The Castle in the Attic

Two castles anchor the book—the large toy castle in William’s attic, and Sir Simon’s own medieval castle—and each serves a distinct purpose in the story. As a gift to William before her departure, Mrs. Phillips presents him with a family heirloom: a large castle made of stone and wood that contains a single, miniature knight, Sir Simon. This castle serves as a symbol of Mrs. Phillips’s affection for William. With all its accurate detail, this castle soon obsesses the boy, who spends hours playing with it—William’s enjoyment of the model demonstrates how well Mrs. Phillips knows her charge.

However, when William selfishly uses one of the castle’s features to miniaturize Mrs. Phillips so that he can keep her with him, he corrupts a gift that was given out of generosity and love. Soon remorseful for this crime, the boy shrinks down to her size so he can help her find a way back to the regular-sized world. Using weapons and other items at the castle, he trains with its resident, Sir Simon, along with Mrs. Phillips. From there, he and Sir Simon venture forth to do battle with the evil Alastor. The toy castle thus also symbolizes William’s fantasies of chivalry and his maturation as well as his eternal friendship with Mrs. Phillips.

The other castle is the one that belongs to Sir Simon but has been occupied by Alastor the wizard. Alastor lives in the knight’s castle, whose subterranean halls and galleries and dungeons make a perfect lair for the evil magician. Its gate guarded by a dragon and a company of captive soldiers, the place is impregnable except by William, who knows enough of its secrets to penetrate its defenses and confront Alastor. The castle, dark and forbidding under the wizard’s spell, becomes lighter and more welcoming once liberated. It contains the challenge and the prize of William’s quest, and, when liberated, its buoyant atmosphere represents the goodness of Sir Simon’s reign over his kingdom.