Howl’s Moving Castle Themes

Howl’s Moving Castle follows 18-year-old Sophie, the eldest of three sisters who live in the fictional kingdom of Ingary. In Ingary, it’s considered a terrible fate to be the eldest of three children: the eldest is destined to “fail first, and worst.” So Sophie simply accepts it as fate when the evil Witch of the Waste curses Sophie to become an old lady, as Sophie figures it’s just part of her destiny. Destiny, according…

In Howl’s Moving Castle, few things are as they seem. Old people look young, young people look old, kings and princes look unassuming, and unlikely heroes appear evil. By presenting so many people, non-human beings, and objects that defy all expectations, the novel highlights the problems that come with prejudging someone. In some cases, a person’s inclination to make assumptions simply reflects their upbringing. For instance, Sophie, who’s from Market Chipping, has been…

Over the course of Howl’s Moving Castle, teenage Sophie comes of age. This process occurs for her as she slowly discovers her magical abilities and accepts that she is indeed capable of great things—if only she believes in herself. The novel suggests Sophie is magical early on when, during her apprenticeship in her stepmother Fanny’s hat shop, Sophie begins talking to the hats she trims. Unknowingly, Sophie charms the hats when she tells…