Son of a Witch
56 pages • 1-hour read
Gregory MaguireSon of a Witch
A 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
Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of violence and physical abuse.
The Jackal Moon
The jackal moon is a frequent image in Son of a Witch, particularly in Part 1. This celestial event causes the moon to have the appearance of a jackal, a wild dog that often acts as a scavenger. This portrayal of the moon emphasizes predatory imagery, rendering the moon itself a symbol of the lurking threat of the Emperor Apostle. The moon remains in this form for weeks, transforming over time, beginning as “a smear of celestial flotsam” that eventually morphs “into a successful hunter, its cheeks bulging” (4). The moon undergoes a transformation that changes its appearance from that of a starving animal to that of a satiated predator, and its ever-present position in the sky draws parallels to Shell’s predatory actions as he seeks to control Oz and seize rewards from his own citizens.
The symbol of the jackal moon foreshadows the primary conflict of the novel, for its predatory appearance hints at the presence of the dragons in the sky above Oz. When Liir encounters the dragons, the jackal moon is present, and even this distant celestial body is described as a predator ready to attack. As the narrative states, “the jackal moon was staring. […] It was the head of a predator on the crouch, and [Liir] was the prey trying lucklessly to make it to a mouse hole” (208). The moon’s presence hints at the coming attack of the dragons, and this connection also links it to the oppressive power of the Emerald City.
Elphaba’s Broom
The broom that Liir inherits from Elphaba is a motif that reflects The Impact of Belonging on Identity Formation. Though Liir does not receive full confirmation that he is Elphaba’s son until he beholds his own green-skinned daughter, the broom represents his connection to Elphaba. Liir brings the broom from Kiamo Ko to the Emerald City and soon realizes that the burned broom is growing back. In his hands, the broom finds new life, becoming “notched with young nubs” that “reveal[ed] modest embellishments of pale green leaf, like tiny rare broaches pinned to an old bit of scrap wood” (121). The broom’s eager recovery in Liir’s hands suggests that a piece of Elphaba is living through him. It restores itself and even flies for Liir, allowing him to escape Southstairs.
The presence of the broom in Liir’s life helps him to feel as though he is of Elphaba, and this growing conviction helps to shape his identity as her possible son, motivating him to follow in her footsteps by resisting Shell’s governmental oppression. In Part 3, Liir receives further confirmation of the broom’s commitment to him when it refuses to fly for Trism and reacts only to Liir’s touch, “bucking like a colt” (298) at the touch of his hand. When Liir takes the broom back, it comes to life, ready to fly.
Dragons
The Emperor Apostle’s dragons serve as a motif that reflects The Damaging Effects of Corruption. Not only are the dragons used by the Ozian government to complete military maneuvers that advance their goals, but the monsters are also a symbolic show of power and lethality. Trism explains this point to Liir, revealing the horrors of the dragons’ purpose when he says, “The dragons only go after the young. They’re trained that way […] The theory is that when the young are brought down in their prime, it is more—alarming—useful—than if some old codger or crone is bumped off” (261). By killing young people, the dragons are destroy people’s hope and resistance, and it is clear that they are an oppressive, violent force designed to help Shell maintain his iron control over Ozian society.
While the dragons’ actions illustrate the destructive power of political manipulation, the care they receive reveals an even deeper evil. The dragons’ diet consists of human flesh. Specifically, the dragons are “fed on the corpses of freshly killed humans […]. The cadavers were imported directly from a killing chamber in Southstairs, where a fresh supply was always available” (262). Because Shell’s government feeds its own citizens into the dragons’ toothy maws, this act becomes a grim metaphor for real-world governments that sustain themselves by turning against the populace.
Unlock the meaning behind every key symbol & motif
See how recurring imagery, objects, and ideas shape the narrative.
- Explore how the author builds meaning through symbolism
- Understand what symbols & motifs represent in the text
- Connect recurring ideas to themes, characters, and events