The Once and Future Queen
68 pages • 2-hour read
Paula LaffertyThe Once and Future Queen
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Symbols & Motifs
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death and emotional abuse.
Magic
The motif of magic functions as a barometer for the kingdom’s vitality and moral integrity. In its abundance, magic represents a golden age of prosperity and wonder, fueling a society that Vera finds to be anything but the “Dark Ages” she learned about. However, the novel primarily explores magic’s decline, which symbolizes the corrupting influence of hoarded power and drives the central conflict. This decay is directly tied to the theme of The Ethical Burden of Power. The mages, entrusted with magic’s stewardship, have secretly amassed gifts by killing others, creating a curse that drains the world of its essential life force. As Merlin explains, the consequences are catastrophic: “This nation was founded on magic, and we will not survive without it” (78). His statement frames the loss of magic not just as a fading wonder but as an existential threat born from the mages’ ethical failures.
The novel further complicates this motif by contrasting magic’s potential for beauty with its use as a tool for manipulation. While the glowing lanterns of Glastonbury and enchanting theatrical performances showcase its ability to inspire awe, Merlin’s use of potions to influence Vera’s and Arthur’s feelings reveals a darker side. By prioritizing the kingdom’s stability over individual autonomy, Merlin sacrifices the very people he aims to protect, demonstrating that great power, even when wielded for seemingly noble ends, inevitably leads to moral compromise. Magic, therefore, is not an inherent good but a neutral force whose effect is determined by the wielder’s ethics, making it a potent symbol of the responsibility that accompanies power.
The Hobbit
J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit functions as a symbol of Vera’s enduring identity and the comforting anchor of family amid the dislocation of time travel. Initially, the anachronistic novel represents the safety of the modern life and the ailing father she left behind. When Vera discovers the typed book in her seventh-century chamber, it serves as a tactile tether to her grief. As she reads the familiar dialogue alone in her bed, “she imagine[s] the voices her father used to perform for all the characters during their Christmas readings” (72). This auditory memory temporarily shields Vera from the alienating reality of her medieval environment. The text proves that while her physical surroundings have drastically changed, her foundational self remains intact.
However, the novel’s symbolic resonance expands as Vera’s relationship with Arthur develops, illustrating Grief as a Catalyst for Reinvention. Rather than remaining a solitary refuge of mourning, the book becomes a bridge connecting her modern sensibilities to her medieval husband. When Arthur asks to read aloud with her, he steps into the role of the comforting storyteller once held by her father. Arthur notes the parallel between Bilbo Baggins’s journey and her own, musing, “Maybe you’ll have your own There and Back Again to write soon” (329). This observation highlights The Malleability of Historical Narratives, framing Vera’s terrifying temporal displacement not as a tragedy but as a heroic quest. Through their shared reading, Arthur begins to see Vera for who she truly is instead of the mythical Guinevere he lost. Consequently, the novel transforms from a relic of Vera’s past sorrows into a collaborative blueprint for her reinvented future.
Running
Vera is introduced as someone devoted to running, and before she lost Vincent, her morning sprints to Glastonbury Tor were a source of wonder for her. Even though Vincent’s death has plunged Vera into despair, she continues to run in the mornings, the physical activity acting as a means of drowning her grief. When she is transported to Camelot, one of the few items Vera takes along are her running shoes. Running is also one of the first pastimes that Vera resumes in her new timeline, and her morning jogs with Lancelot bring the two closer together. The persistence of running symbolizes Vera’s individualism and inner strength. She holds onto running even though it may be seen as an anachronistic activity for a medieval queen, and the activity serves as a reminder that she is more than Guinevere’s shadow.
The symbol of running also represents freedom, not just for Vera but also for Lancelot and, later, Arthur. As Lancelot runs with Vera, he finds a newfound camaraderie that he didn’t possess with the former version of Guinevere, and it’s clear that the activity helps him break free of his reserve around the queen. Later, when Arthur runs with Vera, he briefly forgets that he's the king, seeing her and himself as just two individuals who are connected to each other.
Running additionally functions as a symbol of resistance, as Vera often sprints to avoid being tied to someone else’s image of her. For instance, she goes on a frenetic run after Merlin erases her memories of Vincent, almost as if she is flying away from Merlin’s attempted control. Vera’s fever during the run amplifies the symbolism, establishing the activity as a crucible for her transformation.
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