What is a witch?
1) an evil person with vast powers, which she uses to oppress and rule unjustly
2) a batty old woman; a hag
3) an ugly creature who lives in a cottage in the woods and eats boys
4) a female magician
How you answer that question affects much of how you react when you learn that a female character is a "witch". Just think of Dorothy's reaction when the tornado drops her in Oz, and the Good Witch of the North reveals her identity.
Throughout the Chronicals of Narnia, a witch is 1) an evil person with vast powers. But we see evidence of 4) when Polly comments that Jadis and Uncle Andrew would get along good because they are both "magicians". But all good magicians are men such as Coriakin, Dr. Cornelius, Hermit, etc. Why is this? Swanwhite has some magic about her beauty; is she a magician of sorts? Tolkien does better. In LOTR, an elf with magical powers can be male or female. Likewise, in the Archives of Anthropos, both men and women can have power from the Changer, while anyone who uses "magic" has stolen power. In Harry Potter, the only difference between a Wizard and a Witch is their gender.
I'm a Very Funny Dude. The world is quiet here.
1) an evil person with vast powers, which she uses to oppress and rule unjustly
2) a batty old woman; a hag
3) an ugly creature who lives in a cottage in the woods and eats boys
4) a female magician
How you answer that question affects much of how you react when you learn that a female character is a "witch". Just think of Dorothy's reaction when the tornado drops her in Oz, and the Good Witch of the North reveals her identity.
Throughout the Chronicals of Narnia, a witch is 1) an evil person with vast powers. But we see evidence of 4) when Polly comments that Jadis and Uncle Andrew would get along good because they are both "magicians". But all good magicians are men such as Coriakin, Dr. Cornelius, Hermit, etc. Why is this? Swanwhite has some magic about her beauty; is she a magician of sorts? Tolkien does better. In LOTR, an elf with magical powers can be male or female. Likewise, in the Archives of Anthropos, both men and women can have power from the Changer, while anyone who uses "magic" has stolen power. In Harry Potter, the only difference between a Wizard and a Witch is their gender.
I'm a Very Funny Dude. The world is quiet here.