"The witchcraft of the were rabbit" The concept of witchcraft has long been associated with dark and mysterious practices, often involving spells, potions, and curses. However, one fascinating and lesser-known aspect of witchcraft is its connection to the mythical creature known as the were rabbit. The were rabbit, as the name suggests, is a hybrid being that combines the characteristics of a rabbit and a human. In folklore, it is believed that individuals can be transformed into were rabbits through the use of powerful witchcraft. This transformation usually occurs during a full moon, when the powers of witchcraft are said to be at their strongest. The exact origins of the were rabbit myth are unclear, with various cultures and regions having their own unique interpretations and stories.
Throughout the whole film, the themes of gender roles and family structure are prominent and integral to the story line. Katherine and William are both parental figures, yet they have very different roles in the life of the family. Katherine is never really seen outside of the homestead, and also seems to have a more direct role in raising the children. Katherine’s role can be seen as more in control of the domestic tasks. In contrast, William will do things outside of the house, like hunting and trading, making him less concerned with the day-to-day running of the house and raising the children.
The family determines he has been possessed and are trying to save him when he breaks from a coma-like state to scream his love for Christ, spit up an apple, and die. Traffic along the Silk Route reached its height in the 13 th century at the time of the Pax Mongolica , the Mongol peace, when passage was relatively safe and trade between East and West was flourishing.
The exact origins of the were rabbit myth are unclear, with various cultures and regions having their own unique interpretations and stories. However, what is consistent across all these stories is the idea that the were rabbit possesses supernatural abilities and can bring both good fortune and misfortune to those it encounters. In many cultures, the were rabbit is seen as a symbol of fertility and abundance, often associated with the earth and nature.
The Witch: A New England Folktale
This semi-realistic supernatural horror period piece rose to fame after its initial release at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2015. With a run-time of 93 minutes, the film was both written and directed by Robert Eggers and ultimately grossed $40 million, ten times its budget. It stars three experienced actors: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, and Kate Dickie. The film is widely acknowledged for its ability to frighten its audience while also conveying many themes of its historical setting.
Historical Accuracy
Overall, the historical aspects of this film may be considered historically accurate. In broad terms, it highlights many of the major, commonly known themes of 17th century New England, including witchcraft, religious hysteria, and parental authority. Robert Eggers also put great effort into making the film’s details as true to the time period as well, such as only using natural and/or candlelight while filming.
Creation of the film’s screenplay began with four years of research, Eggers referencing as many sources as he was able to, including expert historians and primary sources. The characters’ language was based on the grammar of these primary sources, bolstered by an all-English cast. Experts were also consulted and employed during production, including a professional carpenter and costume designer, both specialized in the Jacobian era. Unfortunately, not all details were under Egger’s control, otherwise it could be argued the film would have been more authentic in its portrayal. For example, Eggers was limited by the film’s budget, which led to filming in Canada rather than New England.
Plot Summary
Thomasin (played by Anya Taylor-Joy), the eldest child of the family, is continuously accused of witchcraft by her family.
Set in 1630s New England, the film focuses on a family of seven: father William (Ralph Ineson), mother Katherine (Kate Dickie), eldest daughter Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy), eldest son Caleb, fraternal twins Jonas and Mercy, and new baby boy, Samuel. The film opens with William questioning the leaders of Plymouth Colony, saying they are being too lenient for his conservative Puritan beliefs, ultimately leading to the family being exiled and moving to a secluded area far from town.
While under his sister Thomasin’s care, baby Samuel is kidnapped and later murdered by a witch living in the nearby forest. Katherine blames her eldest daughter for the family’s loss and incites suspicion among the children that Thomasin is a witch. Though Thomasin denies their claims of her supernatural ways, her seeming level of guilt only grows when her brother Caleb goes missing. The pair had traveled into the forest, were separated, and Caleb encountered the witch. He shows up later that evening, naked and delirious. The family determines he has been possessed and are trying to save him when he breaks from a coma-like state to scream his love for Christ, spit up an apple, and die.
William feels he has no choice now but to also accuse Thomasin of witchcraft, who in turn accuses Jonas and Mercy, saying they have been conversing with the family’s male goat, Black Philip. When the twins are unable to recite their prayers, William no longer knows who to trust, leading him to lock all three children in the goat stable for the night. That night, the detainees woke to see an old woman (presumably the witch) drinking from their nanny goat. In the morning, William sees the goat house destroyed, goats dead, twins missing. Thomasin is on the ground, unconscious, covered in blood when she wakes to witness Black Philip murder her father. This incites Katherine to attack Thomasin, blaming her for all the family’s misfortunes. The scene ends with Thomasin killing her mother in self-defense.
Alone, with nothing left to lose, Thomasin entreats Black Philip to speak to her as he did with the twins. Black Philip then does so, transforms into a man, has Thomasin sign her name in his book, and leads her into the forest where she joins a group of witches holding a ceremony. The film closes with Thomasin and the witches laughing and levitating over a bonfire.
Family Dynamics
The family (from left to right): Jonas, Mercy, Katherine, William, Caleb and Thomasin.
Throughout the whole film, the themes of gender roles and family structure are prominent and integral to the story line. Katherine and William are both parental figures, yet they have very different roles in the life of the family. Katherine is never really seen outside of the homestead, and also seems to have a more direct role in raising the children. Katherine’s role can be seen as more in control of the domestic tasks. In contrast, William will do things outside of the house, like hunting and trading, making him less concerned with the day-to-day running of the house and raising the children.
As the oldest children, Thomasin and Caleb have responsibilities mirroring the parent of their respective gender. Thomasin arguably works the most in the family and is seen doing housework, caring for animals, watching the twins, doing laundry, etc. Caleb tends to follow around William and assist him in whatever he is doing, typically hunting. The twins are both too young to be of any real use, so regardless of gender, they really do not have responsibilities.
Overall, it is very clear that this is a very patriarchal family and William is the one seen as the head of the household. This aligns with the culture of the time period; men were seen as the one who had the power, and women were expected to care for the kids and house. Women did not generally have a lot of power. Throughout the movie Katherine accuses Thomasin of various things (stealing a cup, being a witch, etc.) however, Thomasin doesn’t really get in trouble for these things. The reason she never gets in trouble is William speaks up and is on her side, once again showing that he is the final word, not Katherine.
One example of the power structure in the movie is when the parents are discussing sending Thomasin away to work for another family in town. Thomasin is old enough and her mother believes she is causing trouble in their family. In a situation like this, as a child, Thomasin has no control over her fate, it is in her parents’ hands. If her parents decide this is what will happen, she can’t really change their minds. Thomasin has no autonomy in this situation and truly is at the will of the adults of the family.
In discussing gender roles and norms in The Witch, it is important to note that this movie primarily follows only one family and not necessarily generalizable to the rest of the population. The only time anyone outside of the family is seen is the opening scene of the banishment. Even in this scene only men are seen talking, which agrees with the theme of a patriarchal society. Additionally, in this scene only William is spoken to and the rest of the family is ignored. This interaction is brief, but it helps to set a foundation for the gender roles and patriarchy seen in the rest of the movie.
Witchcraft
Twins Mercy (left) and Jonas (right) with the family’s male goat, Black Philip.
The elements of witchcraft in this film were moments of possession, rituals and sacrifice, and symbolism in the form of animals. The fear of Satan and witchcraft was very real during the time period this movie took place. The first hint to any witch in this film was when baby Samuel is stolen by the witch, but only the audience knows this, the family is left to assume the child was taken by wolves. Though suspicion that something sinister is in the woods is in everyone’s minds. The form of a witch first appeared as an old decrepit naked woman living in the woods. This witch also wore a red cape, a color often associated with the devil. Once the witch has the child it appears that she uses it to regain her youth through a sacrificial ritual. Caleb is the first to see the witch when he gets lost in the woods, except this time the witch takes a much younger more erotic form. After this the presents of witchcraft starts to pick up.
Caleb returns to the farm naked and delirious, he seems to be under some sort of spell or mysterious sickness. This is when the family starts to fall apart and they start accusing each other of witchcraft, specifically Thomasin and the twins. As Caleb suffers this mysterious sickness he wakes at various moments and speaks about witches and possession. The twins also seem to suffer from some kind of possession as they forget their prayers and double over in pain, until they become unconscious. Being unable to recite prayers was commonly believed to mean the presence of something sinister.
The symbolism of Satan comes in the form of a black goat. Having a black goat representing Satan and satanic things stems from the alleged form of Satan himself. Many times he is pictured as a man in stature but with the head and legs of a goat. Black Philip is a black goat that appears on the family’s farm and the twins Jonas and Mercy instantly become transfixed with him. Later on in the film the twins admit to Thomasin that black Philip has been talking to them, and at the end of the film when Thomasin is alone she begs black Philip to speak to her as well. When he finally does we see a form of Satan appear behind her and offer her anything she wants if she signs her name in his book. When she agrees she is led into the woods and finds a group of naked dancing women around a big fire, the film ends with Thomasin floating up into the air with the other women. There is also another animal that appears in the film as a symbol, a rabbit. There are old folklore stories that connect witches with rabbits. Some folklore claimed that witches could transform themselves into a rabbit, and as such they caused mischief. This holds true for the rabbit in this film who most likely was the witch that stole baby Samuel or one of the other witches Thomasin sees in the forest at the end.
Religion
The family begins their meal with a family prayer led by the father, William.
Religion was the biggest contributing factor in this time period and ultimately is the reason for this film. God was the only explanation in the 1600s. One of the main reasons religion was incredibly popular was that it provided a reason for the unexplained. This “explanation of everything” idea was the starting point for the development of witchcraft. Witchcraft was seen as part of the devil’s work and if you practiced witchery you were working with the devil. There was no found “cure” to this witchery and it was always punished by death. The idea that witches could exist undetectable in society increased paranoia in the public and created the obsession of getting rid of all witches from the world.
In the film, The Witch, you get an idea of how serious the fear of witchery is during this time period. The film starts off with William being convicted of prideful conceit. This is a serious sin according to The Bible, being overly prideful indicates you have forgotten that God gives us the intelligence and physical capabilities thus, you should not boast. Portraying pridefulness is punished by death, However, in this film, the family was banished for their father’s actions. This did not deter the family from the Calvinist beliefs. However, this strong belief that god predetermined who goes to the promised land ultimately led William to believe they could survive in the woods alone. He believes if his family asks for forgiveness for their sins God will grace them with survival.
As the days pass with little hope of survival throughout the winter, the paranoia and hysteria begin to take full effect. The family tries to remain strong in their beliefs however the fear of witchcraft existing in the woods begins to alter the eternal faith in god. Katherine begins the first accusations of witchery on Thomasin. She does this because she blamed Thomasin for the loss of her unbaptized new born baby. Even though Thomasin could recite her prayer this did not convince her mother she was witch-free. This accusation leads the family into a spiral.
With Caleb and the twins displaying clear signs of witchcraft the family begins to panic. God is yet turned to again in hopes to save this family. They excessively pray over Caleb and the twins’ bodies with obvious doubt in their eyes. Eventually the whole family is all affected and the faith in God is lost. The family is now perceived to be controlled by the devil and their actions take a turn for the worst. After Thomasin kills her mother, the only family member left at this point, it shows her practicing witchcraft in the woods. This presents the message of how one sin can spiral into working with the devil. This film adds to the ongoing debate of if horror films should be watched by Christians. As people argue this suggests one believes in god out of fear of the devil.
Suggestions for Relevant Reading
- An interview with the films writer and director, Robert Eggers on the research that went into the screenplay and film production
- A critical review of the film’s historical accuracies
- Primary source of an Accusation of witchcraft
- Early American Imprints, Series I: Evans 1639-1800 (accessible through the OSU library catalog)
Reaction to: Great article that shows the love and research that goes into reproducing historical fabrics! Keep up the great work! - Martine Teunissen - Experience The Past - Netherlands
It is believed that those who possess the ability to transform into a were rabbit have a deep connection with the natural world and can harness its energies for their own purposes. However, the were rabbit is also associated with darker aspects of witchcraft. It is said that those who become were rabbits are easily tempted by the use of their powers for personal gain, often causing havoc and destruction in their wake. In order to control the powers of the were rabbit, individuals must undergo rigorous training in the practices of witchcraft. They must learn to harness their abilities responsibly and use them for the greater good. This training often involves learning various spells, incantations, and rituals that can help the individual maintain control over their were rabbit transformation. Despite the mystical and often malevolent reputation of witchcraft and the were rabbit, it is important to remember that these are ultimately just myths and legends. However, they hold a significant place in human history and continue to captivate our imagination and fascination with the unknown. In conclusion, the concept of the were rabbit and its connection to witchcraft is a fascinating and intriguing aspect of mythology. From its association with fertility, abundance, and supernatural abilities, to the potential for chaos and destruction, the were rabbit serves as a reminder of the power and complexity of witchcraft. While these stories may be just myths, they continue to capture our imagination and curiosity, and perhaps hold a deeper truth about the human fascination with magic and the supernatural..
Reviews for "The Pentagram and the Hare: A Marriage of Witchcraft and Were Rabbit"
1. John - 2/5
I was really looking forward to "The Witchcraft of the Were Rabbit" as a fan of the "Wallace and Gromit" series, but I found myself sorely disappointed. The story felt forced and lacked the charm and wit that I had come to expect from the franchise. The humor fell flat, and the characters seemed to be going through the motions without any real depth or development. Overall, it was a forgettable addition to the series and did not live up to its predecessors.
2. Emily - 1/5
I have to say, "The Witchcraft of the Were Rabbit" was a major letdown. The animation quality was subpar and did not live up to the high standards set by previous "Wallace and Gromit" films. The plot was convoluted and felt disjointed, making it hard to stay engaged. The attempts at humor were forced and rehashed, failing to elicit any genuine laughs. I would not recommend wasting your time on this lackluster installment.
3. Sarah - 2/5
While I am a fan of the "Wallace and Gromit" series, "The Witchcraft of the Were Rabbit" missed the mark for me. The story felt contrived and lacked the cleverness and originality that made the previous films so enjoyable. The pacing was off, with some scenes dragging on while others felt rushed. Additionally, the villainous characters were one-dimensional and uninspiring. Overall, this film did not capture the magic of the franchise, leaving me underwhelmed and disappointed.
4. Mike - 2/5
I had high hopes for "The Witchcraft of the Were Rabbit," but unfortunately, it just didn't deliver. The plot felt predictable and lacked the suspense and excitement of the earlier films. The humor was mediocre at best, and the dialogue fell flat. The animation, while still stylistically in line with the franchise, lacked the attention to detail and charm that I had come to expect. Overall, it was a forgettable addition to the series that failed to live up to its predecessors.