Senna in The Book of Witching: Character Analysis

Overview of Senna's Role in The Book of Witching

Senna is a modern-day character whose actions ripple through both the contemporary and historical strands of the novel. As Erin's close friend and fellow member of the Triskele, she is the person who first draws Erin into the group, setting in motion the events that lead to the fatal Beltane fire. After the fire, she disappears, leaving Erin to face suspicion alone, but she later resurfaces to give a statement that helps clear Erin of responsibility for Arlo's death. Senna also becomes the reluctant new custodian of the cursed book, hiding it in her bedroom after it follows her from the flames. Her arc illustrates how the Triskele's influence persists even after its members attempt to break free, and how the book's curse continues to pass from one person to another.

Plot Role: From Recruiter to Witness to Custodian

Senna's narrative function is threefold. First, she is the catalyst for Erin's involvement with the Triskele. In a TikTok duet, she and Erin laughingly promote the group, with Senna calling it “the best” and Erin describing it as a special group connected to nature. Senna later admits to Clem that she was the one who got Erin to join, though she insists she never forced her. This recruitment is the first step in a chain of events that culminates in the fire.

Second, Senna is a witness to the fire itself. During the ritual on Fynhallow, she stands lookout at the cave mouth while Erin and Arlo perform the spell. When the fire erupts and Arlo is engulfed, Senna runs to the shore to fetch water, but it is too late. She then flees, swimming to the nearby island of Gairsay and hiding in an unlocked caravan. Her disappearance during this period creates a mystery that drives much of the modern investigation, as police and family members suspect she may have been murdered.

Third, Senna becomes the book's new keeper. After the fire, she retrieves the book from the flames—or rather, the book returns to her. She tells Clem that she put it in the fire, watched it burn, and then ran, but it came back and followed her. It now sits in her bedroom. This act of hiding the book, rather than destroying it, ensures that the curse continues, setting up the epilogue in which Freya discovers the book years later.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Senna's motivations are complex and often contradictory. On the surface, she appears to be a loyal friend who wants to share the sense of belonging she has found in the Triskele. Her enthusiasm in the TikTok video is genuine, and she describes the group as a community that values nature and magic. This suggests she is drawn to the promise of connection and purpose that the cult offers.

However, her actions after the fire reveal a more self-protective side. She initially tells her mother that Erin forced her to go to Fynhallow, a claim that shifts blame onto Erin. This is a survival instinct, a way to distance herself from the disaster. Yet when she is found and questioned, she gives a statement that clears Erin, indicating that her loyalty ultimately outweighs her fear. She also shows resourcefulness and resilience, swimming to safety and hiding for days until she is discovered.

Senna is also deeply secretive. She keeps her involvement in the Triskele hidden from her mother, and she conceals the book's presence in her bedroom. When Clem visits her after she is found, Senna is visibly nervous and reluctant to speak, and she only reveals the truth about the book when Clem presses her. This secrecy suggests a character who is accustomed to keeping parts of her life hidden, perhaps because she is ashamed or afraid of the consequences.

Chronological Arc: From Innocent Recruit to Haunted Survivor

Senna's arc can be traced through several key moments. Two years before the main events, she is already a member of the Triskele and brings Erin into the group. This is established through the TikTok video and Senna's later admission. At this point, she is enthusiastic and believes in the group's ideals.

The next significant moment is the Beltane fire. Senna is present as lookout, and when the ritual goes wrong, she flees. Her disappearance lasts for several days, during which she hides in a caravan on Gairsay. When she is found, she is dehydrated and in shock, but physically unharmed.

After her return, Senna gives a statement to the police that exonerates Erin. She also reveals to Clem the true nature of the book and the ritual, explaining that Erin contacted an antiquarian named Paul Renney who told them the book was cursed and that a fire ritual was the only way to break the curse. Senna admits that she put the book in the fire, but it came back. This confession is a turning point, as it provides the explanation for the fire and clears Erin of deliberate wrongdoing.

Finally, Senna's arc ends with her as the book's new custodian, hiding it in her bedroom. This position is fraught with danger, as the book is known to drive its keepers to madness and violence. Her fate is left uncertain, but the epilogue suggests that the book will eventually find its way to Freya, implying that Senna's time with it is limited.

Relationships: Erin, the Triskele, and Family

Senna's relationship with Erin is central to the novel. She is the one who introduces Erin to the Triskele, and the two share a close friendship, as seen in their TikTok duet. However, the fire creates a rift. Senna's initial claim that Erin forced her to go to Fynhallow suggests a willingness to betray Erin to protect herself. Yet her later statement clears Erin, indicating that her loyalty endures. The two are never shown reconciling directly, but Senna's actions suggest she still cares for Erin.

Her relationship with the Triskele is more complicated. She remains a member even after the fire, telling Clem that she is still involved. This suggests a deep commitment to the group, despite its role in the tragedy. She may be too indoctrinated to leave, or she may believe that the group is the only place she belongs.

With her mother, Elizabeth, Senna is distant and secretive. Elizabeth describes her as shy and straitlaced, but Clem observes that Elizabeth does not know her daughter well. Senna hides her involvement in the Triskele and the book from her mother, and she is visibly uncomfortable when Clem brings up the subject. This suggests a strained relationship built on concealment.

Key Decisions and Their Consequences

Senna makes several pivotal decisions that shape the narrative. The first is recruiting Erin into the Triskele. This decision leads to Erin's pregnancy, her abandonment of her Oxford place, and ultimately the fire that kills Arlo. While Senna did not intend these outcomes, her role as recruiter is the initial cause.

The second decision is to participate in the Beltane ritual. She agrees to act as lookout, which places her at the scene when the fire erupts. Her decision to flee rather than stay and help Erin is a moment of self-preservation, but it also leaves Erin to face the aftermath alone.

The third decision is to hide the book after it follows her home. Rather than attempting to destroy it again or seek help, she keeps it in her bedroom, hoping to contain it. This decision ensures that the book remains in circulation, and it ultimately leads to Freya's discovery of it in the epilogue.

Finally, Senna's decision to give a statement that clears Erin is crucial. This statement likely provides the police with an account that contradicts the suspicion that Erin deliberately caused Arlo's death. It is an act of loyalty that helps Erin avoid prosecution, though it does not erase the trauma.

Theme and Symbol Connections

Senna's character connects to several of the novel's central themes. Her involvement with the Triskele illustrates the theme of coercive control and cult indoctrination. She is both a victim and a perpetrator, having been drawn into the group and then drawing others in. Her continued membership after the fire suggests that the group's hold on her is strong, even when its practices prove dangerous.

The book itself is a symbol of cyclical persecution and supernatural recurrence. Senna's attempt to destroy it fails, and it returns to her, just as it returned to Erin after she threw it into Loch Lomond. This cycle mirrors the historical persecution of witches, where accusations and executions repeat across generations. Senna becomes the latest link in this chain, and her hiding of the book ensures that the cycle will continue.

Senna's decision to clear Erin also touches on the theme of maternal sacrifice and protective love, though she is not a mother herself. Her act of loyalty is a form of protective love, sacrificing her own safety to shield Erin from blame. This parallels the maternal sacrifices made by Alison in the historical timeline, who endures torture to protect her children.

Finally, Senna's knowledge of the book and the ritual places her in opposition to institutional authority. The police, represented by Stephanie, interpret the fire as a planned ritual that got out of hand, but they lack the supernatural context that Senna possesses. This aligns with the theme of healing knowledge versus institutional authority, where traditional or esoteric knowledge is dismissed by official systems.

Five Book-Specific Questions and Answers

1. How did Senna first become involved with the Triskele, and what was her role in Erin's recruitment?

Senna was already a member of the Triskele before the main events. She introduced Erin to the group, and the two appeared together in a TikTok video promoting it. Senna later admitted to Clem that she was the one who got Erin to join, though she insisted she never forced her.

2. What happened to Senna immediately after the fire on Fynhallow?

Senna was on lookout at the cave mouth when the fire erupted. She ran to the shore to fetch water, but when she saw that Arlo was beyond saving, she panicked and swam to the island of Gairsay. She hid in an unlocked caravan there and remained in hiding until she was found by police.

3. Why did Senna hide the cursed book in her bedroom?

After the fire, Senna put the book into the flames, believing it would be destroyed. However, it reappeared and followed her home. She hid it in her bedroom because she could not get rid of it, and she was afraid of what it might do if left unguarded.

4. How did Senna's statement to the police clear Erin of responsibility for Arlo's death?

Senna gave a statement that described the fire as an accident resulting from a ritual that went wrong. She explained that Erin tried to save Arlo and that she herself was present as lookout. This account contradicted the suspicion that Erin deliberately caused the fire, helping to exonerate her.

5. What does Senna's poster reading “All is false” suggest about her character?

The poster, which hangs in her bedroom, hints at her disillusionment with the Triskele's promises. While she remains a member, the phrase suggests she recognizes that the group's ideals may be hollow or deceptive. It also reflects her secretive nature, as she hides her true feelings behind a facade of normalcy.

For further exploration of Senna's role and the novel's broader themes, see the book overview, the ending explained, and the questions and answers.