Significance of The Only Stone

The Only Stone is one of the most significant symbols of the novel, as it represents the backbone of the kingdom that needs to be restored in order to return rule of law, as well as fairness and equality to the kingdom. Anya first learns of the Only Stone from Shrub in Chapter 7 when he confesses to trying to steal it from the meetinghouse of the League of Right-Minded Sorcerers in the City of New Yarrow. Anya learns more of its capacities through Bert and the Good Wizard, that it protects the owner from all magic, but it prevents the owner from performing any magic as well. The Stone also includes the All-Encompassing Bill of Rights and Wrongs as, “all the ancient laws are codified within it, including many that have been lost or forgotten” and the parliament is bound to service through this Stone (101). The League of Right-Minded Sorcerers has stolen it, leading to an increasingly unfair and unlawful society, as well as a disrupted kingdom. When Anya finally gets to the meetinghouse to steal ingredients for her lip balm potion, Shrub steals the stone back and hides it in his newt mouth. When the Duke attacks Anya later, Shrub shields her with this. Merlin also confesses to creating the Stone, part of the motif of parallels to other legends and stories. Later when Anya is crowned, she wears the Stone on a necklace around her neck, another token of womanhood that proves the power of underestimated female objects.