In the cult classic film “Hocus Pocus,” the character Winifred Sanderson, played by Bette Midler, utters a spell to bring her deceased lover back to life. The spell, recited with a dark and mystical tone, goes as follows:
“Unfaithful lover long since dead,
Deep asleep in thy wormy bed.
Wiggle thy toes, open thine eyes,
Twist thy fingers toward the sky.
Life is sweet, be not shy.”
In this incantation, Winifred is summoning her lover from beyond the grave, commanding him to awaken and return to the land of the living. The words she chooses are both poetic and haunting, reflecting the dark and supernatural nature of the spell she is casting.
The first line, “Unfaithful lover long since dead,” suggests that Winifred’s lover was unfaithful to her during their time together, but she still longs for his presence. The phrase “deep asleep in thy wormy bed” paints a vivid picture of her lover’s state in death, buried beneath the ground, surrounded by worms and decay.
As Winifred continues the spell, she urges her lover to awaken by instructing him to wiggle his toes and open his eyes. The imagery of twisting fingers toward the sky adds to the eerie atmosphere, as if she is summoning his spirit from the depths of the earth to reach for the heavens.
The line “Life is sweet, be not shy” is an interesting juxtaposition, as it implies that Winifred sees life as a desirable state, despite her own wicked nature. It suggests that she believes her lover’s return to life will be a joyful experience, despite the dark circumstances of his resurrection.
Throughout the film, Winifred’s character is portrayed as a determined and powerful witch, using her magical abilities to achieve her goals. The spell she recites in this scene showcases her command over the supernatural, as well as her unwavering determination to bring back her unfaithful lover.
Winifred Sanderson’s spell in “Hocus Pocus” is a captivating and macabre incantation that invokes her deceased lover to return from the grave. The words she chooses, filled with dark imagery and poetic language, reflect her character’s powerful and mystical nature.