Essay Questions

What is the significance of having so many of the protagonists leave men for women?

Cinderella realizes, after attending the ball several nights in a row, that a man isn’t what she wants at all, and instead goes off with her fairy godmother. Donkeyskin, after being rejected by her prince, returns home to her garden witch. These characters’ decisions to leave behind men for the company of women reflects the untrustworthiness of men, and how their obliviousness and entitlement prevents them from understanding the needs and wants of the women in their lives. The fact that these women not only leave their men, but leave them for women, reveals the fact that women strive for true companionship and understanding, something they lack in the company of men.

There are a number of witches throughout Kissing the Witch. What does their presence represent? What is significant about their roles in each of the stories?

Each of the witches goes against the expectations and desires of the outside world, and because of that, removes themselves to an isolated location. Ariel’s witch is barren, and knows that she will be pushed to the side by a society that only values women for their ability to have children. Aurora’s witch represents hard work, something that her parents try to shield her from. Because they go against societal expectations, they are forced into hiding, either in the annexes of houses or in remote caves, where they cannot be harmed by others. They exist to help young women learn important lessons about themselves, which they might not have learned otherwise. Ariel’s witch cautions her against the troubles that men cause, a fact she learns after leaving with him. Aurora’s witch teaches her the necessity of hard work, something she would not have learned in her sheltered life as a noblewoman. Witches exist to teach women knowledge about the world that the world may not want them to know – that men are untrustworthy, that wealth does not triumph over hard work – that ultimately makes them better people.

How does the connection of each of the stories influence the arc of Kissing the Witch?

In having each story connected, an additional layer of depth is added to the characters as they are seen in different lights. For example, while a character may be viewed as a villain in one story, learning their background in a later story proves them to be more nuanced. For example, Snow White’s stepmother may initially be dismissed as a greedy villain in The Tale of the Apple, but after reading The Tale of the Handkerchief, she is revealed to be far more than a power-hungry woman bent on destroying a child. Instead, she wanted to elevate her station, difficult in such a class-stratified society, and told lies in order to survive. While not completely forgivable, her actions do become more understandable when seen in the context of an oppressive society. When readers are allowed to see a villain’s backstory, and the world that made them who they are, they become more understandable and easier to sympathize with. As a result, readers are able to see that rarely are the true villains individual villains: villains are often the systems that drive people to monstrous actions.