The washing/cleaning/sweeping activities are signs of renewal. Really, I could end this post here; that pretty much says it.
If I did, though, I’d miss pointing out the sheer drollery of the conversation on p. 62:
“What are you doing?” cried Michael and Calcifer in a horrified chorus.
“Cleaning up,” Sophie replied firmly. “The place is a disgrace.”
Calcifer said, “It doesn’t need it,” and Michael muttered, “Howl will kick you out!” but Sophie ignored them both. Dust flew in clouds.
“It doesn’t need it…!?” How can Calcifer SAY such a thing, particularly when he’s already agreed to go along with the cleaning lady ruse? Is it because he’s a non-corporeal being and thus is neither aware of nor attuned to material clutter? Or is it just guy-speak? Howl himself seems unconcerned about the mess, so Calcifer is as well.
Michael, on the other hand, is broadcasting his own still-uncertain status in the household. He’s never pinned Howl down about anything, let alone whether he is welcome to go on staying there, and getting kicked out is probably always at the back of his mind. Plus I detect a bit of jealousy towards Sophie on the next page, when the doorknob goes blue-down and there’s a little girl from Porthaven there to pick up a spell for her dad’s boat.
“Has the Sorcerer got a witch working for him too?” she asked.
“No,” said Michael.
“Meaning me?” Sophie called. “Oh, yes, my child. I’m the best and cleanest witch in Ingary.”
Michael shut the door, looking exasperated. [Michael knows how rumors get started and spread.] “That will be all round Porthaven now. Howl may not like that.” [63]
Sophie cackles in reply. She doesn’t care. She’s cast off the grey mouse, she’s out of the hat shop, and she’s having the time of her life. She’s also just made herself the best and cleanest witch in Ingary.
Just as she notices that the fourth paint blob on the revolving doorknob is black, then sets to work on the cobwebs festooning the beams, Howl emerges from the bathroom. “He looked marvelously spruce.” [64] Other than that his suit looks brighter, that’s all we get of Sophie’s response.
She’s hoping to impress him with her diligence. He’s hoping to impress her with his gorgeousness. It seems to be working. Feelings are happening. This is uncomfortable for both of them. Best to change the subject; this Howl does by directing the conversation to spiders.
I’ve been in places that were as slobbish as Howl’s — like Sophie, I wanted to clean them so badly. Unlike Sophie, I always butted heads with the originators of the mess — the fact is, usually people who are messy like it that way, never mind whatever they say about not having time to clean up.
(I’m not talking about the mess that piles up over a long weekend or during an illness or family emergency. I mean the kind of mess that is sprouting things.)
I’m so glad Howl cracks the mold and lets her clean!
Housework was (and is) a real issue for me; too much clutter (of the arty, booky sort), too many surfaces (refrigerator interiors — ugh), and too many choices: shall I clean the bathroom, paint the kitchen, or organize my collection of books on getting organized?
I found Sandra Felton’s book “The Messie’s Manual” and its sequels helpful. She is a pastor’s wife who was embarrassed to invite people from their church to visit her home. Like her I suffered from CHAOS — Can’t Have Anybody Over Syndrome. I’m slowly getting over it. Slowly.
Having come from a shall we say financially challenged background, I’ve had trouble with clutter in the past; “Don’t throw that away, you never know when you might need it and for sure you can’t afford to buy another one!” I wasn’t really a hoarder, but I had too much not-quite-right stuff floating around.
I found It’s All Too Much by Peter Walsh helpful. I remember after reading it I immediately did some “deep diving” under my bed and got rid of a couple boxes’ worth, and periodically I look around and say “Okay, it’s getting too crammed in here. What is it that is not contributing to my life, because I’m tired of tripping over it.” Usually it’s a “I’ll use it Someday” item, or a stack of books that I have to admit I will never get to. I also have to watch out for art supplies that I try out, don’t like, and end up not using.
But, reading through the initial “amazingly dirty” descriptive passage, it doesn’t sound like there’s a lot of clutter downstairs? It’s mostly dirt and cobwebs — hideous amounts of both, perhaps so much that getting the floor slimy was a non-issue because it was already so bad? I looked up the word “besom” and it’s a broom made with twigs for bristles — sounds pretty stiff, like it’s not just for sweeping up pet hair? I wouldn’t know, I don’t think I’ve ever used one.
Thanks for updating. Reading the book in tandem with your comments, I’m realizing that we really get less than half the story directly — not only do we not get Howl’s POV, but Sophie’s POV is more enigmatic than one reading suggests.