Howl's Moving Castle

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones is a rare form of fantasy

story capable of shattering clichés. It provides both fun and food for thought, at
least for younger readers. It can undoubtedly be classified as a family novel
because it appeals to individuals of all ages.
One of the benefits of this story is its reliability. Its characters are not
perfect; they act like actual humans, not the fantastic creatures that are
frequently portrayed, particularly in male characters, as personalities without
fear and without criticism. Any fantasy fan knows that the bulk of authors enjoy
employing stereotyped notions of heroes that are unnaturally brave, selfless,
noble, and so on. This isn't to say that this image isn't valid, but protagonists
with hesitation or shortcomings are more trustworthy. For example, Sophie,
one of the novel's key characters, goes through a great change from a person
full of self-doubts to a personality who is totally accountable for her own life
and decisions. She is not a helpless princess waiting for her knight. The most
intriguing aspect is that her hero requires her as much as she requires him. It
represents a partnership between two distinct individuals founded on mutual
love and respect. They could survive without each other, but they can
accomplish more together. This is a lesson children and even some adults
should learn. What is more important, this story doesn’t state that a happily
ever after doesn’t require any work from any of them. Howl and Sophie know
that there are going to be misunderstanding and maybe even quarrels, but
they do understand that it is a normal thing.
There is a wonderful theme of family in this story. The author shows,
who many misunderstandings can happen if the characters avoid discussions. If
only Sophie would tell Fanny that it was too much work for her, she would be
happier and wouldn’t so easily believe in accusations Lettie and Martha throw
at Fanny. They just assume the worst of each other and start holding grudges.
As soon as they put themselves in each other’s shoes, they realize how ill-
informed they are about some aspects of each other’s lives. Suddenly, there
are no more an evil step-mother and careless younger sisters. Without any
doubt, this story teaches younger readers not to make assumption. Howl’s
Moving Castle is also about freedom of choice. It takes Sophie some time to
realize that it doesn’t really matter whether you are the oldest sister or not to
feel free to do as you wish. For instance, Lettie and Martha refuse to follow the
path their mother has chosen for them, for they feel that it is going to make
them unhappy in the end. It is important to ask yourself what you want to get
from life, what is expected from and whether it is important to you.