Characters Any Way the Wind Blows Rainbow Rowell

Baz Pitch (Tyrannus Basilton Grimm-Pitch) Character Analysis

Overview

Baz Pitch—formally Tyrannus Basilton Grimm-Pitch—is the vampire boyfriend of Simon Snow and a central figure in the third book of the Simon Snow trilogy, Any Way the Wind Blows. Burden by family secrets and the guilt of having stolen a girl’s voice as a teenager, Baz navigates a world where his loyalty to Simon, his own vampiric nature, and the expectations of his powerful family constantly pull him in different directions. Unlike the action-oriented Simon, Baz is a strategist, a planner, and a character whose growth is measured by his ability to confront his past and choose love over inherited vendettas.

Plot Role

In the third book, Baz acts as Simon’s partner in every sense—romantic, investigative, and emotional. He moves into Simon’s flat, helps him adjust to the loss of his magic, and plots alongside him to expose the false “Chosen One” Smith-Richards. Baz also carries the narrative weight of his own family history, especially his aunt Fiona’s manipulation during his childhood. His search for the tape recorder that stole Philippa Stainton’s voice drives a key subplot about guilt and atonement. By the epilogue, Baz has not only deepened his relationship with Simon but also begun to untangle himself from the Pitches’ legacy of war.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Baz is motivated primarily by two forces: protecting Simon and seeking absolution for his past sin. Early in the book, he confesses to Fiona that he never wanted to be a “good soldier” but only wanted her attention—this reveals how his actions in childhood, including agreeing to steal Simon’s voice, were driven by a desperate need for family approval. As an adult, Baz consistently puts Simon’s wellbeing first: he agrees to stay with Simon without knowing how long it will last, he carefully initiates physical boundaries (“No matter what happens right now … we have to stop in a few minutes”), and he tactfully supports Simon’s fragile sense of self. His intelligence shows in his skepticism of Smith-Richards; he immediately sees through the man’s charisma and warns Simon. Notably, Baz also owns his failings—when Simon asks if weak magic is like a disease, Baz corrects him, explaining that it’s a combination of aptitude, ability, and training, a subtle admission that he himself has enjoyed advantages.

Chronological Arc

The narrative follows Baz from a tense encounter with Fiona in her flat to a quieter, more secure place a year later. In Chapter 60, Baz confronts Fiona about the tape recorder, screaming “I was a child, and you used me!”—a climactic moment where he begins to shed his family’s guilt. Later, he participates in the investigation of Smith-Richards, often taking charge of the magical research. The epilogue shows Baz still at Simon’s side, no longer defined by his aunt’s schemes. The arc moves from shame and dependency on his family’s approval toward self-determined loyalty and love.

Relationships

  • Simon Snow: Baz and Simon share an intense, newly allowed romance. Baz is the steadier half—he provides reassurance (“Don’t overthink this” is a through-line), patiently waits for Simon to be ready, and even jokes about their physical limits. Their kissing scenes in Lady Ruth’s library (Chapter 48) show Baz letting down his guard, but he still pulls away first to maintain control. Their relationship is built on mutual need but Baz more often gives structure.

  • Fiona Pitch: Baz’s aunt is a toxin he must expel. Their confrontation in Chapter 60 is the book’s most raw emotional scene. Fiona refuses to apologize for using Baz as a child soldier; Baz finally declares “I’m not a child anymore. Fiona doesn’t get to tell me what it means to be a good Pitch.” This marks his formal break from the Pitch legacy of violence.

  • Penelope Bunce: Baz respects Penelope as a fellow strategist, though they clash over methods. He calls her a “very fierce magician” and toasts her. Their alliance is pragmatic but warm.

  • Daphne (stepmother): Baz notes that Daphne is “caught up” in the Smith-Richards group, showing his concern for family members still tangled in ideology.

  • Shepard: Baz tolerates Shepard, but his early attitude is guarded—he hides him from Fiona and later includes him in the group only when necessary.

Key Decisions and Consequences

  • Deciding to stay with Simon: Baz packs two bags and leaves Fiona’s flat, a decisive step that makes him vulnerable to abandonment. The consequence is a stronger bond; by the epilogue, that decision has lasted a year.

  • Confronting Fiona about the tape recorder: Instead of continuing to suppress his guilt, Baz forces the truth into the open. While Fiona never apologizes, Baz achieves closure: he now sees himself as a victim of manipulation, not merely a perpetrator.

  • Choosing to investigate Smith-Richards rather than retreat: Baz insists on attending meetings and reading the Magickal Record. This leads to uncovering the fraud, which ultimately protects the magical community—Simon’s world.

  • Taking physical risks for Simon: Baz goes hunting with Simon, uses his vampire abilities to navigate dangerous situations (like running up stairs to Fiona’s flat), and shields Simon from emotional harm. These actions cement his role as a protector.

Theme and Symbol Connections

  • Identity and Transformation: See the identity and transformation theme page. Baz’s identity shifts from “good Pitch” to someone who defines goodness on his own terms. His vampirism is both a curse and a source of strength—he must constantly choose what kind of vampire to be.

  • Guilt and Forgiveness: The guilt and forgiveness theme resonates strongly with Baz. He carries the weight of stealing Philippa’s voice for years, and his search for the tape recorder is a bid for atonement. Simon does not forgive him—Simon doesn’t even know until late in the book—but Baz forgives himself by the end.

  • Love and Control: Baz’s relationship with Simon is a study in love and control. He constantly pulls back to ensure Simon has agency (“I’ll tell you when”). He wants Simon, but he refuses to take more than Simon offers. This contrasts with Fiona’s controlling love.

  • Power and Manipulation: The power and manipulation theme is lived through Baz’s childhood. Fiona used a tape recorder—a tool of manipulation—to turn him against Simon. Baz breaks that cycle by rejecting manipulative tactics in his own relationships.

  • Family and Legacy: The family and legacy page explores how Baz struggles with the Pitch expectation of vengeance. His final argument with Fiona frees him to define his legacy not by revenge but by love. He also reconnects with his father Mordelia offscreen, suggesting a reworked family bond.

  • Symbol: The Tape Recorder: Represents stolen voice, manipulation, and the sins of the fathers. Baz physically searches for it throughout the book, and its absence symbolizes his inability to undo the past. Ultimately, he accepts that he cannot return the voice, only move forward.

  • Symbol: Music and the Violin: Baz plays violin in Chapter 91 while Simon practices swords—a symbol of their complementary arts. The violin is an instrument that requires precision and soul; Baz uses it to comfort Simon after Simon learns he is actually a magician. Music becomes a non-verbal language of love.

Book-Specific Questions and Answers

1. Why does Baz feel guilty about the tape recorder?

Baz stole Philippa Stainton’s voice using a magical tape recorder his aunt Fiona gave him in fifth year. The theft caused Philippa to lose her magic. Though he was a child manipulated by Fiona, Baz carries profound guilt because he believes he ruined an innocent girl’s life. He later yells at Fiona, “I stole an innocent girl’s voice! She lost her magic!” showing he views the act as a core sin.

2. How does Baz help Simon adjust to losing his magic?

Baz provides both practical and emotional support. He moves into Simon’s flat to prevent isolation, attends magical meetings with Simon so he isn’t alone, and helps him plan a strategy to investigate Smith-Richards. Emotionally, Baz offers physical intimacy that respects Simon’s boundaries and reassures him that not having magic doesn’t make him less valuable. He also plays violin to calm Simon when Simon breaks down over discovering he was always a magician.

3. What is the significance of Baz’s confrontation with Fiona in Chapter 60?

The confrontation is turning point for Baz’s character. He finally voices that Fiona used him as a child soldier, that he only wanted her approval, and that he is no longer a “good Pitch.” By rejecting her worldview and refusing to accept her guiltlessness, Baz takes ownership of his own moral compass. This scene allows him to stop seeing himself as a weapon and start seeing himself as a person capable of change.

4. Does Baz believe in fate?

Baz tells Simon he doesn’t believe in fate “exactly” but acknowledges that some things feel written. He uses the example of his mother’s ghost and the Mage’s plan. However, he draws a sharp line when Simon compares Smith-Richards to a Chosen One—Baz refuses to accept that the false messiah is fate. This shows Baz believes in agency and choice, not destiny. He prefers to act rather than wait.

5. How does Baz’s relationship with Simon differ from his relationship with Fiona?

With Simon, Baz is vulnerable, caring, and willing to surrender control—he lets Simon lead in physical closeness, he asks “Are you sure?” before packing his bags, and he holds space for Simon’s tears. With Fiona, Baz is defensive, angry, and finally rebellious. Fiona sees Baz as a tool for the Pitch cause; Simon sees Baz as a person. Baz’s ability to choose Simon over Fiona signals his break from toxic family patterns.

For a deeper look at how these threads resolve, see the ending explained and questions and answers.