The Ogress and the Orphans

The Ogress is one of the novel’s main characters, and like all ogres, she “spoke little and thought much” (1). The Ogress represents the idea that heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Though ogres are typically portrayed as monsters and villains in fairy tales, the Ogress in the novel is patient and kind. She leads by example and starts to save Stone-in-the-Glen before it knows it needs saving. Ogres live long lives, and Stone-in-the-Glen is just one of many places the Ogress has lived. Before this, she resided in an ogre village, which she enjoyed, and a castle where trolls were mean to her. She is educated and uses that education to solve problems, bringing the people of Stone-in-the-Glen together.

The Ogress also symbolizes the idea of treating people how we wish to be treated. The Ogress leaves gifts for the townspeople throughout the story. Though she never expects anything in return, she leaves the gifts because she’d like to think the townspeople would be equally kind to her if the situation were reversed. Toward the novel's end, the townspeople attack the Ogress’s home, making her give up on them for a time. Given her caring nature, she may have eventually forgiven them if the orphans hadn’t come to check on her, but it is just as likely she would have moved on.