Willodeen

Willodeen’s sudden desire to protect Quinby kickstarts her emotional growth. Up until this point, Willodeen hasn’t needed to care about anyone but herself. Here, she feels responsible for a tiny creature that’s in danger from almost anyone in the village except her, and that protectiveness forces her to feel the emotions she’s tried to bottle up thus far. She works seamlessly with Connor to recapture Quinby once she escapes, showing how caring about someone else’s welfare more than our own makes our other fears feel less important. Willodeen still isn’t sure how she feels about Connor or having him as a friend, but she recognizes that he’s helping her and the screecher, and she appreciates that enough to not push him away.

Through Quinby coming to life, Applegate explores the idea that we find what we need when we’re at our most vulnerable. Following the meeting, Willodeen felt dismissed, angry, and like her life would never get better. Quinby comes to life as a result of those feelings, which are symbolized in Willodeen’s magical angry tears. The screecher represents the changes we can make in ourselves to be the change we want to see in our world; in short, Change is Inevitable and integral to personal growth. Likewise, Quinby presents a chance for Willodeen to bring those around her closer to create the family and love she craves. Quinby is a Mary Poppins-type character—she arrives when she is needed and disappears again once Willodeen finds everything she needs and wants.