The Darkhold’s Secret: Did Wanda Ever Have Free Will?

Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch, has always been a tragic figure, shaped by loss, love, and unimaginable power. But as the dust settles after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, one question lingers: Was Wanda ever truly in control of her own destiny? Or was she merely a pawn in a cosmic game orchestrated by a force far darker than we imagined?

The Darkhold, an ancient book of forbidden knowledge, played a pivotal role in her descent into chaos. But did it merely enhance Wanda’s existing grief, or did it enslave her to a fate beyond her control? If so, how much of her story was truly hers—and how much was written in the blood-stained pages of a book that has corrupted sorcerers for centuries?

This mystery isn’t just a question of magic—it challenges everything we thought we knew about free will, destiny, and the true nature of the Scarlet Witch.

The Darkhold’s Corrupting Grip: A Book That Writes Its Own Fate

In the MCU, the Darkhold is more than just a book—it’s a sentient, malevolent force. Every sorcerer who has ever wielded its power has fallen into darkness. Agatha Harkness, a seasoned witch with centuries of knowledge, was immediately aware of its dangers in WandaVision. Even Doctor Strange himself, the Sorcerer Supreme, couldn’t resist its corruption in a single glance. So how could Wanda, already drowning in grief, hope to withstand its influence?

The Darkhold doesn’t simply provide knowledge—it manipulates, seduces, and reshapes reality. Unlike other grimoires, it doesn’t just teach spells; it embeds its whispers into the mind of the user. It warps thoughts, plants desires, and feeds on emotions like grief, rage, and desperation.

If we consider this, Wanda’s descent into villainy in Multiverse of Madness becomes even more chilling. Was she truly acting out of her own pain, or was she under the book’s control from the moment she touched it?

There are eerie hints that the Darkhold had already chosen Wanda before she even opened it:

• Prophecies of the Scarlet Witch – The book had an entire prophecy written about her, claiming she was destined to wield chaos magic. Was this foreknowledge, or a self-fulfilling trap designed to lure her in?
• Instant Mastery – Wanda, with no prior formal training in dark magic, became an expert in the Darkhold’s spells almost overnight. The book seemingly “granted” her this knowledge, as though it was already waiting for her.
• Dreamwalking’s Unnatural Ease – Unlike Doctor Strange, who struggled with the technique, Wanda immediately mastered dreamwalking, a forbidden practice that lets one possess alternate versions of themselves across the multiverse. This raises a terrifying question—was it really her skill, or the Darkhold using her as a vessel?

All signs point to a terrifying possibility: The Darkhold may not have merely corrupted Wanda—it may have written her fate the moment she laid eyes on it.

Was Wanda’s Villainous Arc Her Own Choice? Or Was She a Puppet?

One of the most debated moments in the MCU is Wanda’s massacre of the Illuminati. It was swift, merciless, and completely out of character for the Wanda we once knew.

This isn’t just about power—it’s about intent. The Wanda Maximoff who fought Thanos, the one who tried to redeem herself in WandaVision, the one who hesitated before harming others… she was gone.

But did Wanda choose this path? Or was her mind so entangled with the Darkhold that she no longer had autonomy?

Consider this:

• The Darkhold Corrupts the Strongest Minds – If Doctor Strange himself was visibly affected after a brief encounter, why would Wanda be immune after fully embracing it?
• The Illogical Brutality of the Illuminati Scene – Wanda didn’t just defeat her opponents—she slaughtered them in excruciatingly creative ways. Was this her, or was the Darkhold feeding off the power of a Nexus Being?
• Wanda’s Complete Loss of Empathy – When Strange tried to reason with her, she coldly replied: “I’m not a monster… I’m a mother.” This line doesn’t sound like the real Wanda. It sounds like a spell justifying its own existence, keeping Wanda trapped in a loop of self-deception.

The Darkhold didn’t simply offer her power. It reshaped her perception of reality, convincing her that her pursuit of her children wasn’t only justified—it was the only path.

Which raises a terrifying question: What if Wanda never had a choice to begin with?

Did Wanda Truly Die? Or Did the Darkhold Have One Last Trick?

At the end of Multiverse of Madness, Wanda seemingly sacrifices herself to destroy the Darkhold in every universe. The mountain crumbles, and we see a final red burst—implying her death.

But is it truly that simple?

If the Darkhold was a sentient force, would it really allow itself to be erased? Would it permit its most powerful host to simply end it all?

There are several eerie possibilities:

1. Wanda Was Transported, Not Killed
   • We see a flash of red magic, not an outright death scene. Wanda has teleported before—was this another escape? If so, where did she go?
2. The Darkhold Never Truly Died
   • We know that the Book of Vishanti, its “good” counterpart, was supposed to be the ultimate defense against the Darkhold, yet it was easily destroyed. What if the Darkhold cannot truly be erased, only dormant?
3. The Scarlet Witch Lives Within the Multiverse
   • The idea of Nexus Beings means Wanda exists throughout all realities. If one version perished, does that mean another will inevitably rise?

This isn’t just speculation. Elizabeth Olsen herself has hinted that Wanda’s story isn’t over. But if she does return… will she be Wanda Maximoff? Or will she be something far more dangerous?

The Scarlet Witch’s Fate: A Slave to Destiny, or a Fighter for Free Will?

The deeper we dive into the Darkhold’s role in Wanda’s life, the more disturbing the implications become.

Was Wanda ever in control? Or was she manipulated from the moment she was born, her powers marked for something far darker than she ever imagined?

If she does return, it won’t just be a fight for survival—it will be a fight for her very identity.

Because if the Darkhold truly wrote her fate, then the real battle isn’t just against magic or multiversal threats. The real battle is proving she was never a puppet to begin with.

And that might be the hardest fight of all.

The Scarlet Witch isn’t just a hero, a villain, or an antihero. She’s a paradox—a woman caught between free will and cosmic manipulation.

But if Wanda Maximoff still has a chance at redemption, she must answer one question before anything else:

Was it ever truly her choice?

Or was she just the Darkhold’s final masterpiece all along?