Howl’s Moving Castle Character Analysis

Sophie Hatter

The protagonist of the novel, Sophie is the eldest of three sisters—so she believes she’s destined to be a failure. Sophie isn’t surprised when her stepmother Fanny takes Sophie on as an apprentice in the… read analysis of Sophie Hatter

Wizard Howl

Howl is a 27-year-old wizard who lives in a moving castle. Most people believe he’s evil, as he supposedly eats girls’ hearts. This is, however, exaggerated: Howl regularly breaks girls’ hearts, but he doesn’t eat… read analysis of Wizard Howl

Calcifer

Calcifer is Howl’s fire demon. He’s bound to Howl’s hearth by a contract—and he promises to lift the curse on Sophie if she figures out how to break the contract between him and Howl… read analysis of Calcifer

The Witch of the Waste

The antagonist of the novel, the Witch of the Waste is an old woman who lives out in the middle of a wasteland known as the Waste. She made a deal with a fire demon… read analysis of The Witch of the Waste

Miss Angorian

At first, Miss Angorian appears as Neil’s new English teacher in Wales—but really, she’s the Witch of the Waste’s fire demon. She’s a beautiful young woman, with shiny black hair, olive skin, and… read analysis of Miss Angorian

Michael

Michael is Howl’s teenage apprentice. He’s a kind, handsome boy, and he’s in love with and plans to marry Martha Hatter (though he knows her as Lettie). Michael performs most of the grunt… read analysis of Michael

Lettie Hatter

Lettie is Martha and Sophie’s middle sister. She’s considered the most beautiful, and she’s also the most ambitious—though as the second-born, she’s not destined for greatness. Because of this, when the girls’ father dies… read analysis of Lettie Hatter

Martha Hatter

Martha is Sophie and Lettie’s younger sister; she’s Fanny’s biological daughter. As the third-born, Martha is supposedly destined to be wildly successful. Because of this, when her father dies, Fanny apprentices Martha to… read analysis of Martha Hatter

Fanny

Fanny is Sophie and Lettie’s stepmother and Martha’s mother. She was a young, pretty shop assistant at the hat shop when Sophie’s father married her, and she made a point to treat all… read analysis of Fanny

Mrs. Fairfax

Mrs. Fairfax is a witch, an old friend of Fanny’s, and she takes Lettie on as an apprentice. She’s a maternal-looking blond woman, and from her home in Upper Folding, Mrs. Fairfax crafts spells… read analysis of Mrs. Fairfax

The Dog-Man/Percival

Percival is, unbeknownst to him, a combination of Wizard Suliman and Prince Justin’s body parts. The Witch of the Waste assembles the men into two bodies, one that’s her perfect human and the other… read analysis of The Dog-Man/Percival

Wizard Suliman/Benjamin Sullivan

Wizard Suliman was the King’s Royal Magician until the Witch kidnapped him and he disappeared into the Waste. He came from Wales, like Howl, and was originally named Benjamin Sullivan. Suliman was the… read analysis of Wizard Suliman/Benjamin Sullivan

Mrs. Pentstemmon

Mrs. Pentstemmon is an elderly, renowned witch in Ingary. She trained both Wizard Suliman and Howl, though Howl was her last (and best) student. Mrs. Pentstemmon is very invested in Howl’s moral state, and… read analysis of Mrs. Pentstemmon

Megan Parry

Megan is Howl’s sister; she lives in Wales with her husband and two children, Mari and Neil. Megan and Howl have a difficult relationship, as Megan feels like Howl is abusing her kindness… read analysis of Megan Parry

Prince Justin

Prince Justin is the King’s younger brother. After fighting with the King, Justin disguises himself, goes looking for Wizard Suliman, and is ultimately kidnapped by the Witch. The Witch plans to use… read analysis of Prince Justin

The Count of Catterack

The Count of Catterack is a small, nervous man who runs off with Jane Farrier. At one point, Sophie sells him a fake spell to help him win a duel, not realizing who he… read analysis of The Count of Catterack

Minor Characters

Mari Parry

Mari is Howl’s young niece and Megan’s daughter. She lives in Wales, and she and Howl have a close, loving relationship.

Neil Parry

Neil is Howl’s nephew; he lives with his mother Megan and sister Mari in 1980s Wales. He’s obsessed with computer games and has a fraught relationship with Howl—Howl must bribe him with one-of-a-kind computer games to get Neil to be at all helpful.

The King

The King of Ingary is an unassuming, middle-aged man who nevertheless acts like he’s extremely smart and powerful. He’s desperate to track down his brother, Prince Justin, and the Royal Wizard, Wizard Suliman, after they’re both kidnapped by the Witch of the Waste—so he gives Howl the task.

Jane Farrier

Jane Farrier is a plain young woman who lives in Market Chipping. She becomes the talk of the town when, after purchasing a fussy, pleated, mushroom-colored bonnet from Sophie, she runs off with the Count of Catterack.

Princess Valeria

Princess Valeria is the King’s baby daughter; she’s just starting to walk and has a few teeth.

Mr. Sacheverell Smith

Fanny marries the wealthy Mr. Smith sometime after Sophie leaves the hat shop. He never appears in person in the novel.