Howl's Moving Castle: Character Analysis

The analysis of this present study shows that the development of the major character is generated through two magic laws: consistency and limitation. Nikolajeva (1988) defines consistency as the logical construction of the secondary world by creating and obeying the rules. In the novel Howl’s Moving Castle, the consistency of magic makes the major character, Sophie, bound to her faith. It makes her hopeless. The rule of the Land of Ingary, the world where the major character lives in, creates difficulties for Sophie as it restricts her to pursue her aspirations. On the other hand, the magic law of limitation offers Sophie an opportunity to be free from her struggles. It becomes a way for the major character to flee the rules that bind her. …show more content…
The dominant similarity is that the magic laws serve as the element of surprise for the character. According to Amelis (2013), the element of surprise means an unexpected turning point of something that is initially predictable. In the novel Howl’s Moving Castle, at first, the magic law of consistency creates struggles for Sophie’s goals. It can be seen from the change of state that the major character experienced. Sophie who previously has a proper life and an excellent educational background faces an unexpected turn when she becomes the cursed eldest of three. Her surprising fate as the eldest of three, who happened to be the unluckiest among her siblings, badly affects Sophie’s personality. She changes from an optimistic young girl into a gloomy person. Then, surprisingly, the magic law of limitation becomes the cure to the struggles. Sophie’s fight with the witch of the waste is the example. In the end, after she finds out her magical ability, she can finally defeat the witch and successfully breaks the spells within her. The limitation of magic attached to the spells makes her free from the spell: as the magic users die, the effect of the magic also