The clothing of the Witch-king of Angmar is an essential part of the character's visual identity. As the leader of the Nazgûl, the Witch-king is cloaked in darkness and mystery, and his attire reflects this. His clothing is designed to strike fear into the hearts of his enemies and convey his powerful and imposing presence. The Witch-king is often depicted wearing a tattered black cloak that billows around him, giving him a ghostly and ethereal appearance. The cloak's tattered edges and hood create an ominous silhouette, suggesting that he is cloaked in shadows and darkness. The clothing is also designed to be practical, allowing him freedom of movement while concealing his identity.
The clothing is also designed to be practical, allowing him freedom of movement while concealing his identity. Beneath his cloak, the Witch-king typically wears a suit of armor. The exact design of the armor can vary depending on the adaptation or artist, but it is generally depicted as dark and menacing.
Seriously, don’t you love a witch’s Hero’s Journey from Practical Magic
Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Stockard Channing, and Diane Weist from Practical Magic are perfect witches. And Practical Magic (book and movie) is perfect for fall Halloween vibes.
It is also one of my favorites. I adore Alice Hoffman, but like so many, Practical Magic tops my list. It’s October and just a week out from Halloween, so there’s no better time to do a Hero’s Journey breakdown of this classic.
Hero–
Ordinary World—
The first Owens witch, Maria, escaped a hanging with her magic. She was banished and cast a spell upon herself that she would never again feel the agony of love. That spell turned into a curse on any man who dared love an Owens woman. When you hear the ticking of the death watch beetle, the one you love is doomed to die.
Sally and Gillian Owens are the most recent in a long and distinguished line of witches.
Sally is blessed with the gift. And she never wants to fall in love.
Gillian has magic in her, but not as strongly as Sally. She can’t wait to fall in love.
Sally makes a list in her journal and casts the true love spell, but summoning a man with impossible traits. She’ll never find him, which is the point. “The guy I dreamed up doesn’t exist, and if he doesn’t exist, I can never die of a broken heart.”
Fastforward. Gillian leaves home with a guy. She wants to go where no one has ever heard of her. They cut their hands. “My blood. Your blood. Our blood.” They will be together forever, no matter where they are. (Foreshadow)
Sally misses Gillian. She wants to be “normal”.
The aunts say, “Being normal is not a virtue.”
Then she sees Michael. The aunts cast a spell so Sally can have a romance and be happy. They never thought she’d truly love him. She does fall in love with him, marries him, moves out of the aunts’ house, has two little girls, and is happy. People in town now accept her. Things are “normal. Life is perfect.”
Meanwhile, Gillian is living a wild life. And she’s fallen for a “cowboy vampire” Bulgarian from Transylvania, Jimmy Angelov.
Call to Adventure–
(11:00 minutes) The death watch beetle ticks.
Refusal of Call–
Sally tries to ignore it, but she keeps hearing it. She tries to find it, to destroy it. She tears up her house searching for it, because she knows what it means. Michael, who dared to love an Owens woman, will die.
She thinks he’s escaped it when a group of bikes narrowly misses Michael, but a moment later he is hit by a truck and killed (14:00 minutes).
Meeting the Mentor–
Sally goes to the aunts (Jet and Frances) and asks them if it was the curse. They reveal that they cast a spell. Sally is shattered. She wants him back using the old spell book. (Foreshadow)
“You brought him into my life. Now I want you to bring him back.”
Crossing the Threshold–
The new world (15:00 minutes). Call and the girls move back in
to the old house and Sally admonishes the aunts that her girls will never do magic. She denies her witchcraft.
Tests and Allies–
- Sally grieves. She can’tfunction.
- She looksat her scar, as does Gillian. They call to each other. Gillian drugs Jimmy Angelov with Belladonna so she can go see Sally. But Jimmy is possessive.
- She says Jimmy can survive the curse. She brings Sally out of her funk.
- Then Gillian is gone again.
- Sally emerges. She opens her shop: Verbena. Mails a letter to Gillian. (Foreshadow)
- She is upset with the kids in town taunt her daughters (Kylie and Antonia) like kids used to tant her and Gillian.
- The girls know they are witches and wonder why Sally doesn’t do magic.
- The phone rings and Sally knows it’s Gillian. Gillian is in trouble. Jimmy has been erratic and he punched Gilly.
- They see a blood moon. Gilly goes to get her tiger’s eye. Jimmy is there and holds them hostage. The Elvis song, Always on my Mind, plays on the radio.
- Sally puts belladonna in Jimmy’s tequila. Jimmy sings the song. He tries to choke Gilly. Then Jimmy passes out.
- But he’s dead.
- The blood moon foreshadows doom. (30:00)
- Gilly wants to use the curse to bring Jimmy back, but he’ll be dark and unnatural. “He’s already dark and unnatural. I don’t care how he comes back, as long as he comes back with a pulse,” Gilly said. (Foreshadowed moment from earlier)
- This time Sally is the voice of reason. She doesn’t want to do it, but they don’t feel there is a choice. They perform the spell.
- They bring him back, he tries to choke Gilly again, and Sally hits him with the tequila bottle. Now he’s dead again.
- They bury him.
- They keep it secret from the aunts.
- Phone tree day. Sally is never picked because everyone knows Sally is a witch. Gilly makes sure it’s Sally. The townsfolk hate her. (Foreshadow)
- The aunts make midnight margaritas. They realize it’s Jimmy’s tequila.
- The aunts sing Always on My Mind.
- Broom fell. Company’s coming. The aunts leave Sally and Gilly to clean up their mess.
- Kylie sees Jimmy as a ghost…the man under the roses. The roses grew overnight.
- Jimmy’s boots are visible, then disappear again.
- (55:00) The Gary Hallet State’s Investigator from Tuscan shows up investigating a case. comes searching for Jimmy.
- Jimmy is back.
- Sally struggles to lie to Gary.
- The townsfolk tell stories about Sally’s magic.
- Gilly feels Jimmy’s presence.
- Kylie, Antonia, and Gilly make a potion to banish Mr. Hallet. Kylie is good at magic. But the girls realize that Gary Hallet is the man Sally wished for as a child.
- Sally and Gillian have a huge fight.
Central Ordeal–
Sally goes to Gary to confess. She tells him that Jimmy is in the spirit world haunting them. She asks him why he read her letter so many times (Foreshadowed moment from earlier). She says Gillian didn’t kill anyone. Gary infers that Sally did.
Gary promises to help Sally and keep her from harm’s way. They kiss. Sally sees his one blue, one green eye (Foreshadowed moment from earlier). She leaves, afraid of the curse.
Reward–
Sally senses that something is wrong with Gilly. She races home. Gary follows her. They see Jimmy’s ghost in Gilly. He’s possessing her. Gary doesn’t understand, but he believes what he sees.
Jimmy tries to kill Gary. The sheriff’s star saves him. Sally says to him, “You killed a spirit, but that I killed a man.”
Garry confesses that he loves Sally. He’s loved her since he read her letter. She confesses that she sent for him when she was a girl. He does exist. What he feels is just her spell. Cunundrum. Would he stay because of her spell, or does she want him to stay because she doesn’t want to go to prison.
Road Back–
They believe Jimmy is dead. “Curses only have power when you believe in them. And I don’t…You know what? I wished for you, too,” Gary tells Sally.
When Sally comes back in, she realizes that Jimmy is still inside of Gillian.
Resurrection–
It is not over. Now everything is coming to a head. The aunts are back.
The aunts say: “He’s squatting inside of her like a toad. This is what comes from dabbling. You can’t practice witchcraft when you look down your nose at it.”
“We have to banish him,” Frances says.
“Force his spirit back into the grave,” Jet says.
“We need a full coven,” Frances says.
“ 9 women. 12 is better,” Jet says.
“Do you have any friends?” Frances asks.
Sally uses the phone tree (Foreshadowed moment from earlier). She confesses to the women who have always hated her that she is a witch.
The townswomen all show up. Kylie and Antonia are part of it. The girls set the toads free (a reoccurring symbol).
“Pick a broom. Form a circle.” They cast the spell to rid Gilly of Jimmy’s spirit.
They fear they’re killing Gilly. Sally has an idea. She does the blood spell. Maria’s blood connects them. “Your blood. My blood. Our blood.”
This excises Jimmy. Gary closes the case.
Return w/ elixir–
Sally calls to Gary. He hears that call and returns to her. The Owens curse is broken, they think because the sisters clasped hands and Maria’s blood flowed threw them.
It’s Halloween. The town is gathered around the house. The three generations of Owens women are on the roof in witch getups
Recurring Motif: Toads/Black cat
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It is often adorned with spikes, studs, and other menacing details, further emphasizing the Witch-king's intimidating presence. The armor is also functional in nature, providing protection in battle. In addition to his cloak and armor, the Witch-king also wears a distinctive helmet. The helmet is often adorned with various symbols associated with the Witch-king and the forces of evil, such as bat-like wings or horns. The helmet serves to conceal the Witch-king's face, adding to his aura of mystery and making him all the more terrifying to behold. Overall, the clothing of the Witch-king of Angmar is a crucial element in his characterization. It is designed to evoke fear and intimidation, reflecting his status as the leader of the Nazgûl and his ties to darkness and evil. The tattered cloak, menacing armor, and distinctive helmet all work together to create a memorable and iconic visual representation of the character..
Reviews for "The Witch King's Clothing: A Reflection of His Shadowy Past"
1. Michelle - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "The Clothing of the Witch King of Angmar". The costumes were poorly constructed and looked cheap. The fabric used was flimsy and didn't give off the imposing and powerful presence that the Witch King is supposed to have. The attention to detail was lacking and there were noticeable inconsistencies with the design. Overall, it felt like a rushed and lazy attempt at recreating an iconic character's outfit.
2. David - 1/5 stars - I can't believe I wasted my money on this. The clothing of the Witch King of Angmar was incredibly poorly made. The stitching was coming apart at the seams, and the quality of the fabric was atrocious. The fit was also completely off, as if it was made for a different body shape altogether. It was disappointing to see such a beloved character's outfit be so poorly executed. I would not recommend purchasing this to any fan of the series.
3. Samantha - 2/5 stars - As a fan of the "Lord of the Rings" franchise, I had high expectations for the clothing of the Witch King of Angmar. Unfortunately, it fell short in several aspects. The material used felt cheap and uncomfortable, and the overall design lacked the intricate details that are crucial for such a significant character. The sizing was also inconsistent, making it a hassle to find the right fit. It's a shame that such an iconic character was not given the attention they deserved when designing their clothing.
4. Michael - 2/5 stars - I was really let down by the quality of the clothing of the Witch King of Angmar. It looked nothing like what was advertised. The colors were dull and faded, and the whole outfit lacked the intimidating presence that the Witch King is known for. The stitching was sloppy and poorly executed, making the whole ensemble look amateurish. I expected better for the price I paid, and I would not recommend this to anyone looking for an accurate representation of the character's clothing.