Chapter 70 'I Shuddered' - Summary and Key Insights
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
In Chapter 70, “I Shuddered,” Hekate continues her journey through the underworld alongside the river goddess Styx. The chapter opens with Hekate’s visceral reaction to a translucent soul that passes directly through her. She shudders at the experience and reflects on what she perceives as a cruel way to spend eternity: souls repeatedly sending themselves into suffering without recognizing the damage they are doing.
Hekate turns to Styx and asks why souls subject themselves to this cycle. Styx, in response, extends her hand, and as they cross the bridge together, the souls around them disappear. Styx explains that those who spent their lives causing misery to others return to despair because misery is all their souls remember. In other words, their own harmful actions become the only thing they can hold onto, so they are drawn back to the very suffering they once inflicted.
Once they reach Hades on the other side of the bridge, Hekate poses a new question. She asks Styx whether nectar—the divine sustenance of the gods—affects gods and their bodies in the same way that misery affects those lost souls. Hekate then recalls a painful memory: a time when she and her mother were starving, sick, and reduced to bare bones, scarcely able to keep their immortal bodies moving. This memory suggests that even gods can experience profound physical and emotional deprivation.
Styx looks down at Hekate with an unreadable expression. She shakes her head in response to the question, but her eyes convey a different answer. The chapter ends on this ambiguous note, leaving Hekate—and the reader—to wonder about the true nature of nectar and the hidden truths Styx is unwilling to speak aloud.
Key Events
-
Hekate shudders as a translucent soul passes through her, prompting her to question the cycle of suffering.
-
Styx clears the surrounding souls as they cross the bridge together, creating a private moment for their conversation.
-
Styx explains that souls who caused misery in life return to despair because misery is all they remember.
-
Upon reaching Hades, Hekate asks Styx whether nectar affects gods and their bodies in the same way.
-
Hekate recalls a memory of herself and her mother starving, sick, and barely able to keep their immortal bodies moving.
-
Styx shakes her head but her eyes suggest a different answer, leaving the question unresolved.
Character Development
Hekate emerges as a deeply empathetic and introspective figure in this chapter. Her shudder at the soul’s passage is not just physical—it signals a profound emotional and spiritual sensitivity. She questions the purpose of suffering, showing that she is not merely a passive observer of the underworld but an active seeker of understanding. Her memory of starvation with her mother reveals a vulnerable side to her divine nature, reminding readers that even gods are not immune to hardship. This memory also fuels her curiosity about nectar, suggesting that her past experiences have shaped her skepticism about divine sustenance.
Styx is portrayed as a guide who is both protective and cryptic. She clears the souls away, creating a safe space for Hekate’s questions, but her answers are deliberately limited. Her explanation about misery as memory is direct, yet her final non-verbal response—shaking her head while her eyes say otherwise—shows that she holds deeper knowledge that she is not ready to share. This duality makes her a compelling figure: she is helpful but not fully transparent, hinting at mysteries that may unfold later in the book.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Cyclical Suffering: The chapter opens with Hekate’s observation of souls repeatedly sending themselves into suffering. This motif of cyclical torment is central to the underworld’s design, and Styx’s explanation ties it to the idea that misery becomes a self-perpetuating memory.
Misery as Memory: Styx’s key insight is that souls remember only the misery they caused, and that memory draws them back to despair. This suggests that our actions—especially harmful ones—can become the very chains that bind us, even after death.
The Cruelty of Eternity: Hekate’s initial reflection—“What a cruel way to spend eternity”—highlights the harshness of an endless cycle of suffering. The chapter questions whether eternal existence is a gift or a curse, especially when it is rooted in pain.
Nectar as Questioned Sustenance: Hekate’s question about nectar introduces a new layer to the divine world. By comparing nectar to the misery that affects souls, she implies that even the gods’ food might have hidden consequences. Her memory of starvation suggests that divine bodies are not always self-sufficient, challenging the idea of immortal invulnerability.
Unspoken Truth: Styx’s final gesture—shaking her head while her eyes say otherwise—embodies the theme of unspoken truth. It suggests that some answers are too painful or too dangerous to voice, and that truth can be communicated through silence and subtle cues.
Underworld Crossing: The bridge they cross together serves as a symbolic threshold. It is a liminal space where souls vanish and deeper conversations occur, marking a transition in Hekate’s journey from observation to inquiry.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a pivotal moment in Hekate - The Witch because it deepens the reader’s understanding of both the underworld and Hekate’s personal history. It moves beyond the surface-level imagery of ghosts and rivers to explore the philosophical and emotional underpinnings of suffering. Hekate’s question about nectar is particularly significant—it connects her past trauma to a broader inquiry about the nature of divinity. The memory of her and her mother starving humanizes her, making her more relatable and setting up potential future revelations about her origins and powers.
Styx’s ambiguous response also creates narrative tension. By leaving the nectar question unanswered, the chapter invites readers to speculate and keeps them engaged. It suggests that Hekate’s journey is not just about navigating the underworld but also about uncovering hidden truths about herself and the gods. This chapter thus serves as a bridge between Hekate’s external quest and her internal growth, making it essential to the overall arc of the book.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Styx say that souls return to despair?
Styx explains that souls who spent their lives causing misery to others return to despair because misery is all their souls remember. Their harmful actions become the sole content of their memory, so they are drawn back to the very suffering they once inflicted. This suggests that the cycle of suffering is not imposed from outside but is a consequence of the soul’s own past.
2. What does Hekate’s memory of starvation reveal about her character and the nature of gods?
Hekate’s memory of being starving, sick, and barely able to keep her immortal body moving reveals that gods are not immune to physical hardship. It shows that Hekate has experienced vulnerability and deprivation, which shapes her empathy for the suffering souls and her curiosity about nectar. This memory also challenges the assumption that divine bodies are always self-sufficient, hinting that gods may have hidden weaknesses.
3. What is the significance of Styx shaking her head but her eyes holding a different answer?
Styx’s non-verbal response suggests that she knows the truth about nectar but is unwilling or unable to speak it aloud. Her head shake contradicts the message in her eyes, creating a moment of ambiguity. This indicates that there are deeper mysteries about nectar and the gods that have not yet been revealed, and it foreshadows potential revelations in later chapters. It also underscores the theme of unspoken truth, showing that some knowledge is too dangerous or painful to articulate.