logo

48 pages 1 hour read

Claribel A. Ortega

Witchlings

Claribel A. OrtegaFiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2022

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Themes

Systems of Exclusion and Disenfranchisement

While Witchlings is a fantasy story filled with magic and monsters, the text also functions as a critique of society’s systems of exclusion and disenfranchisement. The protagonist fights against discrimination against Spares as much as she struggles to find the Nightbeast. Seven and Poppy’s strained friendship offers a small-scale example of how the exclusive coven system destroys relationships and generates inequality in the Twelve Towns. The main character being snubbed by a former friend presents the theme in a way that is more accessible to Ortega’s middle grade audience, compared to the novel’s examination of the political processes around disenfranchisement. In Chapter 14, Poppy attempts to justify the fact that she has ignored her former best friend for nearly two weeks: “I just feel weird around you and I don’t know why” (158). Because it’s uncomfortable for Poppy to confront her privilege, she would rather let their friendship die. Seven feels incapable of bridging the gap between them: “[T]hey weren’t just on different paths: They were in two separate worlds” (159). The deterioration of Seven and Poppy’s friendship demonstrates how systems of exclusion damage relationships.

Exclusion and disenfranchisement are deeply rooted in the Twelve Town’s laws and social structure.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 48 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,450+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools

Related Titles

By Claribel A. Ortega