. It's very easy to get hypothermia when you're already wet, and it's possible that he got hypothermia, got scratched up from the brambles and the apple was accidentally swallowed whole, coming up later when he coughed it up.
Later, Thomasine and the twins Jonas and Mercy are all accused of being witches, so they're boarded up in the goat shed with their female goat and with Black Philip, who at this point is considered to be a manifestation of Satan because he's a black male goat. That night, while their mother is having vivid hallucinations, the witch is milking the goat in the shed and starts to scream. Or is she even there? This part is hard to wrap into my theory, but you'll notice that you never actually see the witch and either Thomasine, Jonas or Mercy on screen together, but it does cut to Thomasine backing away and screaming at the same time that the witch is screaming, and Jonas and Mercy are already convinced at this point that Thomasine is the witch. They're mother's hallucinations can be hard to explain, unless you remember the earlier dinner scene where you see them all basically starving, sharing only a small amount of bread and some porridge. The hallucination could have been a psychological break from grief and hunger, or it could have been ergotism from the bread which, historically, is what fueled the Salem witch trials. Further doubt about whether or not the witch is even there is seen the next morning, when you see the boards on the shed busted outward and the female goat dead with wounds to the stomach and neck. I'm no expert, but I used to raise goats and those bite wounds looked remarkably similar to when coyotes got into the pen. Considering that and Black Phillip's history of aggression, it's likely that wolves came in, got into the shed and spooked Black Philip, causing him to ram through the boards.
You'll notice that only one death in the movie comes unquestionably from another person and not some act of nature, and that was in self defense.
The ending seems fairly straightforward, but you'll notice that she wakes up from a deep sleep right before it happens and, if the beginning witch scene is any indication, it's possible that this was also a dream and she did not actually wake up at that time.
TL;DR - a witch isn't to blame. It's just bad luck and finger pointing.
What do you think? Think I'm way off base? Think there's some merit to it? Feel free to let me know!
Thomasin (The Witch)
Thomasin is the main character turned antagonist in The Witch (2015). She is played by Anya Taylor-Joy.
The author's descriptive prose brings this world to life, immersing readers in a rich tapestry of sights, sounds, and emotions. Alongside Rhlnda, readers encounter a diverse cast of characters, each with their own unique traits and backstories. From wise and eccentric mentors to formidable foes, these characters add depth and complexity to the narrative, making the story all the more compelling.
Biography [ ]
Thomasin was the firstborn child of William and Katherine, a pair of English settlers living in 17th century America. She and her family were banished from a Puritan Plymouth colony over a religious dispute and left to live in the wild. Her family decided to build a house near a forest; unbeknownst to them, the forest was infested by witches.
Some time passes, and the family eventually manages to finish building their barn. During this time, Katherine gives birth to a newborn son, whom she names Samuel. One day, Thomasin is playing peekaboo with Samuel when the baby abruptly disappears. It is soon revealed that a witch has stolen the unbaptized Samuel, killing him and using his remains to make a flying ointment. Katherine left devastated by Samuel's disappearance, and spends her days crying and praying. About a week later, Katherine questions Thomasin about the disappearance of her cup and suspects her to be responsible for Samuel's abduction. After the children retire to bed, they overhear their parents discussing sending Thomasin away to serve another family.
Early the next morning, Thomasin finds Caleb preparing to hunt for food in the forest and forces him to take her with him by threatening to awaken their parents. In the woods, the two spot a hare, which sends their horse into a panic and their dog Fowler promptly chases. Caleb pursues, while the horse throws Thomasin off, knocking her unconscious. Caleb, meanwhile, becomes lost in the woods, and eventually ends up being attacked by the witch.
In the woods, the two spot a hare, which sends their horse into a panic and their dog Fowler promptly chases. Caleb pursues, while the horse throws Thomasin off, knocking her unconscious. Caleb, meanwhile, becomes lost in the woods, and eventually ends up being attacked by the witch. William finds Thomasin and takes her home where Katherine angrily chastises Thomasin for taking Caleb into the woods before William reluctantly admits that he sold Katherine's cup.
More and more problems begin plaguing the family, such as their vegetation being rotten and their goats producing blood instead of milk. Caleb then is found outdoors in the rain that night, naked and delirious from an unknown illness. When he awakens the next day, Caleb expels a bloody apple from his mouth; Katherine believes it to be witchcraft. Caleb passionately proclaims his love to Christ before he dies, though Katherine believes Caleb to have been under some sort of spell. The twins then accuse Thomasin of witchcraft and, in retaliation, Thomasin reveals to the parents that the twins have had conversations with Black Phillip, the family's Billy goat, of whom the twins say is telling them that Thomasin is evil. Thomasin turns the accusation around and tells William that she believes the twins are witches, and that Black Phillip might be Satan himself. The twins refuse to respond to the accusations, however, and a frustrated William ends up boarding both Thomasin and the twins inside the goat house. Thomasin overhears William break down and confess to God that he has been prideful and made his family leave their old village out of stubbornness rather than sincere religious devotion.
Later in the night, the three children are woken by the sounds of rustling in the goat house and discover an old woman drinking blood from the goats. Meanwhile, inside the house, Katherine awakens to a vision of Caleb holding Samuel. After a brief discussion, Caleb offers Samuel to Katherine so she may breast feed the baby but the baby is shown to be in fact a crow that is pecking away at her breast. The next morning, William wakes up to find the stable destroyed, with some of the goats dead, the twins missing, and Thomasin lying down unconscious with blood-stained hands. As Thomasin awakens, Black Phillip suddenly attacks and kills William before her eyes. A now unhinged Katherine then confronts Thomasin, and blames her for the tragedies that have beset the family. She then attacks her daughter and pins her to the ground, but Thomasin fights back in self-defense and kills her mother by slashing her to death with a nearby cleaver.
Alone, Thomasin enters the stable and urges Black Phillip to speak to her. The goat responds by asking if Thomasin would like to "live deliciously" and materializes into a tall, black-clad man. Black Phillip orders Thomasen to remove her clothes and to sign her name in a book that appears before her. Thomasen follows Black Phillip into the forest, where she joins a coven of witches holding a Witches' Sabbath around a bonfire. The coven begins to levitate and a laughing Thomasin joins them, ascending above the trees.
Thomasin (The Witch)
Thomasin is the main character turned antagonist in The Witch (2015). She is played by Anya Taylor-Joy.
"The Magic Rhlnda Byefne" explores universal themes such as the struggle between light and darkness, the importance of friendship and loyalty, and the inherent power within each individual. As Rhlnda learns to harness her abilities, she must confront her fears and face daunting challenges, demonstrating the transformative nature of self-belief and determination. The novel is masterfully paced, keeping readers engaged and eager to uncover the next twist or turn. The author skillfully builds tension and suspense, while also providing moments of levity and introspection, creating a well-rounded and satisfying reading experience. "The Magic Rhlnda Byefne" is a must-read for fans of fantasy and adventure novels. Its imaginative world-building, relatable characters, and thought-provoking themes make it a standout in the genre. Whether read by young adults or adults, this enchanting tale will captivate and inspire readers, leaving them eagerly anticipating future works from this talented author..
Reviews for "Exploring the different schools of magic in Byefne's realm"
1. Jane Smith - 2/5
I was really excited to read "The Maguc Rhlnda Byefne" after hearing so many positive reviews, but I found it to be quite disappointing. The plot felt convoluted and hard to follow, with too many subplots that didn't really connect well. The characters were also lacking depth, making it difficult for me to care about their fates. Overall, I just didn't find the book engaging or enjoyable.
2. John Davis - 1/5
"The Maguc Rhlnda Byefne" was a complete waste of my time. The writing style was overly verbose and pretentious, making it a struggle to get through even a few pages. The story itself was confusing and lackluster, with a messy plot that left me scratching my head. The characters were also unlikable and underdeveloped, making it impossible for me to connect with them. I regret picking up this book and would not recommend it to anyone.
3. Sarah Thompson - 2/5
I had high hopes for "The Maguc Rhlnda Byefne" but was ultimately let down. The pacing of the book was off, with long stretches of nothing happening, followed by rushed and confusing action scenes. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me feeling disconnected from the setting and unable to visualize it properly. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard for me to engage with the characters. Overall, I found this book to be a disappointment and would not read it again.