Elder Magic

Magic in Earthsea involves knowing true names to influence the world's balance.

Magic involves understanding true names, as seen when Lord Cob manipulates Arren into revealing his true name, Prince Lebannen, to control him. The magic system also includes a character named Hare, a slaver who captures Tenar, and a merchant from whom Sparrowhawk buys a sword.

Quick Facts

Primary practitioners: Wizards (e.g., Sparrowhawk), Archmage

Lore & Background

Lord Cob is a powerful warlock who causes the world's balance to collapse by opening the door between life and death to gain eternal life. He uses magic to manipulate Arren after learning his true name. Due to the world's Balance collapsing and failing belief in magic, a Cloth Seller lost her magic powers. Additionally, a Hazia Dealer attempted to make Prince Arren try a recreational drug named 'hazia' which has addictive and euphoric qualities leading to death.

Reader's Guide

Knowing a character's 'true name' is central to control and identity, as demonstrated when Therru reveals her true form as a dragon after confiding her true name, Tehanu, to Arren. Magic in this film involves wizards like Sparrowhawk solving mysteries of the collapsing Balance. Characters like Cob attempt to gain eternal life by opening the door between life and death. Some characters, like the Cloth Seller, lose their magic due to failing belief as the world's balance collapses.

Did You Know?

Prince Arren's sword was sealed with magic throughout the story until he finally unsheathed it against Cob.
The film is based on a combination of plot elements from the first four books of Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea series and Hayao Miyazaki's graphic novel Shuna's Journey.