Serpent & Dove
Witch Killer: Lou
by Mahurin, ShelbyThe chapter opens with Lou consumed by guilt as Reid carries Estelle’s unconscious body back to Chasseur Tower, refusing to speak to her. The Chasseurs eagerly prepare a mysterious injection, which Reid administers to Estelle without hesitation, leaving her lifeless on the ground. Lou watches in horror as Estelle is dragged away in chains, her self-loathing intensifying with each moment. The weight of her betrayal is underscored by the repeated mantra of “witch killer,” echoing in her mind as she breaks down in tears.
The next morning, the world seems to mirror Lou’s despair with a dark, stormy sky. Estelle is publicly humiliated by the Archbishop, who presents her to a hostile crowd. Lou, watching from her window, locks eyes with Estelle and sees the accusation in her gaze. Reid stands at the forefront as Estelle is tied to a stake, her white gown stained with blood. Lou is paralyzed by guilt, realizing her cowardice has led to her sister’s impending execution, and she struggles to convey the injustice of the situation to Ansel, who remains stubbornly prejudiced against witches.
As the execution begins, Lou forces herself to witness every agonizing moment, from the ignition of the pyre to Estelle’s screams. The crowd’s cruelty and Reid’s participation amplify her torment, and she grapples with the realization that witches are not the monsters they’re made out to be. Her emotional breakdown culminates in a visceral, physical reaction as she collapses, overwhelmed by the pain of Estelle’s suffering and her own complicity in it.
In the chapter’s climax, Lou’s anguish manifests as a supernatural outburst, her body convulsing as if consumed by invisible flames. Ansel tries to restrain her, but her agony is beyond physical control. The chapter ends with Lou’s desperate scream, symbolizing both her internal devastation and a potential turning point in her resolve. The imagery of fire ties her suffering directly to Estelle’s fate, leaving readers with a sense of impending reckoning for her choices.
FAQs
1. How does Lou’s internal conflict manifest throughout the chapter, and what does this reveal about her character development?
Answer:
Lou’s internal conflict is expressed through her recurring mental refrain of “witch killer” and her physical reactions to Estelle’s treatment. The chapter shows her overwhelming guilt through vivid descriptions (“each step a knife in my heart”) and self-loathing (“I truly hated myself”). This reveals significant character development as Lou transitions from passive observer to someone who recognizes her complicity in witch persecution. Her eventual magical outburst (“The world was on fire”) demonstrates she’s reached a breaking point, suggesting she can no longer suppress her true nature or ignore the atrocities around her.2. Analyze the symbolic significance of the weather and environmental descriptions in relation to the chapter’s events.
Answer:
The ominous weather (“black and gray,” “thunder rumbled”) serves as pathetic fallacy reflecting Lou’s inner turmoil and foreshadowing the tragic execution. The unnatural darkness mirrors how Lou’s world has been upended, while the eventual rain suggests both cleansing and divine disapproval. The fire imagery operates on multiple levels - the literal execution fire, Lou’s internal burning guilt, and her eventual magical fire outburst. These elements combine to create a powerful atmosphere where the environment becomes an active participant in the narrative, amplifying the chapter’s emotional intensity and moral gravity.3. What does the interaction between Lou and Ansel reveal about the societal attitudes toward witches in their world?
Answer:
Their exchange exposes the deep-seated prejudice and dehumanization of witches in this society. Ansel’s statements (“They’re wicked,” “They’re unnatural”) demonstrate how witch hunters are indoctrinated to view witches as fundamentally other, despite Lou’s counterarguments about witches being ordinary people (“Your own mother could’ve been one”). The conversation highlights the cognitive dissonance required to maintain such beliefs, as Ansel struggles to reconcile religious doctrine (“Aren’t we all [wicked]?”) with his hatred of witches. This dialogue critically examines how systemic oppression relies on creating an artificial separation between “us” and “them.”4. How does the chapter use physical objects and actions to convey its themes of guilt and betrayal?
Answer:
Key objects become powerful symbols of guilt: the syringe represents medicalized violence, the blood-stained dress signifies irreversible consequences, and the manacles symbolize systemic oppression. Physical actions like Estelle being dragged by her hair and the crowd throwing objects demonstrate dehumanization. Lou’s focus on these details (“the way her head lolled,” “the chains clinked”) shows her hyperawareness of the violence. The chapter’s climax uses Lou’s physical convulsions to manifest her psychological torment, making her guilt and self-loathing viscerally real through bodily suffering that mirrors Estelle’s execution.5. What does Lou’s final decision to use magic reveal about her character arc and the story’s central conflicts?
Answer:
Lou’s magical outburst represents both a breaking point and a turning point. By choosing to manifest her power despite the danger, she finally embraces her identity rather than suppressing it. This moment resolves her internal conflict about being a “witch killer” by choosing to align with witchkind, even at great personal cost. The scene also escalates the central conflict between hiding and self-acceptance, while foreshadowing future confrontations with the Chasseurs. Her action demonstrates that personal morality has triumphed over fear, setting the stage for her transformation from passive observer to active participant in the story’s conflicts.
Quotes
1. “Reid refused to speak to me on the way back to Chasseur Tower. I struggled to keep up, each step a knife in my heart.”
This opening line establishes Lou’s emotional turmoil and the fractured relationship with Reid, setting the tone for the chapter’s themes of betrayal and guilt.
2. “The Fathers have been anxious to test it on a witch. Today is their lucky day.”
This chilling statement from a Chasseur reveals the institutionalized cruelty toward witches and the eagerness to experiment on them, highlighting the chapter’s central conflict.
3. “It might as well have been my soul.”
Lou’s visceral reaction to Estelle’s injection powerfully conveys her deep identification with her fellow witches and the moral weight of her perceived betrayal.
4. “Aren’t we all? Isn’t that what your own god teaches?”
This rhetorical challenge to Ansel’s prejudice cuts to the heart of the chapter’s exploration of morality, showing Lou confronting the hypocrisy in witch-hunting ideology.
5. “The world was on fire. I screamed, toppling to the floor.”
This climactic moment represents Lou’s psychological breaking point and her mystical connection to Estelle’s suffering, marking a transformative moment in the narrative.