Uprooted

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death and graphic violence.

Stories are a recurring motif in Uprooted, first appearing in the opening line, which references the untrue stories surrounding the Dragon. Throughout the narrative that follows, Agnieszka describes the stories and songs she has heard from bards, in taverns, and as rumors and legends shared in the valley. These include romantic tales of Prince Marek’s heroic deeds and the legends of Old Jaga the witch, among others. Several times, Agnieszka draws further attention to the motif by remarking that her life has grown to resemble these old stories in ways she could not previously have imagined.

For Agnieszka, stories represent human connection and thus emerge as a counterweight to The Corrupting Influence of Power. They offer opportunities to connect with people and understand their lives, as when she wishes to learn about the baron’s men during the siege at the tower; where men like Marek treat these men as disposable, she feels that in learning the men’s stories, she honors their identities and agency. Stories also form connections in the queen’s trial. Agnieszka understands that those watching wish to see themselves as part of a heroic tale, so she recreates the moment of the queen’s rescue to win them to her side.