IC Prospective: Matilda Wormwood

[nailsandglass]

Character: Matilda Wormwood
Mun: Emely
Plot related: N

What is it about words that gives them so much weight when it comes to magic? I've been doing some reading and perhaps I am simply looking in the wrong places but I have yet to find anything that directly addresses this in any of the theory books I've picked up from the library.

Wordless magic is something we're all capable of, yet assigning a phrase to each spell makes it significantly easier. Why is that? What was it that came first, the word or the spell itself, and if the latter who thought up that saying something might make it easier? The more I think about it the more I can't help but feel it's a trick of the mind. By concentrating on a word that expounds the effect we desire, the more focused we become on said desire and isn't that what really brings about the magic?

If that is the case it really brings into question the necessity of even wands.

Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?

((ooc; pardon the icons, I mostly only have ones of her when she is 6 but I am slowly gathering more))

Comments

[mysterytwin]

You know, I think technically spells might have come first if magic goes back as far as it does. Magic might've been harnessed by the words and wands when they were first made but to start with it was probably totally different from how we learn magic today.

I've read that wordless magic is more advanced than anything we'd learn in school or in our lifetime but it's possible. I mean Mabel used to cause things to happen all the time before we got our letters. It might depend on the person though.

[doctorkishitani]

That is a very good question and I'm not sure I have an answer for you. In fact, I have spent a fair bit of time thinking about this, but none of my hypotheses are any good, but I do hope you find the answers you're looking for.

This is probably why potions are so much easier than incantations. Potion brewing transcends language, when you think about it.

[nailsandglass]

That would make much more sense in one regard, in the other it makes me wonder why appointing words became a habit. I suppose doing so made magic much more accessible, but on the other hand it means that as a whole we as a society have grown much weaker because of our reliance on it.

I think that is the case with many witches and wizards. I suppose when we are younger, our minds are much more open and unhindered by the 'logic' we gain as we grow up, and what makes such magic harder to pull off.

Would you happen to still have the sources that you learned this from?

[nailsandglass]

I would very much enjoy hearing your hypotheses, if you would not mind. Even if you do not think they are good, it is still fun to think about.

I never quite thought about potions that way, though you are absolutely right. It is almost like math in that sentiment, and in a way beautiful because of it.

[mysterytwin]

Well they do say the pen is mightier than the sword, so words might have been a way of harnessing the magic and making it stronger, rather than letting it run wild. It probably made it easier to deal with Muggles in that regard, since untamed magic was most likely sporadic.

There's a theory that we build walls around our inhibitions as we grow older and as we become more logical we're less likely to believe in things like faeries and the like, which would definitely make it more difficult to draw on our latent magical abilities if that's the case.

I've still got my notes on the source material. Did you want to borrow it?

[nailsandglass]

That's a good point. I suppose fear of Muggles existed even back then, though it is a little hard to imagine. But then again it's a little hard to imagine how anything must have been way back before people began to keep historical records.

It makes sense. When we are younger and don't have those walls we are able to believe in something fully--even in a sense, passionately. In ways we can't when we're older. With such self-imposed constraints it is no wonder things become so much more difficult to do.

I would like to very much.

[flings]

Y♀u are a delightfully th♀ughtful y♀ung w♀man. I can't really answer y♀ur questi♀ns without s♀me research, but they c♀uld lead to s♀mething interesting, indeed.

[nailsandglass]

[Oh she is not use to compliments like that. She pauses before responding.]

Thank you, it is kind of you to say so. I'd love to be able to do more research but I'm a little lost as to where to begin. There is still a lot I don't know about the wizarding world so I feel I am operating blind at times.

[flings]

Y♀u're welc♀me.

♀h, I remember that feeling. Are y♀u muggleb♀rn, perhaps? N♀t that I'd put a l♀t ♀f stake in bl♀♀d status.

[nailsandglass]

That is right. I'm only in my first year so it isn't long that I've been here, or a part of the wizarding community, but it has been wonderful thus far.

[flings]

I'm glad y♀u've enj♀yed it.

It d♀es get less confusing, I assure y♀u.

[nailsandglass]

That is good to hear. Confusing hasn't been entirely bad, however, after all I've really enjoyed trying to figure things out. It's also been a relief to finally understand why so many odd things always seemed to happen around me.

My name is Matilda. Could I know yours?

[flings]

I quite admire y♀ur thirst f♀r kn♀wledge. D♀n't let any♀ne tell y♀u that y♀u sh♀uldn't have that. And yes, that can c♀me as quite a comf♀rt!

♀f c♀urse. I am P♀rrim.

[nailsandglass]

It is very nice to meet you Porrim. It's nice to hear that for once. My parents were always telling me the exact opposite and it could be so discouraging at times.

[flings]

Likewise, Matlida.

I can't help w♀ndering if y♀ur parents are disc♀uraging y♀u fr♀m learning due t♀ the gender r♀les they're used t♀.

[nailsandglass]

It is possible. They dote on my brother, regardless of what he does, and mum does seem to think that girls should focus on their appearance instead of their minds.

I know dad at least wanted another boy.

[flings]

Thought so. It sounds like your parents have it particularly bad.

That just means you'll have to be stronger and smarter than them.

[camebackhome]

I think it works because using words helps focus your intent. Magic can be done without it, but it can be really unpredictable. A lot of kids do wordless magic, but it manifests in different ways, normally latching onto a subconscious desire or whim.

But with a spell, it focuses your intent and you get the result you want relatively consistently.