Matidla the witch was a mysterious and powerful enchantress who dwelled deep in the forest. Legend had it that she possessed the ability to control nature itself and had an uncanny connection with animals. Her appearance was described as both beautiful and haunting, with long flowing hair the color of midnight and eyes that glowed like embers in the darkness. Throughout history, there were countless tales of Matidla's magical prowess. She was said to have the ability to heal the sick and wounded, using her vast knowledge of herbal remedies. Many sought her out for her medicinal wisdom, but she was notoriously selective in who she chose to help.
Many sought her out for her medicinal wisdom, but she was notoriously selective in who she chose to help. It was believed that she had an uncanny ability to discern one's true intentions, and only those deemed worthy were granted her aid. But Matidla's powers were not only used for good.
Meet Matilda
As I head into to the final rounds of edits of The Witches of New York, I’ve been thinking of the bits and pieces that will, for lack of a better word, “bookend” the novel. I’ve had the dedication chosen for a little while as well as a list of people I want to thank in the acknowledgements, but I’ve just now settled on two quotes for the epigraph, and started writing my Author’s Note. Not surprisingly, there’s one woman’s name that will appear in both—Matilda Josyln Gage.
Who?
Born in Cicero, New York in 1826, Matilda grew up in a home that was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Her father, Hezekiah Josyln was an early abolitionist, and Matilda would later say that she was “born with a hatred of oppression.” She would go on to become an abolitionist herself as well as a suffragist and a Native American rights activist.
A colleague of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, she was considered more radical than most of her sister suffragists in the US. She was president of the National Woman’s Suffrage Association and would later found the WNLU (Women’s National Liberal Union.) After years of writing suffragist commentary for various newspapers across America, she became editor and owner of The National Citizen and Ballot Box, a paper that included columns on women’s suffrage, women’ history and female scientists and inventors. Every issue bore the motto, “The Pen is Mightier than the Sword.”
As well as running a paper and raising her family, Matilda was a prolific writer of tracts, essays and books. Her largest work, Women, Church and State, tackled such issues as Native American rights, matriarchy in indigenous cultures, and the history of witchcraft (as related to the oppression of women’s rights.) She was initiated into the Iroquois Wolf Clan and given the name, Karonienhawi, “she who holds the sky.” She was also admitted to the Iroquois council of matrons.
Fun fact:
In 1993, scientific historian Margaret W. Rossiter coined the term “Matilda Effect” to identify the social situation where women scientists inaccurately receive less credit for their scientific work than an objective examination of their actual efforts would reveal. —from Wikipedia
Glinda searches the great Book of Records
Matilda of Oz
I wish I could say that I learned about Matilda Gage as a child in school, but sadly she was never mentioned. I first stumbled across this great woman while researching the ties between spiritualism and the women’s suffrage movement in the U.S. The chapter in her book, Woman, Church and State that’s devoted to the history of witchcraft is an amazing, enlightening call to arms that among her other writings and achievements led Gloria Steinem to call Matilda “the woman who was ahead of the women who were ahead of their time.”
In her own time, she was a mother as well as an activist, and as such, raised her daughter Maud to be an independent-minded young woman. When Maud wished to marry L. Frank Baum, (who was then a travelling actor) Matilda was less than enthusiastic. At the time, Maud was one of a few young women attending Cornell University and had her sights set on becoming a lawyer or a doctor. When Maud insisted she’d marry Baum with or without her mother’s approval, Matilda finally relented and accepted Baum into the family. Over time they got to know one another quite well and her activist leanings (especially when it came to the women’s suffrage movement) became a great influence in L. Frank Baum’s life and work. When he began infusing tales he told to his young sons with strong female characters, Matilda encouraged him to publish the stories. A few years later, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Baum’s many subsequent Oz books were born.
As a child I loved the film version of The Wizard of Oz, but I loved the book and the many other books in the Oz series, more. The Dorothy Gale of the page was more plucky and tomboyish than the Dorothy of the silver screen. Glinda the Good Witch of the South was less glittery and far more wise and regal…she wasn’t there to save Dorothy but to help her see her own true inner strength. (She always reminded me a lot of my mom.) Best of all there was Ozma, a kick-ass girl who would become the rightful ruler of Oz.
In Oz there were wicked witches, but there were good witches too, and Ozma and Dorothy lived in a world where young girls were encouraged to act confidently, embrace their intelligence and engage with the magic that surrounded them. After reading many of Matilda Joslyn Gage’s works I can see her influence on the world of Oz at every turn. Far more inclined to shun conformity and celebrate the true meaning of the word witch, she was a force we’d do well not to forget.
A rebel! How glorious the name sounds when applied to a woman. Oh, rebellious woman, to you the world looks in hope. Upon you has fallen the glorious task of bringing liberty to the earth and all the inhabitants thereof. —Matilda Joslyn Gage
Further reading
A colleague of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, she was considered more radical than most of her sister suffragists in the US. She was president of the National Woman’s Suffrage Association and would later found the WNLU (Women’s National Liberal Union.) After years of writing suffragist commentary for various newspapers across America, she became editor and owner of The National Citizen and Ballot Box, a paper that included columns on women’s suffrage, women’ history and female scientists and inventors. Every issue bore the motto, “The Pen is Mightier than the Sword.”
There were rumors that she could cast spells and curses upon those who crossed her, wreaking havoc on their lives. This earned her a reputation as a fearsome sorceress, and many feared the consequences of angering her. Some even believed that she could shape-shift into creatures of the night, further fueling the rumors of her malevolence. Despite her mystical nature, Matidla was said to have a kind and gentle heart beneath her mystical exterior. She was known to protect the forest and its inhabitants from harm, using her magic to ward off intruders and keep the balance of nature intact. Animals were said to be drawn to her presence, and she would often appear with a menagerie of creatures by her side. Legends of Matidla the witch have been passed down through generations, and her story continues to captivate the imaginations of those who hear it. Whether she was a force of good or a figure of fear, one thing is clear - Matidla was a witch of incredible power and mystique, forever etched into the folklore of the land..
Reviews for "The Strength and Resilience of Matilda the Witch"
1. Emily - 2/5 - I have to be honest, I was really disappointed with "Matilda the Witch". I had heard so many great reviews and was expecting a magical and enchanting story. However, I found the book to be quite boring and lacking in depth. The characters felt underdeveloped and the plot was predictable. Overall, it just didn't live up to the hype for me.
2. Michael - 3/5 - "Matilda the Witch" was an okay read for me. I thought the concept of a young witch discovering her powers was interesting, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was slow, and I found myself losing interest at times. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. I wanted to love this book, but unfortunately, it didn't captivate me like I had hoped.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - I couldn't get into "Matilda the Witch". The writing style felt awkward and clunky, and the storytelling lacked cohesion. The author jumped around too much, making it difficult to follow the plot. The characters were forgettable and lacked depth. Ultimately, I found the book to be a dull and unengaging read. I wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. John - 1/5 - I have to say, "Matilda the Witch" was a complete waste of time for me. The story was poorly written, and the characters were one-dimensional. It felt like a generic and unoriginal tale that offered nothing new or interesting. I struggled to stay engaged and ended up skimming through most of it. In my opinion, there are much better fantasy books out there to spend your time on.