A World Without Princes

The text’s events and characters’ relationships problematize the idea that something or someone can be purely heroic or entirely villainous, and it becomes clear that someone’s goodness or evilness is often a matter of context and perspective rather than absolute truth. Nothing or no one is inherently or completely good or evil, and the possession of either quality in one moment is not a guarantee that one will be a hero or villain forever. Instead, morality shifts based on personal motives, external pressures, and emotional conflicts, complicating the simplistic narratives of good versus evil found in traditional fairy tales.

The ambiguous heroism and villainy of certain characters remains in question for most of the narrative, demonstrating the way individuals combine both qualities. Agatha, for example, wants to be good, but she does lie to Sophie when she begins to question Sophie’s loyalty rather than speaking to Sophie directly about her concerns. Lying is one of the most common qualities of a witch, who seeks to disrupt the happily-ever-afters of other characters in her tale, causing Agatha to wonder if Sophie is her story’s villain.