The novel is full of a number of themes, most notably fate, advancing age, courage and love. At first, Sophie resigns herself to her fate of being the eldest of her sisters, and the eldest son, in her eyes, receives the Medal of Failure, so she does not see the need to make any effort to change this fate. But the witch has a different opinion, as Sophie turns into an old woman, and then she is forced to go out in search of her luck, even if she is trying to find a medicine that will restore her stolen youth.
Sophie has rearranged Howl's world - and her world at the same time - since she set foot on the castle grounds, starting with cleaning up the place and ending with awakening what time has put out in Howl and herself. Sophie was not quite the epic character nor the supernatural faculties that fit into the wizarding world she entered by chance. But she did wonders with the little she had, and it turned out that her little was much, and very much, as she brought the scarecrow, the fire demon, and Howl himself back to life.
It was only with love, Sophie's spell and spell that gave the world a new look that things were set back.
