Gideon Sharpe in Rebel Witch: Character Analysis

Overview: The Witch Hunter Who Chose Love Over Duty

Gideon Sharpe in Rebel Witch: Character Analysis

Gideon Sharpe begins Rebel Witch as a Blood Guard officer and witch hunter carrying kill orders against Rune Winters, the Crimson Moth. By the novel's end, he has forfeited his rank, his reputation, and nearly his life to protect her. His arc traces a movement from rigid loyalty to the New Republic toward a personal moral code that places Rune above every institutional demand. The outline and text show that Gideon's transformation is not sudden but a series of painful, deliberate choices, each one stripping away another layer of his former identity.

Plot Role: From Assassin to Ally

Gideon's initial role is that of an antagonist. In the opening chapters, he infiltrates Larkmont Palace wearing a stolen guard uniform, having already killed four guards, to assassinate Rune and prevent her marriage to Prince Soren from securing Cressida an army (Outline, ch. 1). His mission fails when he hesitates in the powder room, seeing her vulnerable and drunk (Outline, ch. 3). From that point, he becomes a reluctant ally, first helping Rune escape Cressida's clutches (Outline, ch. 9), then later devising a plan to use her as a bargaining chip to trap Cressida (Evidence, ch. 28). His role shifts again when he chooses to deceive his own soldiers to aid Rune's escape, leading to his arrest and conviction for sympathizing with witches (Evidence, ch. 45). By the epilogue, he stands beside Rune as her husband and supports her new role as a parliamentarian (Outline, ch. 79).

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Gideon's motivations evolve across the narrative. Initially, he is driven by duty to the New Republic and a desire to avenge his brother Alex, who died taking a bullet meant for him (Outline, ch. 3). He believes killing Rune is the only way to stop Cressida's resurrection plot and the war it would unleash (Outline, ch. 11). His actions in the early chapters—subduing guards, cornering Rune, pressing a gun to her temple—demonstrate his ruthlessness and commitment to orders.

Yet his hesitation in the powder room reveals a crack in that resolve. He sees her crying and drinking, and instead of firing, he engages in bitter accusations (Outline, ch. 3). This moment of human connection, however hostile, plants the seed of doubt. Later, when Ava orders him to kill Rune, he obeys without hesitation, strangling her until she shoots him (Evidence, ch. 7). This shows his capacity for violence when under direct command, but also his vulnerability—he is not immune to Rune's influence, as evidenced by his later internal conflict.

As the story progresses, Gideon's motivations shift from duty to love. He admits to himself that killing Rune would break him (Evidence, ch. 11). He risks his life to help her escape, lifting her to a balcony while knowing Cressida hunts him (Outline, ch. 9). His decision to deceive his soldiers and surrender to arrest (Evidence, ch. 45) is a direct act of self-sacrifice, prioritizing Rune's safety over his own freedom. His traits—discipline, bravery, and a deep-seated sense of honor—are consistently shown through his actions, even when those actions contradict his orders.

Chronological Arc: From Hunter to Protector

Gideon's arc can be divided into three phases.

Phase 1: The Hunter (Chapters 1–3) – He enters as a cold assassin, but his mission fails when he cannot kill a weeping Rune. His capture by Cressida and subsequent torture (Outline, ch. 4) marks a turning point, as he learns of Cressida's resurrection plan and the curse she placed on him.

Phase 2: The Reluctant Ally (Chapters 9–28) – After Rune helps him escape, Gideon returns to the New Republic, where his compromised status is questioned (Outline, ch. 11). He resolves to finish the mission, but his plan shifts from killing Rune to using her as bait to destroy Cressida (Evidence, ch. 28). This phase shows his internal struggle between duty and his growing feelings.

Phase 3: The Sacrifice (Chapters 45–79) – Gideon's deception is uncovered, and he is arrested and sentenced to execution (Evidence, ch. 45). He accepts his fate, thinking, “Rune is worth everything” (Evidence, ch. 51). He is rescued by Laila, and together they fight against Cressida's ghost army. After Cressida's death, Gideon helps drag the witch queens' bodies from the pool and witnesses their burning (Outline, ch. 77). In the epilogue, he is married to Rune and supports her political career, having fully transitioned from hunter to protector.

Relationships: The People Who Shaped Him

Rune Winters – The central relationship. Gideon's love for Rune is complicated by his duty and her identity as a witch. The curse Cressida places on him—pain upon skin-to-skin contact—serves as a physical manifestation of his internal conflict (Evidence, ch. 24). His eventual choice to defy the Republic for her is the culmination of his arc.

Cressida Roseblood – His antagonist and tormentor. She brands him, curses him, and tortures him to force compliance (Outline, ch. 4). Her cruelty hardens his resolve to stop her, even at the cost of his own life.

Laila Creed – A fellow officer and friend. She arrests him when he deceives his soldiers, but later rescues him from execution (Evidence, ch. 45, 51). Their bond is one of mutual respect and loyalty, transcending political lines.

Harrow – A spymaster who distrusts Gideon. Their interactions reveal Gideon's past and his capacity for empathy, as when he comforts Harrow about her own scars (Evidence, ch. 42).

Alex Sharpe – His deceased brother. Alex's death haunts Gideon, and he blames Rune for it (Outline, ch. 3). Rune later delivers Alex's message of love, providing closure (Outline, ch. 77).

Key Decisions and Consequences

Decision 1: Hesitating in the Powder Room

Gideon chooses not to kill Rune when he finds her vulnerable. This decision leads to his capture by Cressida, his torture, and the activation of the curse. It also sets the stage for his eventual defection.

Decision 2: Helping Rune Escape

After Rune frees him from Ava, Gideon helps her return to Soren's balcony, risking his own escape (Outline, ch. 9). This act solidifies his shift from hunter to ally.

Decision 3: Deceiving His Soldiers

Gideon intentionally misleads Laila and his men to allow Rune to escape, knowing the consequences. He is arrested and convicted of sympathizing with witches (Evidence, ch. 45). This decision costs him his reputation and nearly his life.

Decision 4: Choosing Rune Over the Republic

In his cell, Gideon affirms that Rune is worth everything (Evidence, ch. 51). This internal decision, though not an action, defines his character and leads to his rescue and eventual happy ending.

Themes and Symbol Connections

Gideon's arc embodies several central themes of Rebel Witch. His sacrifice aligns with the theme of self-sacrifice as the highest form of love, as he gives up his standing, his freedom, and his life for Rune. His journey from hunter to protector explores love versus duty in a time of revolution, showing how personal bonds can override ideological commitments. The curse that causes pain upon touch symbolizes the barrier between them—both physical and emotional—and its eventual overcoming represents the trust between former enemies. Gideon's refusal to accept either the Republic's witch-hunting or Cressida's tyranny reflects the search for a third path beyond tyranny and persecution. His hidden lineage, though not central to his arc, connects to the theme of hidden lineage and the redefinition of self, as he redefines himself outside his role as a Blood Guard officer.

Questions and Answers

1. Why does Gideon hesitate to kill Rune in the powder room?

He sees her crying and drinking, which humanizes her and triggers his internal conflict. He also blames her for his brother's death, but the emotional exchange makes him pause, allowing Rune to disarm him (Outline, ch. 3).

2. What is the curse Cressida places on Gideon, and how does it affect him?

The curse causes him physical pain whenever he touches Rune skin-to-skin. It is activated when he kisses her, and he realizes its purpose in chapter 24 (Evidence, ch. 24). The curse serves as a barrier to their relationship and a reminder of Cressida's control.

3. How does Gideon's plan to use Rune as a bargaining chip change over time?

Initially, he plans to deliver Rune to the Blood Guard to trap Cressida and the Roseblood heir (Evidence, ch. 28). However, as his feelings deepen, he cannot go through with it. His deception is uncovered, and he chooses to help Rune escape instead, leading to his arrest.

4. What role does Laila Creed play in Gideon's arc?

Laila is a loyal friend who arrests him when he deceives his soldiers, but she also rescues him from execution (Evidence, ch. 45, 51). She represents the possibility of redemption and the idea that loyalty can transcend political lines.

5. How does Gideon's relationship with his brother Alex influence his actions?

Alex's death drives Gideon's initial hatred of Rune, as he blames her for it. However, Rune later delivers Alex's message of love, which helps Gideon reconcile with his past and fully embrace his love for her (Outline, ch. 77).

For a deeper look at the novel's ending and other character arcs, see the ending explained and questions and answers pages.