<p>In the book, the spell</p>

<blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p> did not actually last that long, and the only reason that Sophie stayed old was of her own doing and thoughts (she winds up having the magical ability to talk life into things.)  </p>
</blockquote>

<p>In fact, Howl</p>

<blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p> secretly tries to break her curse more than once and fails, commenting that Sophie "...must like..." being an old lady.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Also, in the book, Sophie</p>

<blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p> never switched back and forth repeatedly from young to old, rather she only becomes young when she frees Calcifer and gives back Howl's heart.  </p>
</blockquote>

<p>In Ghibli's version, I think he shows her</p>

<blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p> switching from one form to another to help explain that the spell is partially all in her mind.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>As for the end... Miyazaki might have kept her</p>

<blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p> hair grey to physically show her metamorphosis from having low self-confidence in her looks to becoming "pretty", or he might have done it purely for visual appeal...</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2016-08-29T02:15:21.307Z
2018-10-17T20:35:25.607Z
2018-10-17T20:35:25.607Z
Fiddle Fred
<p>The film glosses over the explanation with only a few hints, but it's explained properly in the original novel by Dianne Wynn-Jones (and its sequels). The Witch of the Waste's curse was only short-term, and wore off very early on. The reason Sophie didn't recover was because</p>

<blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p> she herself had undiscovered magic talent, and was staying in the form of an old woman because she kept thinking of herself as such. She tended to revert whenever she wasn't thinking of herself that way - such as when she slept or when she was too focused on telling Madame Solomon off (and hence was thinking more of Howl).</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-26T23:49:59.197Z
2015-01-26T23:49:59.197Z
ConMan
<p>During the movie, Sophie for the most part was seen in the form of an old woman, thanks to the curse the Witch of the Wastes cast on her. However, whenever Sophie slept, she seemed to revert back to her regular self. And when she was talking to Madam Soloman, her body was slowly reverting and her hair was changing colour. Also, when Howl was setting things up for everyone, her facial features and voice reverted but not her hair.</p>

<p>By the end of the film, Sophie still had white hair but she seemed to have regained her youthful appearance. However, the Witch of the Wastes never removed the curse, given her magic was drained. I am wondering if Sophie's curse was eventually dispelled or not.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-09T04:00:05.230Z
Sorry to say but the books are quite relevant. The movie is based off of the book and without the book existing, than how would the movie be made? A book is always relevant if a movie is based off it because it would be the base material, hense Harry Potter, mortal instruments, and most of the anime we watch today. I will admit however that Mayasakis interpretation does give more of an in depth look what Sophie goes through being at Howl's side. I don't mean to start any kind of comment war, but had to be said.
Jordan Morin
<howls-moving-castle>
What happened to Sophie's curse?
# What happened to Sophie's curse?
Posted by: username_0 on 2015-01-26
During the movie, Sophie for the most part was seen in the form of an old woman, thanks to the curse the Witch of the Wastes cast on her. However, whenever Sophie slept, she seemed to revert back to her regular self. And when she was talking to Madam Soloman, her body was slowly reverting and her hair was changing colour. Also, when Howl was setting things up for everyone, her facial features and voice reverted but not her hair.

By the end of the film, Sophie still had white hair but she seemed to have regained her youthful appearance. However, the Witch of the Wastes never removed the curse, given her magic was drained. I am wondering if Sophie's curse was eventually dispelled or not.
**Tags:** howls-moving-castle
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Sorry to say but the books are quite relevant. The movie is based off of the book and without the book existing, than how would the movie be made? A book is always relevant if a movie is based off it because it would be the base material, hense Harry Potter, mortal instruments, and most of the anime we watch today. I will admit however that Mayasakis interpretation does give more of an in depth look what Sophie goes through being at Howl's side. I don't mean to start any kind of comment war, but had to be said.  
---
## 2 answers
### Answer by username_3 on 2015-01-26. Score: 18 | Accepted answer
The film glosses over the explanation with only a few hints, but it's explained properly in the original novel by Dianne Wynn-Jones (and its sequels). The Witch of the Waste's curse was only short-term, and wore off very early on. The reason Sophie didn't recover was because

> she herself had undiscovered magic talent, and was staying in the form of an old woman because she kept thinking of herself as such. She tended to revert whenever she wasn't thinking of herself that way - such as when she slept or when she was too focused on telling Madame Solomon off (and hence was thinking more of Howl).
---
### Answer by username_2 on 2016-08-29. Score: 8
In the book, the spell

> did not actually last that long, and the only reason that Sophie stayed old was of her own doing and thoughts (she winds up having the magical ability to talk life into things.)

In fact, Howl

> secretly tries to break her curse more than once and fails, commenting that Sophie "...must like..." being an old lady.

Also, in the book, Sophie

> never switched back and forth repeatedly from young to old, rather she only becomes young when she frees Calcifer and gives back Howl's heart.

In Ghibli's version, I think he shows her

> switching from one form to another to help explain that the spell is partially all in her mind.

As for the end... Miyazaki might have kept her

> hair grey to physically show her metamorphosis from having low self-confidence in her looks to becoming "pretty", or he might have done it purely for visual appeal...
---
