The Untold Truth Of Yennefer From The Witcher

The book series "The Witcher," written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski and centered on a monster hunter named Geralt of Rivia, is taking the English-speaking world by storm in Netflix's screen adaptation. These novels and short story collections were really successful in Poland, spawning a video game franchise before being translated into English, per PC Gamer. Although the books and video games are focused on Geralt, Netflix's adaptation is a little different, as the characters of Yennefer and Ciri also share the spotlight, with plenty of screen time devoted to these characters.

Yennefer of Vengerberg, who is played by Anya Chalotra, is one of the three most important characters in Netflix's adaptation of "The Witcher." Her backstory is sad and explored more fully in Season 1 of the show than in either the books or the games. Delving into Yennefer's origins in the show makes Yennefer a more sympathetic character than in the books, but she still maintains her strong will and grit. While the show shares many of Yennefer's secrets, there is still a bit of a mystery to be discovered. We have dug deep into source materials to find more of her secrets for you. Here is the untold truth of Yennefer from "The Witcher."

Spoilers for "The Witcher" television series, books, and video games ahead.

In the Netflix series, Yennefer is sold to Tissaia by her father. Embarrassed by her deformity, he does not claim her as his own child and doesn't think twice about sending her away. Tissaia takes Yennefer to Aretuza to be trained as a mage. In the books, Yennefer goes to Aretuza because her magical abilities are discovered, and Aretuza is simply where the magically gifted go in the world of "The Witcher." 

However, being sold to Aretuza in the Netflix series emphasizes how little agency Yennefer has. She is treated like an animal, talked down to, and denied love. She is treated as a possession, sold for less than the price of a pig. This facet of Yennefer's story in Netflix's adaptation emphasizes Yennefer's powerlessness early in her life. It is no surprise she becomes singularly focused on attaining influence once she has accepted her place at Aretuza.

In the books, Tissaia has Yennefer's hunchback repaired with magic after her suicide attempt. All students at Aretuza need to be in prime condition so they can focus their energy on their magical studies, not being distracted by ailments and deformities. However, in the Netflix series, Yennefer is only transformed, in a fairly brutal scene, when she is ready to graduate from Arteuza. 

Those in charge of the magical academy dangle the possibility for meaningful transformation, beauty, and power before her like a carrot, keeping her focused on how much better her life will be once she has mastered her magical abilities and is transformed. Yennefer's desire for power and beauty is understandable, regardless of when her hunchback is fixed, but in the Netflix series, they double down on the motivating factors by denying her transformation until her studies at Aretuza are completed. By denying her what she desperately wants and needs, they keep her hungry for power. It is a compelling emotional manipulation that helps turn Yennefer into a powerful mage.

In Netflix's adaptation of "The Witcher," Yennefer literally trades her uterus to undergo a magical transformation that eliminates her hunchback. It is a gruesome scene when we witness how singularly focused Yennefer has become in her quest for power and beauty. She will do anything to achieve these goals, even giving up the possibility of ever having children. This is a decision that her romantic partner Istredd resent her because in the world of "The Witcher," infertility is a common side effect of practicing magic, not a trade you make to attain power.

Using magic slowly makes people infertile, which may explain why elves themselves can only bear children when they are very young, despite their long lifespans. In Netflix's version of "The Witcher," there is a transactional nature to her decision. She pays with a pound of flesh to become powerful, beautiful, and ageless. This is something Yennefer and Geralt could bond over, or fight about, as they do on their dragon hunt in Episode 6 of Season 1. The mutations that the long-lived Witchers undergo make them infertile as well. It seems that to be human and attain powerful magic, one must give up something that, for many, is central to our humanity.

As all of us who have watched the Netflix adaptation of "The Witcher" know, Geralt and Yennefer meet because of a nasty djinn. The djinn injures Jaskier (known as Dandelion in the books), and Yennefer is the healer Geralt brings him to. Yennefer agrees to help Jaskier because she has her sights set on capturing the djinn and forcing it to cure her infertility. Despite being tricked, Geralt doesn't want Yennefer to be harmed. In the literature, Geralt's third wish is for his fate to be tied to Yennefer's. He does this to save her from the djinn's malice. In the mythos of the djinn, they cannot harm their master. If Geralt and Yennefer are bound, the djinn, by default, cannot harm Yennefer.

In the book, Yennefer hears Geralt's third wish and is emotionally moved, as she is surprised he would do something so foolish to save her. In the books, she tells him he has damned himself. In the Netflix series, Yennefer is suspicious that Geralt uses his wish to link their destinies. Her belief that her feelings for Geralt aren't real and are only a magical illusion hits Yennefer very hard, leading her to become dissatisfied with the merits of magic. Yennefer yearns for something real and desires a true family. This is the mental state she brings with her to the Conclave of Mages at Aretuza and into the Battle of Sodden Hill.

At some point in the Netflix series, Geralt will ask Yennefer to train Ciri after learning Ciri is a Source, as he does in the books. Yennefer is the only mage powerful enough to train Ciri, so she will be trained by Yennefer in magical arts at the Temple of Melitele. In the books, Yennefer and Ciri initially don't get along very well, as they have a bit of a power struggle and some weird jealousy over Geralt. This conflict exists even though Ciri's relationship with him is more like a father-daughter bond, while Yennefer's relationship with Geralt is more mature and intimate. 

After training together, Yennefer and Ciri develop a mother-daughter bond. Yennefer acts as a mother figure for Ciri, giving both women something they need. All three characters, Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri, are orphans in their own way. They are three exceptional people who fear they might be monsters. While they have spent most of their time alone in the world, they come together into a family unit, finding solidarity and safety together, at least for a while.

Yennefer's relationship with Geralt of Rivia relationship is pretty contentious, as they have a serious on-again, off-again thing going on for a long time. In the book "Time of Contempt," Geralt finally admits his feelings for Yennefer, and their relationship is more stable after that admission. Considering how crazy their lives are and the multiple political events they are embroiled in, these two can't always be together. But for a time, Yennefer and Geralt live together on the Isle of Avalon and even cement their love by getting married.

Eventually, the honeymoon ends when the Wild Hunt captures Yennefer. The King of the Wild Hunt plans to use Yennefer as bait to lure and capture Ciri. While being held captive by the Wild Hunt, Yennefer becomes very ill, only recovering when she is set free after Geralt takes her place. Unfortunately, when Yennefer recovers, she has amnesia, yet another complication that keeps Yennefer and Geralt apart. However, since this relationship is a fan favorite in the Netflix adaptation of "The Witcher," hopefully, it won't be too long before they are finally reunited.