Moon Witch, Spider King

Sogolon’s ability to channel the power of the wind gives her both the fearlessness to fight the Aesi and his Sangomin but also the freedom to live her life on her own terms. A prisoner of her circumstances for much of her life, the wind lifts Sogolon out of oppression, both literally and metaphorically. While the nature of her power is always capricious—it doesn’t always come when bidden—it does act as a guardian angel, appearing when her life is on the line. Wind can symbolize many things, namely strength and freedom. It gives Sogolon the strength to survive a Sangomin attack—she is, in fact, the only survivor—and to assume the identity of the Moon Witch, wreaking vengeance upon abusive men. The wind is also free, coming and going on its own whim. For Sogolon, so long shackled by an oppressive patriarchy, her power gives her the freedom to defy her oppressors, to come and go as she wishes, and to literally fly upon the wind’s power. The wind’s arbitrary nature can also represent change (the winds of change”), and Sogolon must be prepared to shift direction when circumstances dictate. The first appearance of her power—repelling and impaling the abusive Master Komwono—signals a seismic shift in her life, and from then on, when she uses her power, it portends a new chapter (such as her time cloistered in Mantha, her designation as the Moon Witch, and her quest to destroy the Aesi).