Witch Of Chalk Quotes

According to Joseph Campbell’s hero cycle, a hero undergoes a series of tests designed to push the hero to his or her limits and develop themselves in preparation for the final battle. In the case of Tiffany Aching these tests help her to develop as the witch of the chalk. According to Mistress Weatherwax a witch’s duty is to “look to … the edges” (357); witches “guard the sum of things” (358). A witch is responsible for their land, and all the creatures on it. They defend the weak and “speak up for those who don’t have voices” (42). Tiffany is responsible for the chalk and all of the living creatures on it but she is not yet capable of undertaking such a large responsibility. As Tiffany discovers and develops the characteristics necessary

Tiffany wants Wentworth back because “He’s [her] brother” (273). According to the Queen “that’s a very witchy thing, isn’t it … All a witch cares about is what’s hers” (273). What is important about this statement is that as a witch, Tiffany does need to care about what is “hers.” She is responsible for the lives and the land that she lives on. They are hers. She needs this “selfishness” (273) before she can even consider defending the whole of her land. The Queen’s accusation, while meant to confuse and upset, is an important point for Tiffany to realize. She begins to think about the fact that she might be selfish and struggles to understand that as a witch she needs to be selfish so that she feels possessive when anything crosses her borders and threatens to harm her

Shortly after returning to the chalk Tiffany is confronted by the Queen and nearly loses the Final Battle. She “[falls] forward, into the freezing mud” (328) and allows herself to become lost in her sorrow over her inability to save her brother. In these final moments, however, Tiffany finds a memory that tells her that “there’s always been someone watching the borders (331). This memory shows Tiffany that it is her duty to fight for the borders and to protect all of the land from the Queen. Tiffany decides to “turn selfishness into a weapon” (331) and declares that these are “[Her] dreams! [Her] brother! [Her] family! [Her] land! [Her] World!” (331). By accepting that this is her world, Tiffany is embracing the fact that she is the witch responsible for the borders of her land. She understands that while she “speaks for those without voices,” and “guards the sum of things” she is also responsible for protecting those that do have voices and for guarding more than the people on the chalk. Tiffany discovers that a true witch is responsible for all things, big and small, that reside in their world and it is their job to make sure that nothing invades the edges of that world. Whether it be “between life and death, this world and the next, night and day, right and wrong” (358), the edges need to be watched and it is Tiffany’s job to do