Characters The Cursed (Coven of Bones Book 2) Harper L. Woods

Margot: The Cursed Character Analysis

Overview

Margot is a Green witch and one of Willow’s closest friends in the Coven of Bones series. She first appears as a quiet, gentle presence among the circle of Della, Nova, and Juliet, but her past trauma—being raped at fourteen by the Tribunal member Itar Bray—shapes her arc into one of quiet resilience and eventual sacrifice. In The Cursed, Margot is forced to confront her abuser in a public confession, and later becomes trapped in Hell after the seal closes, separated from everyone she loves. Her journey explores themes of survival, consent, and the cost of free will when magic entangles with the demonic.

Plot Role

Margot’s plot role is twofold: she is a catalyst for justice and a symbol of the innocent caught in the war between the Coven and Hell. In Chapter 11, she confesses to Willow that Itan abused her when she was fourteen. This confession fuels Willow’s rage and sets up the public confrontation in Chapter 18. During the Tribunal scene, Willow forces Itan to admit the rape, and Margot herself steps forward to demand he speak the word “rape.” Her courage in that moment directly leads to Itan’s death and the collapse of the corrupt Tribunal.

Later, in Chapter 44, Margot is used as a hostage by Michael to force Willow to open the Hell seal. When she falls into the pit, Beelzebub dives after her, and the seal closes, trapping them both. Her fate becomes a source of grief for Willow and a cliffhanger for the series. In the Epilogue, Margot is shown adapting to Hell, stitching Beelzebub’s wing and wrestling with the fear that her song magic has unknowingly stripped him of free will.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Margot is motivated by self-preservation, loyalty, and a deep desire for control over her own body and choices. After years of silence about Itan’s abuse, she finally trusts Willow enough to speak the truth. Her willingness to stand beside Willow during the confession shows a shift from victim to survivor—she uses her voice to demand accountability, not just for herself but for the Coven.

Her trait of gentleness is demonstrated in how she interacts with Beelzebub: she initially keeps distance, aware of his intentions, but later agrees to tend his wound in Hell. However, she also displays a fierce independence, refusing to let his title intimidate her. When Beelzebub calls her “Songbird,” she bristles—not because she dislikes the nickname, but because it reminds her that her magic may have enchanted him without her consent. She decides to avoid singing and touching him so the spell will break, revealing her deep respect for his free will. This decision highlights her empathy and her trauma: she refuses to become what happened to her—someone who takes another’s agency.

Chronological Arc

  1. Introduction and Confession (Chapters 11-12): Margot is among Willow’s friends who visit after Willow reveals her Hecate nature. She discloses her rape by Itan, and Willow vows revenge.

  2. Public Confrontation (Chapter 18): During the Tribunal, Willow forces Itan to confess. Margot steps up, demands he say “rape,” and watches as Willow executes him. She is visibly relieved but also shattered.

  3. Hostage and Fall (Chapter 44): Michael uses Margot as leverage. She is thrown into the Hell seal; Beelzebub catches her. The seal closes, trapping her.

  4. Hell Adaptation (Epilogue): Margot is in the First Circle (Limbo) with Beelzebub. She stitches his wing, cares for Jonathan the cat, and struggles with her fear that her song magic has removed Beelzebub’s free will. She decides to distance herself emotionally and physically to break any enchantment.

Relationships

  • Willow: Margot is a trusted friend. Willow’s rage on her behalf shows deep loyalty. After Margot’s fall, Willow is devastated, clawing at the seal.
  • Itan (Itar Bray): Her abuser. Margot’s arc centers on reclaiming power over him; she forces him to verbalize his crime before his death.
  • Beelzebub: A complicated relationship. He respects her boundaries, but in Hell she becomes his caretaker. Margot fears that her magic has unintentionally enslaved him, mirroring her own violation.
  • Nova, Della, Juliet: Part of her friend group. They support her after her confession. Notably, Juliet and Della have their own romantic tensions, but Margot remains a stabilizing presence.

Key Decisions and Consequences

  1. Confiding in Willow (Chapter 11): By naming Itan, Margot empowers Willow to seek justice. Consequence: Itan is killed, but the corruption in the Coven is exposed, leading to a power shift.
  2. Demanding the Word “Rape” (Chapter 18): This public act forces the Coven to acknowledge the abuse. It validates Margot’s trauma and helps her begin healing, though she remains vulnerable.
  3. Not Singing or Touching Beelzebub (Epilogue): She chooses to break any possible enchantment, prioritizing Beelzebub’s free will over her own comfort. This decision leaves her isolated in Hell but aligns with her moral code.

Theme and Symbol Connections

Margot’s story connects to several themes explored on the site:

  • Sacrifice and Duty: She sacrifices her safety and her connection to the human world by remaining in Hell.
  • Free Will vs. Fate: Her arc directly examines agency—her own was taken by Itan, and she fears she has taken Beelzebub’s through song magic.
  • Power and Control: She reclaims control by witnessing Itan’s confession and by setting rules for her relationship with Beelzebub.
  • Betrayal and Deception: The Tribunal’s betrayal of the Coven is embodied in Itan’s abuse, and Margot’s story exposes that rot.

Symbolically, Margot’s humming—her song—represents both her magic and her vulnerability. She uses it unconsciously, and it has the power to enchant even a demon. Her decision to stop singing is a refusal to repeat the cycle of non-consensual influence.

Book-Specific Questions and Answers

1. How old was Margot when Itan raped her?
She was fourteen years old. She discloses this in Chapter 11 when Willow asks directly.

2. Why does Margot demand Itan say the word “rape” during the Tribunal?
She needs explicit public acknowledgment to validate her trauma. Holding him accountable verbally is a crucial step in her healing and in exposing the truth to the Coven.

3. What happens to Margot after the Hell seal closes?
She falls into the First Circle of Hell (Limbo) with Beelzebub. She survives and begins living in his palace, tending to his wing and Jonathan the cat. The epilogue shows her conflicted about her song magic.

4. Why does Margot refuse to sing or touch Beelzebub in Hell?
She believes her humming when they first met enchanted him, removing his free will. To break any spell, she avoids using her song or physical contact, hoping he will eventually be free to choose on his own.

5. How does Margot’s past abuse affect her relationship with Beelzebub?
She is initially wary of his attention, but his respect for her boundaries contrasts sharply with Itan’s violence. However, her fear of enchantment makes her hesitate to become intimate, as she cannot bear to unintentionally take away his choice the way Itan took hers.

For a full discussion of the novel’s ending and implications for Margot’s future, see the Ending Explained page. For more character connections, return to the main book page.