Themes Any Way the Wind Blows Rainbow Rowell

Power and Manipulation in Any Way the Wind Blows

The Thematic Claim: Power as a Weapon of Manipulation

In Any Way the Wind Blows, Rainbow Rowell dismantles the notion that power is an innate, moral quality. Instead, both the late Mage (David Cadwallader) and the charismatic Smith‑Richards wield prophecy and magic as deliberate instruments of control. The novel argues that genuine power lies not in magical might or prophetic destiny, but in self‑knowledge, choice, and the courage to reject false narratives. The manipulators succeed only as long as their followers believe in the story being sold—and the cost of that belief is personal freedom.

Tracing Manipulation Across the Plot

1. The Mage’s Legacy: Simon’s False Chosen‑One Narrative

Simon Snow spent his adolescence believing he was the Chosen One, a prophesied savior. In Chapter 2, Dr. Wellbelove reveals that the Mage’s estate has been left to Simon, and that the Mage “stole” his power. Simon fiercely denies being manipulated: “He didn’t have to manipulate me. I wanted to help.” Yet Dr. Wellbelove counters that Simon was a child, used for the Mage’s ambitions. The thematic claim is cemented here—Simon’s entire identity was constructed by the Mage to serve a political agenda. The Mage’s manipulation extends beyond Simon; it corrupted the whole World of Mages, as seen when Lady Ruth (Chapter 1) reflects on her daughter Lucy fleeing the ruthless Mage years ago.

This manipulation is not overt coercion but narrative control. The Mage wrote the story of the Chosen One and cast Simon as the star. Simon’s refusal of the inheritance (“I’m not a magician”) shows his attempt to break free, but the damage lingers. He still struggles with the question of who he is without the prophecy.

2. Smith‑Richards: The New False Prophet

Smith‑Richards steps into the vacuum left by the Mage, using a spell that temporarily boosts magic—and then lets it fade. In Chapter 56, Baz observes a meeting where Smith promises to “help more people, more quickly.” Daphne is “enthralled,” Simon leans forward “taking in every word.” Smith‑Richards manipulates through hope and desperation. He targets low‑magicians, people who have been marginalized, and offers them power. But as Baz later realizes (Chapter 56), Smith‑Richards’ spell is a con: it draws up their magic and then runs out, sometimes in a month, sometimes in a week.

In Chapter 75, Smith‑Richards admits to Simon that the spell wears off, but he rationalizes it: “they hardly had any magic to lose!” He claims he is the “Chosen One” and that his power “begets magic.” Yet his manipulation is revealed when Pippa (Agatha’s old roommate) testifies in Chapter 70 that Smith wiped Beth’s memory and silenced her own voice for exposing the truth. Smith‑Richards uses secrecy and intimidation—tying up critics, casting memory spells—to maintain his control.

The parallel to the Mage is deliberate: both men exploit the desire for meaning and power. Smith‑Richards even stages “healings” like the one witnessed in Chapter 33, where Alan casts “Death by chocolate” and is hailed as a miracle. Baz notes that “no one can cast that spell more than once a day”—an early clue that the power is borrowed and unsustainable.

3. Simon’s Reclamation of Self (and Baz’s Complicity)

Simon’s arc from Chapter 2 to the Epilogue is a journey of reclaiming genuine power. In Chapter 91, he learns from Baz that he is still a magician—his magic was not destroyed, only transformed. This revelation shatters his self‑image as a powerless Normal. He breaks down in Baz’s arms, asking, “Was I always a magician?” Baz confirms yes, and Simon weeps. This moment is the thematic climax: real power is knowing and accepting your true nature, not the label imposed by others.

Baz’s own manipulation is parallel. In Chapter 56, he realizes he stole Pippa’s voice years ago while trying to steal Simon’s. That act of magical theft was also manipulation—Baz wanted to silence a rival. His guilt and shame drive him to help Pippa speak the truth about Smith‑Richards. By the end, Baz uses his power to support rather than control, playing violin while Simon trains with a sword (Chapter 91).

The epilogue (Chapter 92) shows Agatha abandoning magic entirely, living with the goats at Watford. She “traded her wand for a walking stick”—a symbol of rejecting manipulation. Her simple life is a quiet assertion of choice.

Character and Symbol Connections

Characters as Vectors of Manipulation

  • Simon Snow: The manipulated victim who must learn that his power was never owned by the Mage. His dragon wings (see Dragon Wings) represent the visible burden of the Chosen‑One role—something he cannot hide but can eventually accept.
  • Baz Pitch: The skeptical observer who uncovers Smith‑Richards’ lies. His own past manipulation of Pippa mirrors the larger theme—even good people can wield power badly.
  • Penelope Bunce: The investigator who brings Shepard into the magical world and tries to uncover the truth. She represents active resistance to manipulation through knowledge.
  • Shepard: A Normal who, because he is immune to the manipulation spells, offers an outside perspective. His presence reminds readers that magical power often corrupts.
  • Agatha Wellbelove: Chooses to exit the power game entirely, finding freedom in goats and solitude. Her arc shows that refusing to participate is a form of strength.

Symbols of False and Real Power

  • Excalibur Sword (Excalibur Sword): Symbolizes the false heroism the Mage and Smith‑Richards aspire to. Simon practices with a sword but never becomes the warrior-prophet they wanted.
  • Candle Spell (Candle Spell): Lady Ruth lights a candle for her lost son Jamie—a quiet, non‑aggressive use of magic for hope, not control.
  • Goats of Watford (Goats of Watford): Agatha’s goats represent the rejection of manipulation; she cares for creatures that do not care about prophecy or power.

Complexity and Contradiction

The novel refuses a simple binary between good and evil manipulators. Simon himself is complicit: he wanted to believe in the Chosen‑One narrative because it gave him purpose. Smith‑Richards genuinely believes he is the one the prophecies speak of—he sees his actions as destiny, not manipulation (Chapter 58: “This is my Simon Snow chapter”). Even Baz’s theft of Pippa’s voice was a desperate act of jealousy, not malice.

The greatest contradiction lies in the nature of Smith‑Richards’ spell. It does grant real power temporarily. Followers like Alan and Jamie experience genuine joy and ability. The manipulation is not a total lie—it’s a partial truth that decays. This makes it harder to dismiss: those who receive the boost feel validated. The damage comes when the magic fades and they are left weaker than before, having depleted their own reserves. Smith‑Richards rationalizes this as “clearing out” weak magicians to create a new era of glory (Chapter 75). His ends justify any means in his own mind.

Rowell thus shows that manipulation often operates through partial truths and genuine benefits—making it insidious. The solution is not to reject all power, but to hold it with transparency and humility.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. How does the Mage’s manipulation of Simon differ from Smith‑Richards’ manipulation of his followers?
    The Mage used prophecy to create a Chosen One narrative that served his political agenda, isolating Simon and stealing his magic over time. Smith‑Richards uses a temporary power-boosting spell to attract followers, then lets the power fade, erasing their earlier potential. Both are based on false promises, but the Mage’s manipulation is long‑term identity construction, while Smith‑Richards’ is short‑term performance with memory removal.

  2. Why does Simon refuse the Mage’s inheritance even though Dr. Wellbelove tells him he deserves it?
    Simon refuses because he wants to reject the identity the Mage forced on him. He insists, “I wasn’t manipulated,” but the narrative shows he was deeply shaped by the Mage. Taking the money would mean accepting that identity. His refusal is an attempt to reclaim agency, even if he is still confused about his true nature.

  3. What role does Pippa (Philippa) play in exposing Smith‑Richards?
    Pippa is a former devotee who saw Smith cast a memory‑wipe spell on Beth when Beth’s magic failed. She tried to intervene but was silenced—literally—by Smith, who stole her voice for years. Her testimony (Chapter 70) is the key evidence that Smith’s boost spell is temporary and that he uses coercion to protect his image. She represents the manipulated insider who finally sees the truth.

  4. How does the symbol of dragon wings connect to the theme of power?
    Simon’s dragon wings are a physical manifestation of his “Chosen One” magic, visible and uncontrollable. They cause him shame and burden. By the end, he learns that they are part of himself, not a mark of destiny. The wings symbolize that real power is integrated, not imposed—Simon’s growth is accepting his wings as his own, rather than as a label the Mage gave him.

  5. In what way does Agatha’s epilogue challenge the idea of power?
    Agatha abandons magical society entirely, trading her wand for a walking stick and living with goats. She chooses simplicity and care over competition for power. Her final thought—“she will probably remain in this simple life for a while”—suggests that contentment, not conquest, is a valid form of strength. The novel endorses this as a peaceful alternative to the cycles of manipulation.