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Mr. Tongo
A character in Penn’s fairy tale, The Adventures of Grumwald and Princess Stephanie. The witch curses Grumwald, forcing him to live each day as a man and each night as Princess Stephanie. Before the witch lifts the curse, Grumwald asks to be both man and woman, and the witch instantly understands. Grumwald is “betwixt,” she says, which is not the same as in between. “Betwixt” is complicated and has many layers, and it is best understood as “both-and” instead of “neither-nor.” Grumwald is “betwixt” a prince and a princess, but he must not keep who he is a secret, the witch says. Secrets lead to fear and loneliness, and if Grumwald is open about who he is, he will “get magic. Twice,” she claims. In telling his secret, Grumwald will find others who are “betwixt,” too, and he will “change the world.” According to the witch, “story is the best magic there is.” The character of the witch underscores Frankel’s argument that one’s gender identity should never be kept a secret, and she helps to shed light on Poppy’s unique gender identity, which can also be understood as “betwixt.” The witch also illustrates the power of storytelling. Stories offer a vicarious experience and help people understand those who are different, and the witch reminds Grumwald, and by extension Poppy, of this valuable truth.
The Witch Quotes in This Is How It Always Is
The This Is How It Always Is quotes below are all either spoken by The Witch or refer to The Witch. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Part IV: Ever
Quotes
“Betwixt?” Grumwald was skeptical. “Isn't betwixt just a witchy way of saying in between?”
“Betwixt is more complex, more twisted threads, more layers than in between.” She smiled at him through rheumy eyes. “Betwixt a Prince and a night fairy is neither-nor as much as both-and. You see? Something new. Something more. Something better.”
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“You have to tell. It can’t be a secret. Secrets make everyone alone. Secrets lead to panic like that night at the restaurant. When you keep it a secret, you get hysterical. You get to thinking you’re the only one there is who’s like you, who’s both and neither and betwixt, who forges a path every day between selves, but that's not so. When you're alone keeping secrets, you get fear. When you tell, you get magic. Twice.”
“Twice?”
“You find out you're not alone. And so does everyone else. That’s how everything gets better. You share your secret, and I'll do the rest. You share your secret, and you change the world.”
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The Witch Quotes in This Is How It Always Is
The This Is How It Always Is quotes below are all either spoken by The Witch or refer to The Witch. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Part IV: Ever
Quotes
“Betwixt?” Grumwald was skeptical. “Isn't betwixt just a witchy way of saying in between?”
“Betwixt is more complex, more twisted threads, more layers than in between.” She smiled at him through rheumy eyes. “Betwixt a Prince and a night fairy is neither-nor as much as both-and. You see? Something new. Something more. Something better.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
“You have to tell. It can’t be a secret. Secrets make everyone alone. Secrets lead to panic like that night at the restaurant. When you keep it a secret, you get hysterical. You get to thinking you’re the only one there is who’s like you, who’s both and neither and betwixt, who forges a path every day between selves, but that's not so. When you're alone keeping secrets, you get fear. When you tell, you get magic. Twice.”
“Twice?”
“You find out you're not alone. And so does everyone else. That’s how everything gets better. You share your secret, and I'll do the rest. You share your secret, and you change the world.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
