Witch Of Chalk Quotes

According to Joseph Campbell’s hero cycle, a hero undergoes a series of tests designed to push the hero to his or her limits and develop themselves in preparation for the final battle. In the case of Tiffany Aching these tests help her to develop as the witch of the chalk. According to Mistress Weatherwax a witch’s duty is to “look to … the edges” (357); witches “guard the sum of things” (358). A witch is responsible for their land, and all the creatures on it. They defend the weak and “speak up for those who don’t have voices” (42). Tiffany is responsible for the chalk and all of the living creatures on it but she is not yet capable of undertaking such a large responsibility. As Tiffany discovers and develops the characteristics necessary

to be a successful witch she begins to assume more of the responsibilities expected of her as the witch of the chalk.
Tiffany’s Beginning is filled with different helpers and amulets designed to teach her as much as possible as quickly as possible. It is not until her brother, Wentworth, is taken by the Queen that Tiffany begins to act. Tiffany knows that she cannot go to her parents because they will think that she is “telling stories,” (113) and she “[does]n’t think that the Baron would have a clue how to deal with this” (111). Because there is no one else that can possibly save her brother, Tiffany finds herself forced to take control of the situation and calls on the Feegles to show her where her brother has gone. In this moment she unintentionally accepts the role of a witch and crosses over the Threshold and into her new responsibilities.
Tiffany is faced with her first responsibility when she assumes the role as Kelda of the Feegles. Tiffany finds it amazing that “hundreds of tough little men who could each win the Worst Broken Nose Contest need someone to look after them” (102). However, when the Kelda asks her to “mind the land … and mind [her boys],” (161) she tells Tiffany that [the Feegles] think their heids is most useful as weapons,” and that they need someone to do “the thinkin’” (162). Tiffany accepts this responsibility and in doing so also embraces her calling as a witch to “Speak up for those who don’t have voices” (42). The Feegles are small magical beings that live in secret on the chalk. Being as most people do not even know that they exist, the Feegles cannot simply ask the Baron or the “bigjob[s]” (114) for help. Instead, they turn to Tiffany, the hag of the land, to help them remain free and to protect the land they live on from any threat. When Tiffany knowingly accepts the position of Kelda she is agreeing to be their voice, their representative on the land. She is promising to take care of their needs and to treat them as equals as she continues her search for her brother.
Once Tiffany enters Fairyland she quickly encounters Roland, the lost son of the Baron of the chalk. While Tiffany is stunned by his sudden appearance, she quickly deduces that Roland is trapped in fairyland and tells him that “[she] knows how to get [him] out” (239). By offering to help Roland out of fairyland Tiffany assumes the role as guardian of “the sum of things” (358). She has already accepted responsibility for the Feegles; the lesser known creatures on the chalk. Now she is accepting responsibility for Roland; the son of the most influential person on the chalk. Tiffany has assumed responsibility of the sum of the people on the chalk; from the highest to the lowest. However, Tiffany’s development in this moment is not limited to her embracing another aspect of a witch’s duty. She is also expanding on the responsibility that she already has over those who don’t have voices” (42). Roland is incapable of telling the Queen that he wants to return home for fear that she will punish him severely. By offering to take Roland back to the real world with her Tiffany is assuming responsibility for their decision to leave and the resulting consequences. In other words, Tiffany is speaking up for Roland when he is too afraid to speak for himself.
One of the last stages of Tiffany’s development as a witch occurs when she finally retrieves Wentworth from the Queen. In the moments that she retrieves Wentworth Tiffany is continuing to expand her current responsibilities. She is adding Wentworth to the list of the people that she is guarding and she is taking on the responsibility of speaking for him because he cannot speak for himself. Tiffany states that Wentworth “only wants sweets” (160) and, according to the Kelda, the Queen “[will] give the wee boy everything he wants” (160). It is therefore reasonable to believe that Wentworth would not mind living with the Queen because he will never want for anything. However, Tiffany recalls what the Kelda tells her about how Wentworth needs “people sayin’ no to him sometimes” and that “he willna get that fra’ the Quin” (160). Because Wentworth is too young to understand his situation, it is Tiffany’s responsibility to speak out for him. She is assuming responsibility for his wellbeing, and, as he is unable to speak up for himself, she is choosing to be his voice against the Queen’s treatment.
This is also the moment that Tiffany begins to accept that she is responsible for “the edges” (357).

Tiffany wants Wentworth back because “He’s [her] brother” (273). According to the Queen “that’s a very witchy thing, isn’t it … All a witch cares about is what’s hers” (273). What is important about this statement is that as a witch, Tiffany does need to care about what is “hers.” She is responsible for the lives and the land that she lives on. They are hers. She needs this “selfishness” (273) before she can even consider defending the whole of her land. The Queen’s accusation, while meant to confuse and upset, is an important point for Tiffany to realize. She begins to think about the fact that she might be selfish and struggles to understand that as a witch she needs to be selfish so that she feels possessive when anything crosses her borders and threatens to harm her

people.
It is not until the final battle that Tiffany manages to embrace all three parts of her responsibility as a witch.

Shortly after returning to the chalk Tiffany is confronted by the Queen and nearly loses the Final Battle. She “[falls] forward, into the freezing mud” (328) and allows herself to become lost in her sorrow over her inability to save her brother. In these final moments, however, Tiffany finds a memory that tells her that “there’s always been someone watching the borders (331). This memory shows Tiffany that it is her duty to fight for the borders and to protect all of the land from the Queen. Tiffany decides to “turn selfishness into a weapon” (331) and declares that these are “[Her] dreams! [Her] brother! [Her] family! [Her] land! [Her] World!” (331). By accepting that this is her world, Tiffany is embracing the fact that she is the witch responsible for the borders of her land. She understands that while she “speaks for those without voices,” and “guards the sum of things” she is also responsible for protecting those that do have voices and for guarding more than the people on the chalk. Tiffany discovers that a true witch is responsible for all things, big and small, that reside in their world and it is their job to make sure that nothing invades the edges of that world. Whether it be “between life and death, this world and the next, night and day, right and wrong” (358), the edges need to be watched and it is Tiffany’s job to do

so.
Tiffany has discovered what it means to be a witch on the Diskworld. She has developed her abilities and has slowly accepted the duties and responsibilities that are expected of her. This growth into a mature young witch is finally recognized when Mistress Weatherwax bestows upon Tiffany a virtual pointy hat. Tiffany’s actions set her apart from the other people on the chalk. While she may be too young to study as an official witch, her responsibility over the chalk and her defense of the boarders make her a recognized member of the witching community. Tiffany’s struggles help to grow her into a strong young witch, fully capable of defending her land and her people.