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Joshua Garner
Professor Lewis
English 115
November 22, 2015
Sophie Howl Calcifer on the Wall whos the Most changed of All
The biggest question we face as humans is who we are. The question of our identity is
seen through our portrayal of art. In the novel Howls Moving Castle, by Diana Wyne Jones we
see this idea very present in the main character Sophie Hatter and partially through others.
Growing up involves getting older and experiencing life changes which happen to us whether it
be: moving from high school to college, students become more independent resourceful and
mature. Jacques Lacan was a French Psychoanalyst who questioned the world. His works were
based off Sigmund Freud and were also considered controversial. He theorized that people go
through a developmental process known as a mirror stage, in which we identify ourselves. This
usually leads to a change in who we are and gives rise to being able to change who we are.
Sophie Hatter from Howls moving castle experiences Lacans mirror stages and becomes
someone much different from who she was in the beginning of the book.
When introduced in the book Sophie is a timid girl who sees herself as someone destined
to fail. She is taught that In the land of Ingary, where such things as seven league boots and
cloaks of invisibility really exist, it is quite a misfortune to be born the eldest of three(Jones 1).
She is taken advantage of and put down. Sophie is forced live as a person who makes hats thus
her name Hatter. Sophie could hardly say that she simply felt resigned to the hat trade (8),
because she sees herself as someone not worthy of success she is forced to live a sad life. Sophie

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Hatter ends up being seclude alone with her hats and eventually loses sight of what kind of
person she is. She becomes scared of the outside world and avoids contact with others. It is not
until Sophies encounter with the Witch of the Waste when there is any change in Sophie. After
dealing with a bad customer, Sophie displaced her anger on the wrong person, the witch who
then cursed Sophie into looking 90 years old. When Sophie looked in the mirror she did not react
much, were as most girls her age would have been mentally affected if they lost their youth in a
blink of an eye. This reflects that Sophie was not surprised by the change because she already
sees herself as a shy, frail person. This is the first mirror stage Sophie goes through in her life.
She decides to leave her home as she was cursed not to tell anyone who she really is. Walking
through the streets we notice that Sophie is no longer hiding in the shadows she walks with
nothing to hide. Unlike how Sophie was when she first went out to meet her sister. She felt
overwhelmed. There were too many people rushing past, laughing and shouting, far too much
noise and jostling. Sophie felt as if the past months of sitting and sewing had turned her into an
old women or a semi-invalid(17) At one point in her journey we see her find a dog tangled in a
rope that Sophie saves even though she was once afraid of dogs. She, in her mind is already old
and believes that not much more can happen to her that has not already. She decides to find Howl
and work with him, the rumor is that he steals the hearts of younger girls. She gives up on her
life as a hatter to make a new living as her own person. Sophie has gained independence and
soon she will gain confidence.
Sophie was strong willed, but bashful and overcome the challenge to be herself. When
Sophie meets Howl she recognizes him as someone she had already met and announces herself
as his cleaning lady. From here we recognize that she is going through yet another mirror stage.
Before, Sophie would not be as bold as to tell others what to do, but as she becomes a cleaning

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lady she speaks her mind more freely. After telling Howl that she came to be his cleaning lady
she added piously, I can clean the dirt from this place even if I cant clean you from your
wickedness, young man (42). A big concept of the mirror stage is that Sophie realizes she is old
and thus acts accordingly. This action is a big step for someone who we see at first shy. As we
grow up we continually choose what kind of person we want to be seen as. Most of us were once
like Sophie. We were quiet and didnt believe much in ourselves. Mostly this was when we were
very young unlike Sophie. As we change perspectives the way we think of ourselves, the way
others changed, has made our ideals progressed. The supposed curse left on Sophie gave her a
chance to view herself in a new perspective and gave her the ability to change her ideals. The
supposed curse made by the Witch of the Waste turned to be a very generous act that helped
Sophie become who she wanted to be.
As Sophie acknowledged who she is currently she acted continually bolder which fits her
personality. She is able to be more sarcastic and even persuade others to help her with what she
needs. At one case she even pressured Calicifer the fire demon into letting her cook eggs on him,
even after he was very against it. This is much like what we see in schools today. Even though
this might not seem like a good characteristic, it is one of several mirror stages we go through.
Jacques Lacans theories are based off of Sigmund Freuds works believing that we only go
through one mirror stage. Today it is widely known that we go through many mirror stages
throughout our lifetime.
Through our world and Ingary no one can escape the inevitable mirror stage which is so
essential to humans. All characters are affected by it whether it be big changes or small. One
character that goes through changes is the narcissistic Howl. As Sophie continues to work for
Howl she is given a reputation to those outside of the castle. Sophie is now known as the witch

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who works under Howl. I believe Howl finally sees that Sophie is becoming a stronger person
and is taken back by the word from Port Haven that Sophie is his worker. We see him being
himself sarcastically pointing out work for Sophie Happy in your work? Howl said
sarcastically. I need more to do, Sophie said. My old Suit needs mending, if you have to feel
busy but this time he does so to prove that he is no longer annoyed with Sophie and that he sees
her as how she should be seen. I believe this part of the book is where Sophie truly left the Hatter
name. She was no longer a boring hatter whom would talk to her hats while being alone, nor was
she someone who could think for herself. At this point in the book Sophie finally made a huge
transformation from what she once was. Although she has changed so deeply we still see in the
book she gradually changes into something even more fitting for who she is.
Sophie was not able to even speak for herself at first. She hid in the shadows and others
told her what to do. Eventually she was able to become more fearless and travel the world. Later
through her journey Sophie was able to take charge and speak for herself and for others. Sophie
went to speak on behalf of Howl, to the king. The king wanted Howl to become his personal
mage, yet Howl did not want to join due to the Witch of the Waste being after him. As Howl had
no time to express his feeling, Sophie was sent in his place to convince the king, that Howl was
not the right person to be promoted to the position as the royal mage. After much discussion
Sophie stood her ground, but it was inevitable decided that Howl would be the royal mage for the
king.
Howls changes are very evident at the meeting with Sophie and the king. When Sophie
first met Howl, he was nothing but trouble. However as time would go on Sophie had to admit
that Howl was changing for the better. Although still arrogant, he would do countless actions for

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others even at the inconvenience of himself. As the king asks what Sophie honestly thinks about
Howl she replies with:
More about Howl? Sophie thought desperately. I have to blacken his name! Her mind
was such a blank that for a second it actually seemed to her that Howl had no faults at all.
How stupid! 'Well, he's fickle, careless, selfish, and hysterical,' she said. 'Half the time I
think he doesn't care what happens to anyone as long as he's alright--but then I find out
how awfully kind he's been to someone(245)
Howl had changed and was misperceived by the public. He was able to change himself but
others did not see Howl that way, except for the king who at first was uncertain, but then goes on
in this scene:
The King was smiling. It was the slightly uncertain smile that went with the person he
was, rather than the king he ought to be. Thank you, Mrs. Pendragon [Sophie], he said.
Your outspokenness has taken a weight off my mind. The Wizard agreed to look for my
brother so readily that I thought I had picked the wrong man after all. I feared he was
someone who was either unable to resist showing off or would do anything for money.
But you have shown me he is just the right man I need (246).
He has shown leaps and bounds of improvement since he went through the mirror stages with
Sophie. Her presence brought about question on who he thought himself to be. He has seen
Sophie struggle with the same question and became the person worthy of such a noble positon in
the land of Ingary.
It is said that demons have no idea what right or wrong is. In the land of Ignary we see
examples of these being themselves/evil for example we see the horrible Witch of the Waste who

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in fact was not that mean of person. The thing evil about her was she was possessed by a fire
demon. Calcifer on the other hand was saved by Howl and was forced through mirror stages. We
do not know what Calcifer was like before, but the book suggests that demons are evil through
the idealogy theory and that Calcifer must have went through mirror stages to become who he is
today. The theory of ideology states that the type of society or culture you grow up in shape your
perspective. I believe he being born a demon was once an evil being till he was near death. In
fear many people admit their mistakes moments before death and reflect on their life. In fear of
death he made a contract with Howl in order to continue living. After reaching safety Calcifer
was given plenty of time to decide what kind of being he was before and who he wants to be
from there on. We see him talk to Sophie and become somewhat a push over, the exact opposite
of what you would think of a demon. He indirectly tells Sophie that the contract is hurting Howl
and wants her to help them.
Through all information given throughout the novel, some believe that the mirror stage
does not exist. They claim change is inevitable, that our brain matures as we grow older and that
the books has no solid evidence of characters going through mirror stage. Jacques Lacan agrees
that there is no physical evidence but a grasp on the idea is what the mirror stage is. He says As
is known, it is in the realm of experience inaugurated by psychoanalysis that we may grasp along
what imaginary lines the human organism, in the most intimate recesses of its being, manifests
its capture in a symbolic dimension(Lacan). What he is saying is that the psychology of the
brain is not an evidence based idea. He is saying that through the information we receive we can
grasp the evidence and make a logical idea based on what we know.
Diana Wynne Jones brilliantly wrote Howls moving Castle it both had an adventure and
showed aspects of real life theories. One of the main theories showed in her book was Jacques

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Lacans mirror stage in which we see many of the characters go through it, primarily we see
Sophie go through the most change. From a timid girl to a driven women she goes through
countless mirror stages to be who she was at the end of the novel. She faces the fact the she has
been cursed both old and as a Hatter and has made progression through re-identifying who she is.
She stands up for herself, speaks her mind, and at some point goes out to represent a close
companion. Lacans theory is perfectly in sync with Howls moving Castle. Sophie has shown
how much she can change through reflection now its time to see what we can become.

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Works Cited
Billig, Michael. "Lacan's Misuse of Psychology: Evidence, Rhetoric and the Mirror
Stage." Theory, Culture & Society 23.4 (2006): 1-26. ProQuest. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.
Cart, Michael. "A Light In The Darkness: Humor Returns To Children's Fantasy." School
Library Journal 33.8 (1987): 48. Academic Search Premier. Web. 13 Nov. 2015
Jones, Diana Wynne. Howl's Moving Castle. New York: Greenwillow, 1986. Print.
Ostow, Robin. Autobiographical Sources of Freud's Social Theory.,
1978. ProQuest. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.
Sotiris, Panagiotis. "Rethinking Structure And Conjuncture In Althusser." Historical
Materialism 22.3/4 (2014): 5-51. Academic Search Premier. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.