67 pages • 2-hour read
Uprooted
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Symbols & Motifs
Stories
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death and graphic violence.
Stories are a recurring motif in Uprooted, first appearing in the opening line, which references the untrue stories surrounding the Dragon. Throughout the narrative that follows, Agnieszka describes the stories and songs she has heard from bards, in taverns, and as rumors and legends shared in the valley. These include romantic tales of Prince Marek’s heroic deeds and the legends of Old Jaga the witch, among others. Several times, Agnieszka draws further attention to the motif by remarking that her life has grown to resemble these old stories in ways she could not previously have imagined.
For Agnieszka, stories represent human connection and thus emerge as a counterweight to The Corrupting Influence of Power. They offer opportunities to connect with people and understand their lives, as when she wishes to learn about the baron’s men during the siege at the tower; where men like Marek treat these men as disposable, she feels that in learning the men’s stories, she honors their identities and agency. Stories also form connections in the queen’s trial. Agnieszka understands that those watching wish to see themselves as part of a heroic tale, so she recreates the moment of the queen’s rescue to win them to her side.
However, stories can also be inaccurate or deliberately misleading. Agnieszka acknowledges this when she performs the illusion at the queen’s trial, saying this “[isn’t] truth, anything like it” (291). Similarly, when the survivors of the siege walk to the village of Olshanka, she thinks about how the stories of heroism and war never mention the ending, “with someone tired going home from a field full of death” (391). Agnieszka thus learns that it is important to recognize that stories are not always true and can obscure people’s full, flawed humanity—for example, beneath a veneer of heroism—rather than preserve it.
Roots
Roots are a vital symbol within the novel, seen in the imagery of trees, roots, and growth as well as in the title itself. In literature and art, roots often symbolize beginnings and connections—to the past, to family, to one’s home, etc. In Uprooted, such roots can be both good and bad. The roots of the Wood spread throughout Polnya, representing the spread of evil and corruption. Indeed, the Wood-queen grows the roots of heart-trees out of the bodies of her victims; this practice, literally rooted in destruction and violence, spreads the corruption of her misery and hatred across the valley. Roots’ association with the past is significant here, as the novel’s conflict and violence ultimately arise from the Wood-queen’s betrayal by the first people of the valley.
Roots also appear as a symbol of Agnieszka’s (and the other villagers’) connection to the valley. Though some, such as Alosha, view this connection as another example of the evil and corruption of the Wood, it is not inherently bad. While these roots do indicate a connection to the Wood and its dangers, they also represent home and belonging. Agnieszka acknowledges that she is bound to the valley, but she also loves her home and takes pride in it. That her connection to the valley persists after her confrontation with the Wood-queen illustrates that it is based at least as much in love as it is anything else; she does not wish to leave the valley but rather to heal and care for it.
The symbolism of roots extends to other kinds of belonging, such as love and family. This is why Agnieszka is hurt and disappointed by Sarkan’s resistance to putting down figurative roots in the valley: She feels it is as much a rejection of her as it is of the valley itself. After over 100 years living there, Sarkan could build a strong connection with the valley and the Wood, but he has intentionally resisted this because he does not want to feel tied down. His return at the end of the novel indicates his willingness to tie himself to Agnieszka.
Luthe’s Summoning
Agnieszka describes Luthe’s Summoning as a kind of story that she and Sarkan attempt to tell together, like two storytellers with different styles and goals trying to weave a story together. However, unlike the other stories in the novel, Luthe’s Summoning symbolizes truth. It is explicitly a truth spell and a crucial element of the plot. More than that, though, it symbolizes the ability to see a person or situation clearly, without bias, deception, or misunderstanding. Agnieszka herself positions Luthe’s Summoning as the exact opposite of a story when she admits she should have used it during the queen’s trial rather than the illusion spell that invited the audience into the story of the rescue mission. Where the story was about feeling and belief, Luthe’s Summoning is about clarity and insight.
Luthe’s Summoning creates a literal light that shines through a person, revealing their true nature. In this capacity, the spell reveals the corruption within Kasia and the hollowed-out emptiness of Queen Hanna/the Wood-queen. Moreover, it reveals things one has kept hidden from oneself, such as Agnieszka’s long-buried envy of Kasia, and vice versa. Through Luthe’s Summoning, Agnieszka can see into the past and find the root of the Wood’s corruption and evil, allowing her to find true connection with the Wood-queen and give her peace. In this case, truth and insight allow for understanding and acceptance, ending the conflict at last.
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