IXD Storytelling Rewrite - Howl's Moving Castle
Story: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Setting: Magical kingdom of Ingary
Characters:
Sophie Hatter - The eldest of the Hatter sisters. She runs her father's old hat shop. She is visited by the Witch of the Waste and turns Sophie into an old woman. She leaves the hat shop to become a cleaning lady in Howl's castle in an attempt to have him lift the curse placed on her.
Wizard Howl - a mysterious, reclusive wizard with a bad reputation.
Calcifer - Howl's resident fire demon. He's crabby and a bit mean-spirited. He has a natural fear of water, and running out of logs which he feeds on. He promises to use his magic to break the curse on Sophie.
Witch of the Waste - one of the most powerful magicians in Ingary. She was banished by the late King to The Waste for causing havoc in the country. She and Howl had a relationship, until Howl left her, for which she ended up cursing him. She also curses Sophie and turns her into an old woman.
Lily Angorian - An attractive schoolteacher from Wales. She refuses to allow Howl to court her, but Sophie is convinced Howl is infatuated with her. She is revealed to be the Witch of the Waste's Fire Demon, and tries to take Howl's heart when the Witch of the Waste is killed.
Major Themes:
Original Ending: Sophie breaks the contract between Calcifer and Howl, and Howl's heart is restored, so he destroys the witch's fire demon. Calcifer breaks Sophie's spell. Calcifer returns preferring to stay with Howl, and Sophie and Howl admit their love for each other and they live happily ever after.
Alternate Ending 1: The witch's fire demon is able to steal Howl's heart, and is able to create the "perfect human" by fusing parts of Wizard Suliman and Prince Justin by using Howl's head. The fire demon turns the created man into the King of Ingary and becomes his queen. She wreaks havoc across Ingary. Sophie remains old in age, and Calcifer remains bound to the castle for eternity.
Alternate Ending 2: Howl and the Witch of the Waste's fire demon end up killing each other. Calcifer dies along with Howl, and Sophie is not able to confess her love to Howl.
Setting: Magical kingdom of Ingary
Characters:
Sophie Hatter - The eldest of the Hatter sisters. She runs her father's old hat shop. She is visited by the Witch of the Waste and turns Sophie into an old woman. She leaves the hat shop to become a cleaning lady in Howl's castle in an attempt to have him lift the curse placed on her.
Wizard Howl - a mysterious, reclusive wizard with a bad reputation.
Calcifer - Howl's resident fire demon. He's crabby and a bit mean-spirited. He has a natural fear of water, and running out of logs which he feeds on. He promises to use his magic to break the curse on Sophie.
Witch of the Waste - one of the most powerful magicians in Ingary. She was banished by the late King to The Waste for causing havoc in the country. She and Howl had a relationship, until Howl left her, for which she ended up cursing him. She also curses Sophie and turns her into an old woman.
Lily Angorian - An attractive schoolteacher from Wales. She refuses to allow Howl to court her, but Sophie is convinced Howl is infatuated with her. She is revealed to be the Witch of the Waste's Fire Demon, and tries to take Howl's heart when the Witch of the Waste is killed.
Major Themes:
- Destiny - Sophie believes she is destined to fail because she is the eldest of three sisters. Howl is the opposite because he sees himself as the master of his own fate and unafraid of what society thinks of him.
- Youth - When the curse is placed on Sophie, it turns her appearance old and dull because it reflects Sophie's self-perceived failure.
- Courage
- Love
Original Ending: Sophie breaks the contract between Calcifer and Howl, and Howl's heart is restored, so he destroys the witch's fire demon. Calcifer breaks Sophie's spell. Calcifer returns preferring to stay with Howl, and Sophie and Howl admit their love for each other and they live happily ever after.
Alternate Ending 1: The witch's fire demon is able to steal Howl's heart, and is able to create the "perfect human" by fusing parts of Wizard Suliman and Prince Justin by using Howl's head. The fire demon turns the created man into the King of Ingary and becomes his queen. She wreaks havoc across Ingary. Sophie remains old in age, and Calcifer remains bound to the castle for eternity.
Alternate Ending 2: Howl and the Witch of the Waste's fire demon end up killing each other. Calcifer dies along with Howl, and Sophie is not able to confess her love to Howl.
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