Esmerelda "Esme" Weatherwax (also Granny Weatherwax or Mistress Weatherwax) is a
fictional character
In fiction, a character (or speaker, in poetry) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life perso ...
from
Terry Pratchett
Sir Terence David John Pratchett (28 April 1948 – 12 March 2015) was an English humourist, satirist, and author of fantasy novels, especially comical works. He is best known for his '' Discworld'' series of 41 novels.
Pratchett's first no ...
's ''
Discworld
''Discworld'' is a comic fantasy"Humorous Fantasy" in David Pringle, ed., ''The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy'' (pp.31-33). London, Carlton,2006. book series written by the English author Terry Pratchett, set on the Discworld, a flat ...
'' series. She is a
witch
Witchcraft traditionally means the use of magic or supernatural powers to harm others. A practitioner is a witch. In medieval and early modern Europe, where the term originated, accused witches were usually women who were believed to have us ...
and member of the
Lancre
The Discworld is the fictional setting for all of Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' fantasy novels. It consists of a large disc (complete with edge-of-the-world drop-off and consequent waterfall) resting on the backs of four huge elephants which ar ...
coven. She is the self-appointed guardian of her small country, and frequently defends it against supernatural powers. She is one of the ''Discworld'' series's main protagonists, having major roles in seven novels.
She is a very powerful witch, and is reckoned to be more powerful than the most well-known witch on the Discworld,
Black Aliss (real name: Aliss Demurrage), who is responsible for any number of witcheries in fairy tales, such as
putting a castle to sleep and
getting pushed into her own oven by naughty children. It does seem that her teacher's teacher's teacher's teacher was Black Aliss. ("I learned my craft from Nanny Gripes, who learned it from Goody Heggety, who got it from Nanna Plumb, who was taught it by Black Aliss..." – Granny, in ''
Lords and Ladies''). From the triple nature of a coven (maiden, mother, and
crone
In folklore, a crone is an old woman who may be characterized as disagreeable, malicious, or sinister in manner, often with magical or supernatural associations that can make her either helpful or obstructive. The Crone is also an archetypal fig ...
), it has been suggested that she embodies all three, although the crone is the most obvious. In any case, this appellation is tactfully avoided in her presence, with those commenting on the coven's structure calling her "the other one".
Granny Weatherwax's prowess and reputation has led to her being recognized as the leader (or
prima inter pares
''Primus inter pares'' is a Latin phrase meaning first among equals. It is typically used as an honorary title for someone who is formally equal to other members of their group but is accorded unofficial respect, traditionally owing to their sen ...
) of the community of Witches in the Ramtops: "Witches are not by nature
gregarious
Sociality is the degree to which individuals in an animal population tend to associate in social groups (gregariousness) and form cooperative societies.
Sociality is a survival response to evolutionary pressures. For example, when a mother wasp ...
, at least with other witches, and they certainly don't have leaders. Granny Weatherwax was the most highly-regarded of the leaders they didn't have." In ''
Wyrd Sisters
''Wyrd Sisters'' is Terry Pratchett's sixth ''Discworld'' novel, published in 1988. It re-introduces Granny Weatherwax of ''Equal Rites''.
Plot
''Wyrd Sisters'' features three witches: Granny Weatherwax; Nanny Ogg, matriarch of a large tri ...
'', the
ghost of the late Lancre King, Verence I, addressed Granny Weatherwax as "''
Doyenne
Doyen and doyenne (from the French word ''doyen'', ''doyenne'' in the feminine grammatical gender) is the senior ambassador by length of service in a particular country.
In the English language, the meaning of doyen (feminine form: doyenne) h ...
of Witches''" ("''Senior Witch of Witches''"). Granny Weatherwax's reputation even extends beyond species barriers – the Trolls of the Ramtops call her "''Aaoograha hoa''" ("''She Who Must Be Avoided''"; mentioned in ''
Maskerade
''Maskerade'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the eighteenth book in the ''Discworld'' series. The witches Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg visit the Ankh-Morpork Opera House to find Agnes Nitt, a girl from Lancre, and g ...
''), the Dwarf call her "''K'ez'rek d'b'duz''" ("''Go Around the Other Side of the Mountain''"; also mentioned in ''Maskerade''), and the
Nac Mac Feegle
The Nac Mac Feegle (also sometimes known as Pictsies, Wee Free Men, the Little Men and "Person or Persons Unknown, Believed to be Armed") are a fictional type of fairy folk that appear in Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' novels '' Carpe Jugulum'', ...
call her "''The Hag O' Hags''" ("''The High Witch''"). Granny also has a reputation for trickery and pushiness among younger witches, although this is either short-lived or unmentioned for obvious reasons.
Background
According to ''
Witches Abroad
''Witches Abroad'' is the twelfth ''Discworld'' novel by Terry Pratchett, originally published in 1991.Fantastic FictioWitches Abroad (Discworld, book 12) Terry PratchettRetrieved 2009-05-9
Plot
Following the death of the witch Desiderata Hollo ...
'', Esmerelda "Esme" (later "Granny") Weatherwax was born the younger of two daughters. The books do not indicate whether her mother was a witch or not, but Granny mentions that her father was a
hunter, who taught her that "a bad hunter chases, a good hunter waits" (''
Lords and Ladies''). While Granny was practically still just a
bairn
''Bairn'' is a Northern English, Scottish English and Scots term for a child. It originated in Old English as "bearn", becoming restricted to Scotland and the North of England c. 1700.
The word was included in the English Dialect Dictionary ...
, her teenaged, older sister, Lily, was getting into increasingly frequent rows with her parents over her behavior. As Granny reveals to Nanny Ogg in ''Witches Abroad'', Lily was wanton, using magic for it and not just ordinary magic; "she was wilful", as Granny describes it, able to remember her sister's and mother's rows even at that young age; Lily was vain and prideful ("always looking in mirrors... Prideful as a cat, she was. Prefer to look in a mirror than out of a window, she would"); and "young men's fathers used to come round to complain", culminating in Lily being kicked out of the household at the age of thirteen.
After Granny grew up, she was adamant about becoming a witch; as she reveals in ''
Lords and Ladies'', magic did not choose her, she chose it ("I never stood in front of no-one... I camped on old Nanny Gripes' garden until she promised to tell me everything she knew. Hah. That took her a week I had the afternoons free... No chose..."). Granny would go on to become a fully-fledged witch, and at some point took responsibility for her own steading, the village of Bad Ass and the Kingdom of Lancre as a whole. Granny Weatherwax, as she would later come to be known, also nursed her ailing mother until the time of her death (what became of her father has never been mentioned). While still a young woman, Granny was involved in a summer-long romance with then-aspiring wizard Mustrum Ridcully, but ultimately they were both committed to their respective paths of witchcraft and wizardry.
Granny is estimated to be in her seventies during the events of ''
Wyrd Sisters
''Wyrd Sisters'' is Terry Pratchett's sixth ''Discworld'' novel, published in 1988. It re-introduces Granny Weatherwax of ''Equal Rites''.
Plot
''Wyrd Sisters'' features three witches: Granny Weatherwax; Nanny Ogg, matriarch of a large tri ...
'', ''
Witches Abroad
''Witches Abroad'' is the twelfth ''Discworld'' novel by Terry Pratchett, originally published in 1991.Fantastic FictioWitches Abroad (Discworld, book 12) Terry PratchettRetrieved 2009-05-9
Plot
Following the death of the witch Desiderata Hollo ...
'', ''
Lords and Ladies'', ''
Maskerade
''Maskerade'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the eighteenth book in the ''Discworld'' series. The witches Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg visit the Ankh-Morpork Opera House to find Agnes Nitt, a girl from Lancre, and g ...
'' and ''
Carpe Jugulum
''Carpe Jugulum'' (; Latatian for "seize the throat", cf. ''Carpe diem'') is a comic fantasy novel by English writer Terry Pratchett, the twenty-third in the ''Discworld'' series. It was first published in 1998.
In ''Carpe Jugulum'', Terry Pra ...
'', the same age as Nanny Ogg (having grown up with her). Yet, by the standards of
Mistress Treason, she is still considered a girl (''
Wintersmith
''Wintersmith'' is a comic fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, set in the Discworld and written with younger readers in mind. It is labelled a "Story of Discworld" to indicate its status as children's or young adult fiction, unlike ...
'').
Granny Weatherwax passes away early in the events of ''
The Shepherd's Crown
''The Shepherd's Crown'' is a comic fantasy novel, the last book written by Terry Pratchett before his death in March 2015. It is the 41st novel in the ''Discworld'' series, and the fifth based on the character Tiffany Aching. It was published ...
'', now in her 80s; where, after experiencing The Call, she tidies-up her cottage, prepares her own
wicker casket
A casket jewelry box is a container that is usually smaller than a chest, and in the past were typically decorated. Whereas cremation jewelry is a small container, usually in the shape of a pendant or bracelet, to hold a small amount of ashes.
...
, and sets her last will and testament down in writing (confirming instructions she had already confided to Nanny Ogg), before laying herself to rest in her own bed one last time. When
Death
Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...
comes for her, he asks her if she was content with her life, with Granny confirming that she was satisfied to have lived the way she did and kept her part of the world safe, Death in turn assuring her that her candle will continue to flicker long after her passing and that she has left the world in a better condition than it was when she entered it. Her death is felt across the Disc; Nanny Ogg and Tiffany Aching arrive first to lay her to rest in the forest at a site pre-chosen by Granny herself, and Archchancellor
Mustrum Ridcully
The Unseen University (UU) is a school of wizardry in Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' series of fantasy novels. Located in the fictional city of Ankh-Morpork, the UU is staffed by a faculty composed of mostly indolent and inept old wizards. The ...
visits briefly to pay his last respects. Over the course of the events of ''The Shepherd's Crown'', Tiffany Aching, who Granny has named her beneficiary, overstretches herself trying to witch two steadings and live up to Granny's reputation as the new 'Witch of Witches', but eventually comes to accept the need to do things her way rather than simply make herself do everything Granny did.
Appearance
Granny Weatherwax, if she can help it, wears a plain black dress, a somewhat battered black cloak and a tall, pointed witch's hat, skewered to her "iron-hard grey
bun
A bun is a type of bread roll, typically filled with savory fillings (for example hamburger). A bun may also refer to a sweet cake in certain parts of the world. Though they come in many shapes and sizes, buns are most commonly round, and are g ...
"
hairstyle
A hairstyle, hairdo, haircut or coiffure refers to the styling of hair, usually on the human scalp. Sometimes, this could also mean an editing of facial or body hair. The fashioning of hair can be considered an aspect of personal groomi ...
with multiple
hatpin
A hatpin is a decorative and functional pin for holding a hat to the head, usually by the hair. In Western culture, hatpins are almost solely used by women and are often worn in a pair. They are typically around in length, with the pinhead be ...
s. As described in ''
Lords and Ladies,'' as a young woman her hair was long, blonde, and unkempt. She is thin, and, while not really that tall, has such a commanding presence that she seems tall. She gives her weight as . Many references are given to her striking
blue eyes
Eye color is a polygenic phenotypic character determined by two distinct factors: the pigmentation of the eye's iris and the frequency-dependence of the scattering of light by the turbid medium in the stroma of the iris.
In humans, the p ...
and penetrating gaze. In ''
Equal Rites
''Equal Rites'' is a comic fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett. Published in 1987, it is the third novel in the ''Discworld'' series and the first in which the main character is not Rincewind. The title is wordplay on the phrase " Equal Rights".
Th ...
'' she is described as "handsome", having an excellent complexion, no warts, and all her teeth, although it is implied she finds this a bit inappropriate for a witch.
Personality
Granny Weatherwax has a near-unshakeable belief in her own abilities, which has proven near-accurate, and an extreme distrust of stories. She was intended by nature to be a "wicked witch" but, at an early age, realised she had to be "the good one" to balance her sister,
Lily
''Lilium'' () is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, all with large prominent flowers. They are the true lilies. Lilies are a group of flowering plants which are important in culture and literature in much of the world. M ...
(
Lilith
Lilith ( ; he, לִילִית, Līlīṯ) is a female figure in Mesopotamian and Judaic mythology, alternatively the first wife of Adam and supposedly the primordial she-demon. Lilith is cited as having been "banished" from the Garden of Ed ...
). Ironically Lily, who became a
fairy godmother
In fairy tales, a fairy godmother () is a fairy with magical powers who acts as a mentor or parent to someone, in the role that an actual godparent was expected to play in many societies. In Perrault's ''Cinderella'', he concludes the tale wit ...
, was convinced was the good one, because she gave people what she thought they should want. Granny Weatherwax, however, gives people what they know they really need. Witches themselves seem hesitant to use "bad" or "good" as descriptors, especially when discussing very powerful witches; as Pratchett would put it: being
Good
In most contexts, the concept of good denotes the conduct that should be preferred when posed with a choice between possible actions. Good is generally considered to be the opposite of evil and is of interest in the study of ethics, morality, ph ...
(with a capital ''G'') and Right (with a capital ''R'') does not necessarily make one Nice (with a capital ''N''), and Granny is not (Nice, that is). Granny prefers to be respected, and if that is tinged with an element of fear, so be it. And except for those who know her well, such as
Nanny Ogg
Gytha Ogg (usually called Nanny Ogg) is a character from Terry Pratchett's '' Discworld'' series. She is a witch and member of the Lancre coven.
Personality
The character of Nanny Ogg is based on the Mother stereotype of the Triple Goddess ...
,
Magrat Garlick
A major subset of the ''Discworld'' novels of Terry Pratchett involves the witches of Lancre. The three main witches introduced in 1988's ''Wyrd Sisters'' — crone Esme Weatherwax, mother Nanny Ogg and maiden Magrat Garlick — are a spoof on t ...
,
Agnes Nitt
A major subset of the '' Discworld'' novels of Terry Pratchett involves the witches of Lancre. The three main witches introduced in 1988's '' Wyrd Sisters'' — crone Esme Weatherwax, mother Nanny Ogg and maiden Magrat Garlick — are a spoof o ...
, and
Tiffany Aching
Tiffany Aching is a fictional character in Terry Pratchett's satirical ''Discworld'' series of fantasy novels. Her name in Nac Mac Feegle is Tir-far-thóinn or "Land Under Wave".
Tiffany is a trainee witches (Discworld), witch whose growth into ...
, people do respect and/or fear her rather than like her. However, very young children seem unintimidated by her because of a reputation that she will not intentionally harm them. People in Lancre know that she will always come when they need her and do her best for them, because that is Right (with a capital ''R'').
Granny appreciates practicality and hard work over the bells and whistles of so-called "
magick". She intensely dislikes witches such as
Letice Earwig, who dabble in chants, pendants, and crystals. She claimed she would have liked to have met Tiffany's grandmother,
Granny Aching, likely because she never claimed to be anything more than a shepherd despite commanding all the respect and power of a witch.
Granny Weatherwax feels little need for personal possessions and keeps most of them in a single wooden box. This box is known to contain a few keepsakes, including a bundle of letters (some, or all, of which are believed to be from a young
Mustrum Ridcully
The Unseen University (UU) is a school of wizardry in Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' series of fantasy novels. Located in the fictional city of Ankh-Morpork, the UU is staffed by a faculty composed of mostly indolent and inept old wizards. The ...
) a chunk of
lodestone
Lodestones are naturally magnetized pieces of the mineral magnetite. They are naturally occurring magnets, which can attract iron. The property of magnetism was first discovered in antiquity through lodestones. Pieces of lodestone, suspen ...
from "the dancers" stone circle, a fossil
ammonite and a
phoenix
Phoenix most often refers to:
* Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore
* Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States
Phoenix may also refer to:
Mythology
Greek mythological figures
* Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...
feather in a glass bottle. However, the citizens of Lancre also believe it contains the secrets of the universe, a neverending fortune in gold, or a small universe. Granny has done little to discourage these rumours. Aside from those in the box, her only other notable possessions are a clock that she inherited from her mother and a
silver
Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical ...
tea service
Pink Floyd are an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philosophical lyrics and ...
(which was later melted down to make horseshoes for a
Unicorn
The unicorn is a legendary creature that has been described since antiquity as a beast with a single large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead.
In European literature and art, the unicorn has for the last thousand years o ...
during the events of ''Lords and Ladies''), complete with a
cream jug in the shape of a humorous cow (which she had planned to leave to Magrat Garlick, per her
Will, in the event of her death).
The journal ''Gender Forum'' has posited that Granny Weatherwax bears some similarity to
Sam Vimes
His Grace, The Duke of Ankh, Commander Sir Samuel "Sam" Vimes is a fictional character in Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' series. Vimes is depicted in the novels as somewhere between an Inspector Morse-type 'old-school' British policeman, and ...
and Death. All three are effectively 'good' characters, who exert a rigid control over the darkness inside themselves, which they secretly fear but (crucially to their characters) are able to conquer.
According to ''The Pratchett Portfolio'' her typical saying is: "I can't be having with that kind of thing". Unlike most 'typical sayings' in the ''Folio'', it is actually recorded that Granny says this, or at least Nanny Ogg says something very similar when she pretends to be Granny while briefly taking over the role of the ''other one'' (i.e. the
Crone
In folklore, a crone is an old woman who may be characterized as disagreeable, malicious, or sinister in manner, often with magical or supernatural associations that can make her either helpful or obstructive. The Crone is also an archetypal fig ...
) due to Granny's temporary retirement, and Agnes and Count de Magpyr saying or hearing it in their heads while under the influence of fragments of her mind, as well as Granny saying it while unconscious at exactly the same moment as the count doing so, in ''Carpe Jugulum''.
Family and relationships
She has not known physical love as demonstrated by her ability to capture unicorns, traditionally only possible to virgins, and as she explicitly tells
Nanny Ogg
Gytha Ogg (usually called Nanny Ogg) is a character from Terry Pratchett's '' Discworld'' series. She is a witch and member of the Lancre coven.
Personality
The character of Nanny Ogg is based on the Mother stereotype of the Triple Goddess ...
in ''
Lords and Ladies''. There have, however, been romances in her life.
Granny Weatherwax nursed her mother until the time of her death, and is a distant cousin to Galder Weatherwax, a former Archchancellor of the
Unseen University
The Unseen University (UU) is a school of wizardry in Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' series of Fantasy literature, fantasy novels. Located in the fictional city of Ankh-Morpork, the UU is staffed by a faculty composed of mostly indolent and ine ...
. She has an elder sister, Lily Weatherwax, who appears in ''
Witches Abroad
''Witches Abroad'' is the twelfth ''Discworld'' novel by Terry Pratchett, originally published in 1991.Fantastic FictioWitches Abroad (Discworld, book 12) Terry PratchettRetrieved 2009-05-9
Plot
Following the death of the witch Desiderata Hollo ...
''. As a young woman, she was briefly romantically involved with
Mustrum Ridcully
The Unseen University (UU) is a school of wizardry in Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' series of fantasy novels. Located in the fictional city of Ankh-Morpork, the UU is staffed by a faculty composed of mostly indolent and inept old wizards. The ...
. It has been hinted that she married him in an alternative reality and had several children. As a youth, she briefly called herself "Endemonidia" but only for a few hours (in the Discworld, not all names have staying power like
Perdita's), showing that even the wisest witches started off slightly small and petty.
She has recruited at least one apprentice in her time,
Eskarina Smith, who became the Discworld's first female wizard (''
Equal Rites
''Equal Rites'' is a comic fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett. Published in 1987, it is the third novel in the ''Discworld'' series and the first in which the main character is not Rincewind. The title is wordplay on the phrase " Equal Rights".
Th ...
'') and was subsequently not mentioned in canon again until the events of ''
I Shall Wear Midnight
''I Shall Wear Midnight'' is a comic fantasy novel by English writer Terry Pratchett, set on the Discworld. It is the fourth novel within the ''Discworld'' series to be based on the character of Tiffany Aching. It was published on 2 September ...
''.
Magrat Garlick
A major subset of the ''Discworld'' novels of Terry Pratchett involves the witches of Lancre. The three main witches introduced in 1988's ''Wyrd Sisters'' — crone Esme Weatherwax, mother Nanny Ogg and maiden Magrat Garlick — are a spoof on t ...
,
Agnes Nitt
A major subset of the '' Discworld'' novels of Terry Pratchett involves the witches of Lancre. The three main witches introduced in 1988's '' Wyrd Sisters'' — crone Esme Weatherwax, mother Nanny Ogg and maiden Magrat Garlick — are a spoof o ...
and
Tiffany Aching
Tiffany Aching is a fictional character in Terry Pratchett's satirical ''Discworld'' series of fantasy novels. Her name in Nac Mac Feegle is Tir-far-thóinn or "Land Under Wave".
Tiffany is a trainee witches (Discworld), witch whose growth into ...
were officially taught by other Witches, but also learned from Granny Weatherwax from time to time.
Granny's broom is famous for being old and temperamental. It is a hand-me-down "borrowed" from her colleague Hilta (''
Equal Rites
''Equal Rites'' is a comic fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett. Published in 1987, it is the third novel in the ''Discworld'' series and the first in which the main character is not Rincewind. The title is wordplay on the phrase " Equal Rights".
Th ...
''). It has been repaired so often that none of the original broom remains, having had
both the shaft and bristles repeatedly replaced and it often requires the user to pick up speed by running along the ground, making it the only broom on the Disc that requires
bump starting
Push starting, also known as bump starting, roll starting, clutch starting, popping the clutch or crash starting, is a method of starting a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine and with a manual transmission and with a mechanical fuel ...
. It is, however, considerably faster than most brooms once it gets going.
In an apparent test to unearth her softer side, Tiffany Aching made her the reluctant custodian of a small white kitten, for which Granny has so far managed to show affection in a completely unaffectionate manner. In keeping with her personality, she christened it "You", as in "Hey You, get off the shelves!" or "Come inside, You!" As a kitten, You was once discovered sleeping on Granny's head, underneath her hat; Granny claimed it kept her head warm. Upon reaching adulthood, You relinquished Granny's hat and was commonly found draped over Granny's shoulders like a recumbent queen, adding an extra bit of power to Granny's already-formidable presence. You is the only known cat (though not the only animal) on the
Discworld
''Discworld'' is a comic fantasy"Humorous Fantasy" in David Pringle, ed., ''The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy'' (pp.31-33). London, Carlton,2006. book series written by the English author Terry Pratchett, set on the Discworld, a flat ...
to have intimidated
Nanny Ogg
Gytha Ogg (usually called Nanny Ogg) is a character from Terry Pratchett's '' Discworld'' series. She is a witch and member of the Lancre coven.
Personality
The character of Nanny Ogg is based on the Mother stereotype of the Triple Goddess ...
's battle-scarred tom Greebo, who hides in fear whenever You is in the same room; this suggests she may be compatible with Granny Weatherwax in temperament after all.
Upon Granny Weatherwax's death, You finds Tiffany Aching, as a way of either telling Tiffany that Granny was dead, or passing herself on to Tiffany. Either way, this was considered to be extra proof that Tiffany was to take over Granny's role as "head witch".
Headology
Despite her power, Granny Weatherwax rarely uses magic in any immediately recognizable form. Instead, she prefers to use ''headology'', a sort of folk-
psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries between ...
which can be summed up as "if people you're a witch, you might as well one". For instance, Granny could, if she wished, curse people. However it is simpler for her to trick people into believing she has cursed them, then letting them assume her responsible for the next bit of bad luck that happens to befall them; given her reputation this tends to cause such people to flee the country entirely. Nanny Ogg has obliquely implied this avoidance of magic prevents Granny from being tempted into becoming a very successful "bad" witch.
Headology bears some similarities to psychology in that it requires the user to hold a deep-seated understanding of the workings of the human mind in order to be used successfully. However, headology tends to differ from psychology in that it usually involves approaching a problem from an entirely different angle.
It has been said that the difference between headology and
psychiatry
Psychiatry is the specialty (medicine), medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders. These include various maladaptations related to mood, behaviour, cognition, and perceptions. See glossary of psych ...
is that, were one to approach either with a belief that one was being chased by a monster, a psychiatrist will convince one that there are no monsters coming after one, whereas a headologist will hand you a large stick and a chair to stand on. The headology approach is also very similar to
Susan Sto Helit
Susan Sto Helit (also spelled Sto-Helit), once referred to as Susan Death, is a fictional character in Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' series of fantasy novels. She is the granddaughter of Death, the Disc's Grim Reaper, and has a number of his a ...
's practical approach to children's problems; since the child already believes in Bogeymen, one may as well go along with it and teach them that they can also very firmly believe in the
fireplace poker
A fire iron is any metal instrument for tending a fire.
Types
There are three types of tools commonly used to tend a small fire, such as an indoor fireplace fire or yule log: the spade, the tongs and the poker itself. These tools make it possi ...
, too.
Powers
Because of her reluctance to openly use magic, other Discworld characters have, at various times, accused Granny Weatherwax of "working by trickery alone", and of "having little or no real power" (an accusation she shares with
Lu-Tze
This article contains brief biographies for characters from Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' series. This list consists of human characters. For biographies of noted members of the Discworld's "ethnic minorities" (dwarfs, trolls, undead, etc.), ...
). Both statements are wholly inaccurate. Though preferring not to use magic, Granny Weatherwax has, on several occasions, been seen to display several 'conventional' forms of power in abundance; including psychokinesis (''Lords and Ladies'') and pyrokinesis (''The Sea and Little Fishes''), as well as a number of 'less conventional' forms of power; including the ability to fade into the background of a room, to defer physical injury to a later point in time (''Maskerade''), and to make people believe they have been turned into animals such as frogs. (The ability to do it for real is also in her repertoire, but is also more tiring and less entertaining.) During a duel with the Archchancellor of Unseen University (''Equal Rites''), Granny was shown to turn into a great number of different creatures.
GURPS Discworld
''GURPS Discworld'' and the related supplements are role-playing game sourcebooks set in Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' fantasy universe using the GURPS role-playing game system. GURPS Discworld was designed by Phil Masters (in collaboration wi ...
suggests that the apparent transformations of both parties were only special effects, as Discworld spellcasters would not so carelessly tinker with their own morphic fields, while others simply attribute this to her first story appearance as a kind of prototype reworked in later stories (compare
DEATH
Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...
, originally a more malicious character). Regardless, Granny Weatherwax was shown to be a match for the Archchancellor. In ''Wyrd Sisters'' she unleashed considerably explosive magic on a cart after losing her temper for nearly being run over by it, and sent the entire nation of Lancre forward in time fifteen years so that the exiled heir to the throne would be of age to liberate the country from its henpecked usurper sooner rather than later, albeit with considerable effort and after much manipulation by Nanny Ogg. In ''The Sea and Little Fishes'', Nanny Ogg claims that Esme has rather moderate talent, but is an extremely hard worker.
She is also highly adept at 'Borrowing' – the art of overlaying her mind on the mind of another creature so that she can see through its eyes and steer its actions without it being aware of her presence – and can tune her mind to the point that she can sense the underlying mood of her surroundings (including the mood of plants, animals and the earth) and the presence of 'stories' that are trying to play themselves out. She has even borrowed a beehive, considered the most difficult mind to borrow due to it being spread over many bodies, being the only witch ever to do so, and the mind of the
Unseen University
The Unseen University (UU) is a school of wizardry in Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' series of Fantasy literature, fantasy novels. Located in the fictional city of Ankh-Morpork, the UU is staffed by a faculty composed of mostly indolent and ine ...
itself (in ''Lords And Ladies'' and ''Equal Rites'', respectively). In ''Wyrd Sisters'', her second appearance, she makes contact with the very mind of Lancre itself. However, while her mind is out Borrowing, her body falls into a
catatonic, almost deathlike trance; it is revealed in ''Lords And Ladies'' that in order to prevent embarrassing accidents, she has taken to wearing a placard reading "I ATE'NT DEAD" when she does so. (After her actual death, she was found lying in bed with this placard on her chest, "ATE'NT" crossed out and the card now reading "I IS PROBLY DEAD").
She has even been known to be able to detect the memories of Granny Weatherwaxes living in alternative realities, but only at points in time when the walls between her world and other worlds are particularly thin.
Limitations
Knowing what is Right (with a capital ''R'') is the bedrock of Granny Weatherwax's beliefs, and it is this that prevents her from using her considerable psychic and occult abilities for her own gain. It has also, thus far, been the primary limiting factor on her power; as she explains in ''Maskerade'', if she was a bad witch she could break people's bones where they stood and manipulate their minds at will, but she cannot be that bad witch, as she knows what is Right. This, of course, has not stopped her from becoming increasingly powerful, to the point where she even managed to not only resist the fatal embrace of a
vampire
A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead creatures that often visited loved ones and caused mischief or deat ...
's bite, but also reverse the curse, causing her assailant to become weaker from within while craving tea and biscuits.
Granny has been described as incapable of harming a child. Children, up to a certain age, seem to realize this: on one occasion she threatened to rip Pewsey Ogg's head off and fill it with snakes; his response was, "Funny lady!". Children past toddlerhood generally find her intimidating, as do most adults.
In addition to the limitations imposed by her morality, it has been previously stated that there are some forms of magic that Granny Weatherwax cannot do, either through inability or aversion. These forms include some of those most commonly associated with Wizardry, including
pyrokinesis
Pyrokinesis is the purported psychic ability allowing a person to create and control fire with the mind. As with other parapsychological phenomena, there is no conclusive evidence in support of the actual existence of pyrokinesis. Many alleged c ...
(''Equal Rites''). She has, however, ignited a log by glaring at it until it
combusted out of pure embarrassment. She also claimed it was impossible to catch a sword in one's hand without being hurt but appeared to do just that shortly afterward (at the end of the book it was revealed that she had merely deferred experiencing the cut). It has been said that when Granny says a task is impossible, she means it is impossible for anyone but herself.
The only thing which repeatedly defeats Granny is her flying broomstick. It refuses to start smoothly, despite dwarfs replacing both handle and sticks. She maintains, however, that it "will be Right as Rain with a bit of work" .
Granny's relationship with the written word is strained, bordering on combative. ''Equal Rites'' mentions that she views reading as similar to and as bad as necromancy: as most authors are dead, the point of both studies is to find the opinions of the dead, and "they have enough to worry about without that." That opinion is not entirely unlike the views of the Chalk's
Nac Mac Feegle
The Nac Mac Feegle (also sometimes known as Pictsies, Wee Free Men, the Little Men and "Person or Persons Unknown, Believed to be Armed") are a fictional type of fairy folk that appear in Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' novels '' Carpe Jugulum'', ...
s.
Bibliography
Granny Weatherwax is one of Terry Pratchett's most prolific recurring characters. She has starred in six Discworld novels (''
Equal Rites
''Equal Rites'' is a comic fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett. Published in 1987, it is the third novel in the ''Discworld'' series and the first in which the main character is not Rincewind. The title is wordplay on the phrase " Equal Rights".
Th ...
'', ''
Wyrd Sisters
''Wyrd Sisters'' is Terry Pratchett's sixth ''Discworld'' novel, published in 1988. It re-introduces Granny Weatherwax of ''Equal Rites''.
Plot
''Wyrd Sisters'' features three witches: Granny Weatherwax; Nanny Ogg, matriarch of a large tri ...
'', ''
Witches Abroad
''Witches Abroad'' is the twelfth ''Discworld'' novel by Terry Pratchett, originally published in 1991.Fantastic FictioWitches Abroad (Discworld, book 12) Terry PratchettRetrieved 2009-05-9
Plot
Following the death of the witch Desiderata Hollo ...
'', ''
Lords and Ladies'', ''
Maskerade
''Maskerade'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the eighteenth book in the ''Discworld'' series. The witches Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg visit the Ankh-Morpork Opera House to find Agnes Nitt, a girl from Lancre, and g ...
'' and ''
Carpe Jugulum
''Carpe Jugulum'' (; Latatian for "seize the throat", cf. ''Carpe diem'') is a comic fantasy novel by English writer Terry Pratchett, the twenty-third in the ''Discworld'' series. It was first published in 1998.
In ''Carpe Jugulum'', Terry Pra ...
''), has appeared briefly in ''
Wee Free Men
''The Wee Free Men'' is a 2003 comic fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, which takes place in his Discworld setting. It is labelled a "Story of Discworld" to indicate its status as children's or young adult fiction, unlike most of ...
'', acted as a significant supporting character in ''
A Hat Full of Sky
''A Hat Full of Sky'' is a comic fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, set on the Discworld and written with younger readers in mind. It is labelled a "Story of Discworld" to indicate its status as children's or young adult fiction, un ...
'', ''
Wintersmith
''Wintersmith'' is a comic fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, set in the Discworld and written with younger readers in mind. It is labelled a "Story of Discworld" to indicate its status as children's or young adult fiction, unlike ...
'', and ''
I Shall Wear Midnight
''I Shall Wear Midnight'' is a comic fantasy novel by English writer Terry Pratchett, set on the Discworld. It is the fourth novel within the ''Discworld'' series to be based on the character of Tiffany Aching. It was published on 2 September ...
'', and was referenced in three other ''Discworld'' books (by name in ''
Mort
''Mort'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett. Published in 1987, it is the fourth ''Discworld'' novel and the first to focus on the character Death, who only appeared as a side character in the previous novels. The title is the ...
'', and anonymously in ''
Thief of Time
''Thief of Time'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 26th book in his ''Discworld'' series. It was the last Discworld novel with a cover by Josh Kirby.
Plot summary
The Auditors hire young clockmaker Jeremy Clockson to b ...
'' as well as ''
Going Postal
''Going Postal'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 33rd book in his '' Discworld'' series, released in the United Kingdom on 25 September 2004. Unlike most of Pratchett's Discworld novels, ''Going Postal'' is divided in ...
''). She also appeared in the short story ''
The Sea and Little Fishes
"The Sea and Little Fishes" is a short story by Terry Pratchett, written in 1998. It is set in his ''Discworld'' universe, and features Lancre witches Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg. It was originally published in a sampler alongside a story call ...
'' and in ''
The Science of Discworld II: The Globe''. She dies of old age at the beginning of ''
The Shepherd's Crown
''The Shepherd's Crown'' is a comic fantasy novel, the last book written by Terry Pratchett before his death in March 2015. It is the 41st novel in the ''Discworld'' series, and the fifth based on the character Tiffany Aching. It was published ...
'', although
Neil Gaiman, a friend of Pratchett's, has stated that Pratchett intended to imply that Granny had temporarily put her consciousness into You the cat, to delay her death and later go with Death on her own volition instead of being taken.
A. S. Byatt considered that Granny "became more and more complex" as she appeared in more novels,
[ The Shepherd’s Crown by Terry Pratchett review – the much-loved author’s last Discworld novel ]
by A. S. Byatt, in ''the Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
''; published August 27, 2015; retrieved August 14, 2017 while ''
National Public Radio
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
'' considered her an "iconic" character and "one of
ratchetts clear favorites".
['The Shepherd's Crown' Tells Terry Pratchett Fans How To Mourn Him]
by Tasha Robinson, at National Public Radio
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
; published September 2, 2015; retrieved August 14, 2017
In the ''
Wyrd Sisters
''Wyrd Sisters'' is Terry Pratchett's sixth ''Discworld'' novel, published in 1988. It re-introduces Granny Weatherwax of ''Equal Rites''.
Plot
''Wyrd Sisters'' features three witches: Granny Weatherwax; Nanny Ogg, matriarch of a large tri ...
'' animated adaptation, Granny Weatherwax was voiced by
Annette Crosbie
Annette Crosbie (born 12 February 1934) is a Scottish actor.[Annette Crosbie fil ...](_blank)
and in the
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC that replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. It broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history from the BBC' ...
dramatisation she was played by
Sheila Hancock.
Reception and legacy
A fossil species of
Mesozoic
The Mesozoic Era ( ), also called the Age of Reptiles, the Age of Conifers, and colloquially as the Age of the Dinosaurs is the second-to-last era of Earth's geological history, lasting from about , comprising the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretace ...
ginkgo
''Ginkgo'' is a genus of non-flowering seed plants. The scientific name is also used as the English name. The order to which it belongs, Ginkgoales, first appeared in the Permian, 270 million years ago, and is now the only living genus with ...
has been named ''
Ginkgoites weatherwaxiae'' in Granny Weatherwax's honour.
[Watson, J., Lydon, S. J. and Harrison, N. A. (2001]
"A revision of the English Wealden Flora, III: Czekanowskiales, Ginkgoales & allied Coniferales"
Bulletin of the Natural History Museum (Geology Series), 57(1), 29-82.
References
External links
Granny Weatherwax, In Discworld Wiki
The Witches reading order- A guide to the story arc introducing and featuring Granny Weatherwax.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Weatherwax, Granny
Discworld witches
Literary characters introduced in 1987