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12. Metamorphosis
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Witches, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Fate and Perspective
Fear of Female Power
Trickery and Deceit
Trust and Belief
Love and Family
Summary
Analysis
The boy watches the witches file out of the ballroom, then decides to look for Bruno. When he calls the other boy’s name, he’s surprised to hear his own, normal human voice booming from his tiny mouse’s mouth. As he searches for Bruno, the boy reflects on his transformation. True, mice are despised by humans and hunted by cats, but he’s not really upset to have become one. He can even see benefits to the change, since mice don’t have to go to school, pass exams, or get jobs. He trusts that Grandmamma will love and take care of him no matter what shape he’s in.
Although Bruno isn’t a very nice little boy, the narrator still has compassion for him. After all, he didn’t know any better than to accept chocolate from the Grand High Witch and he’s paying a disproportionate price for a little childish greed. The boy’s attitude in this moment is striking. He doesn’t feel bad for himself, as much to his surprise as to readers. But on reflection, this makes sense. He’s already survived other upheavals and tragedies. His positive attitude—and his certainty that his Grandmamma will always care for him—give him strength.
Active
Themes
Finally, the boy spots another brown mouse, busily munching away on a forgotten sandwich. It’s Bruno. Bruno is so busy eating that he hasn’t noticed his transformation. When the boy makes him look down at the paws that have replaced his hands, Bruno gets upset. The boy points out that being a mouse isn’t all bad—Bruno will be able to sneak down into the pantry at night and eat whatever he wants. Bruno replies that his parents already let him do this, and as a mouse, he won’t be able to get into the refrigerator for his favorite treats. The boy says that maybe Bruno’s rich father, Mr. Jenkins, will buy him a mouse-sized refrigerator. But Bruno thinks this unlikely. His father will be annoyed at the change and his mother, Mrs. Jenkins, is terrified of mice.
Bruno’s cluelessness to his changed circumstances might suggest a lack of curiosity or awareness about the world (which might explain why he accepted the Grand High Witch’s poisoned chocolates so easily) but could also simply suggest that people are far more resilient to change than one might expect. It also becomes clear here that part of Bruno’s tragedy lies in the way his parents were already failing him before the witches got him. They didn’t pay enough attention or set the kind of boundaries that might have kept him safe.
Active
Themes
Because the boy knows that Grandmamma will love and protect him no matter whether he’s a mouse or a boy, he feels bad for Bruno, because Mr. Jenkins and Mrs. Jenkins are unlikely to take his transformation well. He suggests that Bruno follow him upstairs to consult Grandmamma. Bruno is reluctant to leave his sandwich behind, but the boy throws it aside and warns Bruno to stick close when they leave the ballroom.
