48 pages • 1 hour read
Claribel A. OrtegaWitchlings
Claribel A. OrtegaFiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2022A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Names
Names serve as a motif of the theme of Self-Discovery in the Face of Adversity. In Chapter 1, the author establishes that the characters’ names are clues to their destinies: “In their world, the Twelve Towns, a child’s name was a prophecy” (3). Just as Seven struggles to find her place in the world, she doesn’t understand the significance of her name for much of the book. The protagonist and her fellow Witchlings discover the meaning behind their names during their battle against the Nightbeast and the Cursed Toads, the most dangerous challenge they face in the book. For example, the climactic fight takes place in Crow’s Head Valley, which means that “Valley’s name had been the answer all along” to the question of where they would find the Nightbeast (291). Thorn’s name comes from the “cage of thorns” she uses to trap the monster (314). The Nightbeast killed her brother, and fighting the monster forces her to confront her fear and grief over Petal’s death. Seven discovers that her name refers to “the number of witches who defeated” the Nightbeast—Seven, Thorn, Valley, Fox, Talisman, Beefy, and the Gran (318). Seven, Thorn, and Valley discover the meaning of their names when they achieve their Impossible Task, supporting Ortega’s message that self-discovery comes through facing adversity.
Red
The color red symbolizes Spares. One of the most important examples of this symbolic color are Seven, Thorn, and Valley’s amulets, which turn red during the Black Moon Ceremony in Chapter 1. Because the protagonist has been taught that Spares have no value in society, she initially perceives “the muddy red color of the Spare coven” as something ugly and shameful (16). As Seven grows close to Valley and Thorn, she gradually gains a new perspective on the stigmatized hue. When Thorn creates the red suits for the Witchlings in Chapter 18, she gives her friends more than stylish ensembles to protect them in combat; she turns their status as Spares into a source of pride. She tells Seven, “I know you thought the red in our pendants was ugly, but…I wanted to show you that in another light, it could be quite beautiful” (195). Wearing their red suits empowers the Witchlings and offers a visible sign of their cooperation and trust as they fight side by side during key scenes, such as the climactic battle against the Nightbeast and the Cursed Toads. At the end of the novel, Ortega uses the symbolic color to show how societal attitudes toward Spares are shifting. Thorn’s popular fashion company cannot “keep their signature stupendous Spare ensemble in stock” (324). This shows that being seen wearing red is no longer viewed as something shameful, and many people who aren’t Spares don the color in celebration of the Witchlings’ heroic deeds. As a symbol of Spares, the color red illustrates how Seven gains pride in her coven and fights social stigma over the course of the story.
Purple
The color purple represents House Hyacinth. An amulet in any of the five covens’ colors confers the benefits of rights, social acceptance, and a measure of security within the Twelve Towns. However, purple commands added power and respect because House Hyacinth is lauded as “[v]aliant, virtuous, powerful in all things” (15). In the real world, purple has historical ties to royalty, and this regal association further emphasizes House Hyacinth’s elevated social status and the lowliness of Spares. In addition, Seven associates purple with belonging and success because her old best friend, Poppy, and her favorite journalist, Tiordan Whisperbrew, both belong to House Hyacinth. During the Black Moon Ceremony, the narrator describes the color purple as “vibrant” and “beautiful,” underlining Seven’s longing as the life of her dreams slips through her fingers. In Chapter 22, Seven learns that Mr. Pepperhorn is a member of House Hyacinth: “‘He’s in the purple coven? Yuck,’ Seven said (249). Seven’s surprise and disgust stem not only from Mr. Pepperhorn’s abusive behavior but also from House Hyacinth’s reputation for virtue. The Twelve Towns attempt to justify their unequal division of power and privilege by presenting the coven system as a meritocracy, but Mr. Pepperhorn’s placement in House Hyacinth erodes that sense of moral superiority. Seven’s realization that even the revered House Hyacinth has corrupt members makes it easier for her to see that she can still live by her values and achieve her goals outside of the coven system. Seven’s shifting attitude toward the color purple reflects her fading idealization of House Hyacinth and her growing awareness of her society’s injustices.
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