Growth and Maturity

A primary theme of A Spell for Chameleon is growth and maturity, as it is a coming-of-age story for Bink, as well as for Xanth. As the protagonist, Bink matures between his twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth year, while on a quest. Through the sometimes painful process he gains knowledge and strength, while losing a previously held sense of innocence. Bink begins with a need for the self-knowledge of his magical talent, which is a kind of who-I-am-in-relation-to-my-world question. He finds the answer, but he also gains a realistic view of how humans came to Xanth, human nature, the seductive power of evil, and how even the best sources of power can be corrupted through greed and ambition. At the story's opening Bink is a likable, ethical, friendly guy with a simple but important desire. By the end of the story he is a hero, with a better...