In a realm of magic and mystery, legends speak of a powerful witch who wielded a blade in a stone. This tale tells of a woman so skilled in her craft, so fiercely determined, that her very being became intertwined with the elements of the earth. She rose from humble beginnings, a young girl with a spark in her eyes and an inexplicable connection to the supernatural. As she grew, so did her abilities, her magic becoming an extension of her own essence. The townspeople whispered in secret, partly in awe and partly in fear of the witch who possessed an uncanny power. But it was not until the fateful day when a mystical blade appeared embedded in a stone that the witch's true strength was tested.
Howl, on the other hand, was scared of The Witch of the Waste as she kept on hunting him down. He had explained the reason of this hunt to Sophie that, “she was once quite beautiful, so I decided to pursue her then I realized she wasn’t, so as usual I ran away,” therefore, he did not want to confront her.
In the ending part of the movie the loving nature of Sophie again appears as she hugs the Witch to make her let go off Calcifer from her hands implying in a way that she has accepted the Witch of the Waste as she is. This is not entirely true as we see her realize Suliman has sent a peeping bug to spy on them but doesn t realize that by giving it to Calcifer to eat that she s made it easier for them to be found.
But it was not until the fateful day when a mystical blade appeared embedded in a stone that the witch's true strength was tested. Legends had foretold of a weapon so mighty that only the true wielder, someone pure of heart and unyielding in their purpose, could free it from its rocky prison. When news of the blade reached the witch, a fire ignited within her soul.
Miyazaki's Work Analyzed
The Witch of the Waste does not have a name but an epitaph for who she is. Her reputation as a witch proceeds who she is as an individual. She is a legend and a myth wrapped up in one but still real. The Witch’s only goal is to have Howl’s heart for herself. So when her blob henchmen chase after Howl and Sophie, she becomes jealous of Sophie. Her jealousy causes her to place a curse on Sophie to turn her old. The dramatic irony for the Witch is that she is in return turned old (which is actually her true age).
The Witch prizes her beauty, thinks she is superior to others and feels power and status is all that matters along with possessing the heart of Howl. The Witch has a very classic western “white” superior identity. Her desire to possess Howl’s heart is materialistic as she doesn’t seem to want it for the same reason’s Sophie does, love. Still she does admit that she is still in love but after states, “Men, why ever should we want them? But a young man’s heart is so delicious!…and so adorable too.” The Witch’s true intention with Howl’s heart is simply to possess the heart of a young man even if she had fallen in love with him at one time.
The Witch’s world starts to fall apart when she is summoned to see the King, believing that Suliman finally has need of her power. She states, “It’s been 50 years now, since they drove me out of here. I’ve been longing for this day ever since.” Still, being forced to climb up the steps of the palace has already started her to age, using Sophie’s cane to help her. Her appearance loses its prime and proper beautiful look to a sweating, hunched, woman. She takes a blow to her pride onto of her beauty when she has to admit to Sophie that she doesn’t know how to break the spell. When the audience finally sees her again, she has been turned into an old feeble woman.
Much like Howl, she had made a deal with a demon “who consumed her, body and soul, long, long ago.” This is why she has been returned to her proper age and stripped of her powers because of the bargain she made. The major difference between Howl and the Witch is that Howl had Sophie to save him where no one was able to save the Witch.
The Witch as an old woman finally enters into Howl’s home. She needs to be spoon fed by Sophie, and stares at Calcifer calling him a pretty fire continually. Her new state has made it appear as if she’s harmless and unable to do anything for herself. This is not entirely true as we see her realize Suliman has sent a peeping bug to spy on them but doesn’t realize that by giving it to Calcifer to eat that she’s made it easier for them to be found.
Upon learning of Calcifer having Howl’s heart, she grabs it, causing herself to light on fire. She holds it to herself even as she burns but saved by Sophie. She thinks Sophie is mean for trying to take Howl away from her; she just wanted his heart for herself. Finally, the Witch realizes how much Sophie wants Howl’s heart and why, telling her, “Oh, well, in that case, you’d better take good care of it.”
The Witch’s identity is changed in the slightest ways by being transformed into a harmless old woman. She is protective of Howl, just as Howl is protective of Sophie but for different reasons. The Witch doesn’t want Suliman to find Howl because she wants his heart and if Suliman found them then it wouldn’t be possible. She has lost her pride, her beauty, her powers and everything she prizes most inthe world. Despite it all, her goal never changes, until Sophie asks for it. She knows the power of love and allows for it to flourish. The Witch finally stops being someone to be feared (as Howl fears her) and someone who’s identity has changed after being forced to change by Suliman and with the influence of Sophie’s love for Howl. In the end, she gains a family, happiness and peace on Howl’s moving castle.
She starts living in the castle alongside Heen, and when Sophie's mother brings a parcel with a peeping bug she quickly discards it. When she realizes Calcifer has Howl's heart, she tries to take it for herself only to be burned by Calcifer's flame, prompting Sophie to attempt to douse her.
She knew it was her destiny, her ultimate trial. With determination and a glimmer of anticipation, she embarked on a journey to the stone where the blade had been discovered. Arriving at the sacred site, she surveyed the area, drawing on her connection to the earth to seek guidance. The whispers of the wind and the rustle of the leaves filled her ears, speaking ancient words of encouragement and warning. With a steady hand and unwavering resolve, the witch reached out to touch the stone, feeling the vibrations of the blade pulsating through her veins. Her magic intertwined with the blade, their energies merging into a singular force. The ground trembled as the witch muttered ancient incantations, calling upon the powers that dwelled within her. She channeled her energy into the blade, exerting all her strength to free it from its stony prison. With a deafening crack, the blade broke free, brilliantly shining in the hazy light. The witch held it aloft, feeling its weight and power in her hands. She had proven herself worthy, a true force to be reckoned with. From that day forward, the witch wielding a blade in the stone became a legend whispered in the halls of magic schools and recounted around campfires. Her tale served as a reminder that true strength lies not just in the blade itself, but in the unfaltering spirit and unwavering determination of the one who wields it..
Reviews for "The Witch's Transformation: Empowered by the Blade in the Stone"
1. John Doe - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "Witch wielding a blade in the stone" as I am a fan of the fantasy genre. However, I found the storyline to be quite predictable and lacked originality. The characters were one-dimensional and I couldn't connect with any of them. The writing style was also subpar, with awkward dialogue and repetitive descriptions. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Jane Smith - 1 star - "Witch wielding a blade in the stone" was a completely underwhelming read for me. The plot felt disjointed and the pacing was inconsistent. The world-building was lacking, leaving me with many unanswered questions about the magical elements introduced. Additionally, the main protagonist was incredibly unlikeable, making it difficult to root for her or care about her journey. The overall execution of this book fell short of my expectations, and I was left feeling unsatisfied and uninterested in continuing the series.
3. Emily Johnson - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Witch wielding a blade in the stone" but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The writing seemed amateurish and needed a lot more editing. There were numerous grammatical errors and the prose felt clunky. The story itself was filled with cliches and lacked originality. The characters were predictable and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to become emotionally invested in their journeys. Overall, I found this book to be quite disappointing and would not recommend it to fellow readers.