Characters and Family Dynamics

Abstract

This chapter treats the characters of The Witch (2015) individually, exploring how each of them reveals their personal hopes and anxieties, then discusses how these individual character arcs combine into the overall family dynamics. Starting with an exploration of William, the chapter argues that the film pulls a sleight-of-hand, setting him up as the main character before slowly revealing the protagonist to be Thomasin. The characterization of Black Phillip is treated, along with a brief discussion of his appropriation by popular culture.