Simon Snow Character Analysis: Identity, Guilt, and Transformation

Overview

Simon Snow enters Any Way the Wind Blows as a former Chosen One stripped of his magic and burdened by a new physical form. Once the prophesied hero who defeated the Humdrum and killed the Mage, he now lives without magic, with dragon wings and a tail that mark him as a creature of two worlds. Throughout the novel, Simon wrestles with guilt over the Mage’s death, a fractured sense of self, and the daunting task of building a future without the power that once defined him. His journey moves from refusal to acceptance, from isolation to tentative connection—especially with Baz Pitch—and toward a fragile hope.

Plot Role

Simon is a central protagonist whose personal crisis intersects with the novel’s larger plot. His rejection of the Mage’s inheritance (Chapter 2) sets up his need for financial independence, which he later accepts (Chapter 8) to fund a new life. His disappearance (Chapter 11) triggers Baz’s search, and his reconciliation with Baz (Chapter 16) re-establishes their romantic relationship as a pillar of the story. Simon’s decision to postpone his wing-removal surgery (Chapter 17) and his visit to the Smith-Richards meeting (Chapter 33) propel the investigation into the false Chosen One. In the climax (Chapter 75), Simon confronts Smith, exposing his spell as temporary and demanding accountability. Simon thus serves as both a personal and a narrative catalyst—his physical and emotional wounds mirror the broader fragility of the magical world.

Motivations and Traits

Simon’s primary motivation is to escape his past without repeating its patterns of destruction. He admits he “literally destroy[s] literally everything” he touches (Chapter 16), a belief that drives him to break up with Baz to protect him. Yet he also craves belonging. He tells Baz he is “holding on by a thread” (Chapter 46) and lives “second by second” when the future feels too bright (Chapter 38). His actions reveal a deep-seated need to prove he can be good—to himself and to others. He is impulsive (punching a goblin, flying to find goats), fiercely loyal (agreeing to rescue Daphne), and prone to self-sabotage. He also shows vulnerability: he cries during intimacy with Baz (Chapter 19), admits he never labeled his sexuality (Chapter 19), and acknowledges his fear of being left (Chapter 16). His traits emerge through choices—leaving a note instead of facing Baz, later showing up at Fiona’s flat to reconcile, and eventually prioritizing Baz’s love over his own shame.

Chronological Arc

Simon’s arc unfolds in three phases.

Phase 1: Refusal and Retreat. At the novel’s start, Simon is living at the Wellbelove home, uncomfortable and detached. He refuses the Mage’s money, insisting he killed him (Chapter 2). He accepts the inheritance only after realizing he needs it to move forward (Chapter 8). He schedules wing-removal surgery and leaves Baz a note saying “I’m sorry” (Chapter 11). This phase shows him trying to erase his magical identity and sever ties.

Phase 2: Reconciliation and Risk. Baz finds Simon in his new flat (Chapter 13). Simon rejects him, claiming he is “broken” and hates being with Baz. Yet when Baz says “I love you” and leaves, Simon reaches out. In Chapter 16, he shows up at Baz’s aunt’s flat and admits he never truly tried because he believed he would lose everything anyway. He promises to fight before giving up. They reconcile. Simon postpones his surgery (Chapter 17) and invites Baz to move in (Chapter 39). This phase is marked by internal struggle: Simon cries, bites Baz out of desperation, and admits his terror of a bright future (Chapter 38). But he chooses to stay.

Phase 3: Investigation and Confrontation. Simon joins Baz in investigating Smith-Richards. He plays the role of a desperate former Chosen One at the meeting (Chapter 33), and later confronts Smith on the roof (Chapter 75). He calls Smith’s spell a lie and insists the truth matters. Afterward, Simon returns to his life with Baz, having embraced his wings and his relationship. His arc ends not with a restored hero but with a person learning to live moment by moment, letting Baz in.

Relationships

Baz Pitch. Simon’s relationship with Baz is the emotional core. Early in the book, Simon pushes Baz away because he believes he cannot be a good partner. Baz’s persistence and vulnerability (his speech in Chapter 16, his willingness to sleep on the floor in Chapter 46) eventually win Simon’s trust. They share intimate scenes in the Catacombs (Chapter 49) and at Simon’s flat. Simon learns to accept comfort and to ask for help—he asks Baz to stay, he admits he doesn’t know how to be loved. Baz’s line “I’ll never get tired of you” (Chapter 16) becomes a lifeline.

Penelope Bunce. Penelope is Simon’s lifelong best friend, but their relationship strains in this book. Simon becomes withdrawn; Penelope admits she has been too controlling (Chapter 11). Simon moves out, and they communicate through texts. Though distant, the bond remains—Penelope’s wall of facts (Chapter 10) shows her investment. By the end, they cooperate in the Smith investigation.

Agatha Wellbelove. Simon broke up with Agatha before the story. In Chapter 14, Agatha helps calm Simon during his surgery preparation. Simon apologizes to her, making her cry. Their relationship is now one of polite but painful history.

The Mage. Though dead, the Mage haunts Simon. Simon rejects the inheritance because he feels responsible for the Mage’s death. Dr. Wellbelove argues it was self-defense, but Simon insists he was not manipulated and gave away his magic willingly (Chapter 2). This guilt fuels much of his self-loathing.

Key Decisions and Consequences

1. Refusing the inheritance then accepting it. Simon first rejects the Mage’s money (Chapter 2), insisting he doesn’t deserve it. He later accepts it (Chapter 8), acknowledging he needs it to “move forward.” This decision funds his new flat, his surgery, and his independence.

2. Leaving Baz with a note. In Chapter 11, Simon disappears without explanation. This devastates Baz and forces a confrontation. The consequence is Baz’s search and their eventual painful conversation in Chapter 13, which leads to Simon finally confessing his fears.

3. Postponing his wing-removal surgery. Simon leaves the surgery to talk to Baz (Chapter 17). This decision preserves his wings—and by extension, his connection to his magical past. Later, he keeps his wings, accepting them as part of himself.

4. Confronting Smith. On the roof (Chapter 75), Simon insists Smith’s spell is a lie. This action exposes the fraud to the Coven and stops the scam. It shows Simon’s growth: he no longer sees himself as a failed hero but as someone who can still act for the good of others.

5. Choosing to try with Baz. Simon’s decision in Chapter 16 to promise Baz that he will fight before giving up redefines their relationship. The consequence is a tentative but real partnership, built on honesty and effort.

Themes and Symbols

Identity and Transformation. Simon’s lost magic and new wings physicalize his changed identity. He says he is “between Simons” (Chapter 12). His decision to keep his wings—rather than have them surgically removed—signals acceptance of his transformation. The wings become a symbol of his hybrid nature: neither fully mage nor normal, but something new.

Guilt and Forgiveness. Simon is paralysed by guilt over the Mage’s death. He repeats that he “killed the Mage” and refuses to accept the inheritance as absolution. His path toward self-forgiveness is slow; Baz’s insistence that Simon didn’t manipulate the Mage helps, but forgiveness remains incomplete.

Love and Control. Simon fears losing control in relationships. He bites Baz, he clings, he cries. Baz offers gentle boundaries: “I want you to slay a dragon before you give up on me” (Chapter 16). Simon learns that love can be safe even when it feels overwhelming.

Power and Manipulation. Smith’s false healing demonstrates how power can be exploited. Simon, having been manipulated by the Mage, recognizes manipulation in others (Chapter 75). His stance against Smith reaffirms his moral compass.

Family and Legacy. Simon has no known family; the Mage was his surrogate father. By rejecting the Mage’s legacy while accepting his money, Simon negotiates a line between honoring the past and building his own future.

Questions and Answers

1. Why does Simon initially refuse the Mage’s inheritance?
Simon refuses because he insists he “killed the Mage” and does not deserve anything from him. He views the inheritance as tainted by guilt and manipulation. Dr. Wellbelove argues it was self-defense, but Simon counters that he wasn’t manipulated and gave away his magic willingly (Chapter 2).

2. What prevents Simon from committing to Baz at the start?
Simon believes he is broken and will destroy everything he touches. He tells Baz he hates being with him because of his own brokenness, not because of magic. He fears that Baz will eventually get tired of him, and he cannot trust that his love will last (Chapter 13, Chapter 16).

3. How does Simon’s relationship with his wings change over the novel?
Initially, Simon plans to have his wings surgically removed (Chapter 8). He straps them down and feels disconnected from his body (Chapter 12). After reconciling with Baz, he postpones the surgery (Chapter 17). By Chapter 49, he flies to scout for goats and later embraces his wings as part of himself.

4. What is Simon’s role in exposing Smith’s fraud?
Simon attends Smith’s meeting as a follower and later confronts Smith on the roof. He states that Smith’s spell wears off and that people who lost their magic matter. Simon refuses to let Smith spin the narrative, insisting the truth is important (Chapter 75).

5. How does Simon’s understanding of “trying” evolve?
At the start, Simon leaves Baz because he thinks trying is pointless. Baz makes him promise to “try everything before you give up.” By the end, Simon lives “second by second” to keep Baz in his life. He realizes that trying means showing up even when he is terrified (Chapter 16, Chapter 38).