Turnip-Head



Turnip-Head is a cursed scarecrow who appears in both the book and movie versions of Howl's Moving Castle. In both appearances, he is a scarecrow on two cross poles wearing torn clothing with a withering turnip for a head. However, he plays a much different role in the two versions.

Howl's Moving Castle (Novel)
Turnip-Head is not named in the book, only referred to as "the scarecrow." In his first appearance, Sophie talks to him on her way to Howl's Castle to work as a cleaning lady for Howl Jenkins Pendragon. Later in the book, he stops Sophie Hatter from leaving the Castle. Sophie orders Calcifer to move the castle away from the scarecrow, thus tiring him out. The scarecrow appears once again near the end, where it is revealed that he can speak. He is suspected to be a servant of the Witch of the Waste by the others.

Howl's Moving Castle (Movie)
Turnip-Head appears to Sophie Hatter much in the same way as in the novel. While fleeing Market Chipping, she spies his main pole protruding from a shrub and lifts it out to reveal him. However, after this, his role changes. Turnip-Head seems to tke quite a liking to Sophie and follows her everywhere popping up here and there throughout the movie. Turnip head finds Sophie a cane, retrives her shawl and even guves a helping hnd with the washing. Unfortunatley whist trying to stop the board that Sophie, Markl, Howl, The Witch of the Waste, Heen and Calcifer are sitting on his pole snaps Sophie kisses turnip head and it is revealed that Turnip-Head is the Prince, who was cursed by the Witch of the Waste.