Wizard Howl

PERSONALITY

Howl is vain about his appearance, forever wearing gaudy clothes and spending hours in the bathroom. He dyes his hair different colors, as well - its natural hue is a kind of mud-brown. For much of Howl's Moving Castle he wears a grey and scarlet suit, which Sophie has accidently charmed.

Howl is described as "a slitherer outer" by Sophie, and also a "unprincipled, slippery rogue with a glib tongue and a clever mind" by the king, both of which are very true. He can be Brave only when pretending he is a Coward . He constantly falls in love with young women, but only until they fall in love with him, and then he is bored with them and has nothing to do with them. Hence, he had become very fickle. It is discovered that Howl, like Sophie, has been cursed by the Witch of Waste. He is incapable of truly falling in love with anyone, but if he does, the Witch can take his heart and kill him.

Despite all his faults, however, Howl is not as bad as he seems. He undercharges customers who have not the means to pay for his spells and he took Michael in off the street after Michael's parents died and looked after him ever since. His biggest problem appears to be that he can never love a woman long enough for her to see past his faults to love him for who he is. However, at the end of Howl's Moving Castle, he falls in love with Sophie .

THE WITCH'S CURSE

The Witch of the Waste put a curse on Howl in the form of a poem by John Donne , "Song" in this manner:

''First Verse''

Go and catch a falling star - This is fulfilled when Howl catches Calcifer

Get with child a mandrake root - Sophie plants a mandrake root leading to it producing a flower (reproducing, thus a child)

Tell me where the past years are - Howl knows this as part of his magical training

Or who cleft the devil's foot - As above? Calcifer denies this refers to him ("I'm a demon, not a devil!"), although it would make a kind of sense - he balances on Howl's heart, which is magically the conventional heartshape rather than the shape of an actual heart and therefore has a cleft at the front "like two knees". The one who cleft it would be Howl, as it is his heart, or his parents.

Teach me to hear the mermaid's singing - During Howl's fight with the Witch of the Waste in Porthaven the mermaids come out of the sea and sing

Or to keep off envy's stinging - Something Howl has learnt through bitter experience of dealing with Megan (and no doubt others)

And find what wind serves to advance an honest mind - Howl talks honestly to Sophie for nearly the first time while transporting them both by means of a magical wind. This is the last part of the curse to be fulfilled.

''Second verse''

If thou beest born to strange sights, things invisible to see - Howl's natural magical ability allows him to do this (e.g. he can see when something is enchanted)

Ride ten thousand days and nights - Fulfilled when Howl is ten thousand days (27 years, 145 days) old on Midsummer's Day

Til age snow white hairs on thee - We never see this being fulfilled since Howl refuses to undye his hair to check! We can assume it has happened though. Plenty of people have some white hairs at 27, it is a sign of stress or worry. Howl is under threat from the Witch, therefore, may have grown white hairs.

Thou when thou returnst will tell me all strange wonders that befell thee - This does not happen, it is what the curse is designed to make Howl do: return to the Witch

And swear nowhere lives a woman true and fair - Howl cannot find a woman he can really love because he has no heart

	CATEGORIES ABOUT WIZARD HOWL

	characters in written fantasy

	howl

	film supporting characters

	anime and manga characters

	fictional wizards

	fictional welsh people

	castle series

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Wizard Howl