69 pages • 2 hours read
Andrzej SapkowskiSword of Destiny
Fiction | Short Story Collection | Adult | Published in 1992A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Background
Series Context: The Role of Sword of Destiny Within The Witcher
Although Sword of Destiny is the first novel in the series to be published, it is chronologically the second volume in the saga, for the events it describes follow those featured in the short story collection The Last Wish, and precede the rest of The Witcher series. Notably, the short story “A Question of Price” in The Last Wish significantly influences events in Sword of Destiny, and it also provides the basis for Geralt’s enigmatic connection to Princess Ciri. In this story, Queen Calanthe hires Geralt to help secure an alliance with Skellige through her daughter Pavetta’s coming-of-age ceremony. Geralt, disguised as a nobleman, engages in a revealing conversation with Calanthe about witchers.
An obscure knight named Urcheon of Erlenwald arrives, refusing to remove his helm and reminding Calanthe of the Law of Surprise owed to him for saving King Roegner’s life years ago. This law demands payment with what one finds unexpectedly at home; Roegner’s unexpected find was Calanthe’s pregnancy with Pavetta. Aware of the law, Calanthe refuses to give her daughter to a stranger. At midnight, she forces Urcheon to reveal his cursed, hedgehog-like face. She also exploits a loophole, which requires Pavetta’s consent before the Law of Surprise can be honored. However, she collapses in shock when her daughter agrees to Urcheon’s terms. Chaos ensues as soldiers attack Urcheon, and Geralt and Mousesack restore order. Urcheon (also called Duny) and Pavetta reveal their love, and Calanthe gives her blessing. This decision lifts the curse on Urcheon, who insists on paying Geralt. The witcher invokes the Law of Surprise, and the story concludes with Duny asking Pavetta if she is pregnant. The implication is that the destiny of Pavetta’s child will be intertwined with Geralt’s due to the Law of Surprise.
Sword of Destiny references this backstory multiple times, for it is the event that cements Ciri and Geralt’s intertwined destiny, and the two characters’ strong father-daughter bond becomes an essential aspect of the series as a whole. Moreover, in this story, Geralt explains that witchers must always be born in the shadow of destiny, which is why there are so few of them left. “A Question of Price” thus establishes that Geralt was promised a Child of Destiny and agreed to pick the child up in six years, all of which is referenced in “Something More.” Ultimately, “A Question of Price” is pivotal in illustrating the multiple intertwining destinies that all lead to Ciri.
The Last Wish also recounts Geralt and Yennefer’s initial encounter, which is sparked by Dandelion’s mishap with a genie. After Dandelion accidentally releases the genie, it attacks him. Geralt intervenes to exorcise the creature, rushing Dandelion to Rinde for healing. In a town where spellcasters are banned, Yennefer becomes their only option. Yennefer heals Dandelion, but her price involves using the bard as bait for the genie. Geralt refuses, prompting Yennefer to paralyze him and enchant him to rampage through the city. Geralt wakes up in jail, and as he faces his sentence, chaos ensues outside when Yennefer struggles to subdue the genie. Assisting the sorceress, Geralt realizes that the genie is bound to him, awaiting his third wish. Geralt uses this wish to save Yennefer, cementing their permanent bond. The precise details of Geralt’s wish remain unknown, contributing to their mutual doubt about the authenticity of their feelings for each other.
Following Sword of Destiny, The Witcher saga unfolds in earnest as Geralt actively trains Ciri at the witchers’ stronghold of Kaer Morhen and discovers her latent sorceress talents. Ciri’s lineage reveals her Elder Blood, which makes her a prime target for political intrigue as several groups seek to either acquire or eliminate her. The saga explores Geralt and Yennefer’s linked destinies, which are also entwined with Ciri’s, and they all navigate multiple threats to help Ciri develop her unique abilities. Within the context of the series as a whole, Sword of Destiny is pivotal in laying the foundation for Ciri and Geralt’s intricate relationship, which becomes central to the saga. As predestined protectors for Ciri, Geralt and Yennefer find themselves intricately woven into the princess’s fate. Ciri, in turn, bears the weight of a destiny that foretells that she will give birth to a child with the potential to either save or doom the world.
Social Context: Portrayals of Women in The Witcher
The treatment of women in The Witcher series sparks significant debate, with contrasting opinions on its portrayal of female characters. While some argue that the series is deeply misogynistic, others contend that the flaws exhibited by the female characters are part of their growth and development. Significantly, the saga also takes a supportive stance of pro-choice views on women’s reproductive rights. However, the medieval setting of The Witcher is often cited as a contributing factor to the perceived misogyny, given the historical context of Slavic and European societies. Sapkowski draws heavily from Slavic folklore, in which traditional tales and customs often carry inherent misogyny. The controversy over the series’ tone arises from the question of whether Sapkowski uses his fantasy universe to perpetuate or challenge these views.
Sword of Destiny, in particular, introduces instances that illustrate and could be argued to perpetuate misogynistic views. For example, problematic sexual relationships such as the dynamics between Téa and Véa and Dandelion’s tumultuous association with Vespula highlight essential power imbalances and toxic elements. As Zerrikanians, Téa and Véa worship dragons as gods, and this detail renders their sexual relationship with Villentretenmerth deeply problematic given the inherent power imbalance involved. The narrative also includes ethically thorny scenes such as the sexual assault of Yennefer and Geralt’s passive response to the assault of a young girl. Both scenes reflect the presence of a deep-seated misogyny in the series’ cultural backdrop.
Similarly, the awkward relationship between Geralt and Essi Daven raises questions about agency. Despite being described as a brilliant and independent bard, Essi’s narrative arc is focused solely on Geralt, and she remains tethered to him even in death, serving as a stepping-stone in his larger journey. This lack of agency for female characters, which is epitomized by the character of Essi, contributes to the overall sense of misogyny in the series.
Even the more liberated characters pose certain problems, for while the dryads of Brokilon are initially poised as potential feminist icons, they ultimately fall short of this ideal. Although they are portrayed as formidable warrior women protecting their forest, their method for replenishing their ranks requires them to engage in obligatory sexual relationships and transform human girls into dryads in a process that strips them of their identity. This detail implies that, in Sapkowski’s universe, women must sacrifice vital aspects of themselves in order to attain power. Sapkowski continues this implication with Yennefer’s struggles with infertility. In order to gain full use of their powers, sorceresses are required to sacrifice their ability to bear children: a process viewed as payment for their use of magic. While this concept is deeply rooted in folklore, it also suggests that women must give up essential parts of their womanhood in exchange for power.
The series introduces powerful female characters, yet their flaws and limitations often read as misogyny, and this impression is strengthened by multiple instances in which women exist primarily to progress male character growth. Additionally, the underlying theme that a woman’s purpose lies in her ability to bear children contribute to these claims. As a result, the tension between empowering moments and belittling portrayals underscores the complexity of the series’ treatment of women.
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