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Mahy: Conscious response?
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From: Kathleen Horning <horning>
Date: Fri, 04 Aug 1995 12:25:00 -600
Megan, I appreciated your observations about the ways in which Mahy uses magic "as a means of salvation" in the two books under discussion this month. I've also been thinking about your question regarding whether or not anyone thought they might have been a conscious response to the persecution of women as witches in the 16th and 17th (and may I add 18th!st?) centuries?
Well, of course, it's hard to know if it was a conscious response without asking Margaret Mahy directly! At first glance, it doesn't seem as obviously conscious an attempt to "set the record straight" as, say "Wisechild" by Monica Furlong or "Mercy Short" by Norma Farber. On the other hand, from what little I know about the philosphy of modern wicce, it's clear that Mahy knows her witchcraft, as evidenced in the Triple Goddess imagery (virgin/mother/crone); the emphasis on creativity and working with and within nature; and the strength and value of girls and women. Perhaps there are other subscribers who know more about wicce who can add their perspectives.
On a very different note, when Margaret Mahy visited Madison several years ago, she mentioned that her original idea for
"Changeover" came to her many years ago, when she was working as a public librarian, stamping children's hands in very much the sort of scene we see early on in the book when Jacko and Laura are at the library. She said that, in the midst of stamping a little boy's hand, she got a sudden image of this ordinary activity representing something very evil and wondered what it would be like if by putting her mark on him, she could take control of him. (Not too far?tched a fantasy for many public librarians across the country today, anxious for summer vacation to end!)
KT Horning
CCBC, UW-Madison
Received on Fri 04 Aug 1995 01:25:00 PM CDT
Date: Fri, 04 Aug 1995 12:25:00 -600
Megan, I appreciated your observations about the ways in which Mahy uses magic "as a means of salvation" in the two books under discussion this month. I've also been thinking about your question regarding whether or not anyone thought they might have been a conscious response to the persecution of women as witches in the 16th and 17th (and may I add 18th!st?) centuries?
Well, of course, it's hard to know if it was a conscious response without asking Margaret Mahy directly! At first glance, it doesn't seem as obviously conscious an attempt to "set the record straight" as, say "Wisechild" by Monica Furlong or "Mercy Short" by Norma Farber. On the other hand, from what little I know about the philosphy of modern wicce, it's clear that Mahy knows her witchcraft, as evidenced in the Triple Goddess imagery (virgin/mother/crone); the emphasis on creativity and working with and within nature; and the strength and value of girls and women. Perhaps there are other subscribers who know more about wicce who can add their perspectives.
On a very different note, when Margaret Mahy visited Madison several years ago, she mentioned that her original idea for
"Changeover" came to her many years ago, when she was working as a public librarian, stamping children's hands in very much the sort of scene we see early on in the book when Jacko and Laura are at the library. She said that, in the midst of stamping a little boy's hand, she got a sudden image of this ordinary activity representing something very evil and wondered what it would be like if by putting her mark on him, she could take control of him. (Not too far?tched a fantasy for many public librarians across the country today, anxious for summer vacation to end!)
KT Horning
CCBC, UW-Madison
Received on Fri 04 Aug 1995 01:25:00 PM CDT
