So Far...

I have enjoyed reading the book Wicked. In the beginning, I was having trouble understanding some key points due to the fragmented style of writing but the novel became clearer as it further advanced. Elphaba’s character is one of the main reasons why I love reading this novel. Her independence, need for justice and sympathy towards the inferior creatures of Oz has inspired me. I do not like to think about her impending doom in the novel because I have started to sympathize with her character. I think this novel is extremely reflecting on society. After reading the back story of The Wicked Witch of the West, it makes the reader want to know the reasoning behind the actions of other individuals in history who were deemed evil. Was Hitler evil? What was his reasoning? Did the events in his life shape his actions? This novel makes the reader become more understanding and sceptical of other individuals. Also, I enjoy making small comparisons between our world and Oz. I have been unconsciously comparing different attributes of locations in Wicked. The Wizard of Oz has always been my favourite movie but this novel explores complex themes in which the original story never encountered. It seems as if the original story was the child perspective and Wicked by Gregory Maguire is the grown up version. While I was growing up, so did the story of Oz.

Allusions

The Gulf War

Gulf War:The United States management of the country after the war in Iraq has similar comparison with Emerald City’s empire. The locations of the government offices were called the Green Zone which is a significant characteristic because they both share the colour green. The actions taken place in Quadling Country by the Wizard to claim the rubies is closely tied to the leadership of the American reconstruction project in Iraq to attain power. Gregory Maguire previously mentioned his inspiration to write Wicked after contemplating the definition of good and evil after reading a newspaper article on the Gulf War.

Martin Luther posting the 95 theses
on the catholic church of Wittenberg

Protestant Reformation: My West and the World class thoroughly discussed the Protestant Reformation so I was able to make several comparisons with the novel Wicked. The Reformation of Europe began with the theologest Martin Luther who disagreed with the Indulgences given by the Catholic Church and later wrote the 95 theses. This resulted in a wide-scale debate in Europe and the appearance of many different faiths (Protestantism, Calvinism, etc). As a counter offence, The Catholic Church began several methods to persecute the ones who were deemed heretics. In Munchkin Country, the ones who believed in another religion (besides the common one) were also persecuted for their pagan beliefs. It is wise to keep in mind how religion and sorcery were similarly treated in Oz and in our own world. This aspect shows that the novel Wicked was not just a retold fantasy but a reflection upon our society.

Flag of Ireland

“No Irish Need Apply’: This quote relates to the Wizard and his ancestry in the other world. In the Nineteenth century, the Irish were looked down on by the people of England and America. They were considered “inferior” and faced persecution for their religion which was mainly concentrated on Catholics. This can also link back to the Protestant Reformation because the Catholics were the ones who were the persecutors and since the Wizard is Irish that would imply he is of the religion against pagan beliefs. The theme of alternate universe plays a role in this because in the “other world” (our world) the Irish were persecuted but in Oz, it is the opposite because The Wizard if the ruler.

L. Frank Baum

Elphaba’s Name: The name Elphaba was formulated from the original author of the Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum. The phonetic pronunciations of his initials (L.F.B) were used to make her name (El-pha-ba). I guess Gregory Maguire wanted the original write of the Wizard of Oz to be part of Oz in a significant way.

Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt: During the novel, Boq points out that Dorothy’s name backwards is Theodore which was a shout out to Theodore Roosevelt (American President in 1901). This reference is mentioned again when Madame Morrible quotes Theodore Roosevelt’s quote “walk softly and carry a big stick” (Maguire 105).

Themes

Picture of water

Water: There is an abundant mention of water in Wicked. Elphaba’s connection to water is extremely strange because she is both attracted to and afraid of it. Water can usually represent purity (holy water) and since Elphaba is mirrored to be a villainous creature she is harmed by water but also attracted to it because she really is not bad. This could discuss how she might try to fight her nature and the theme of fate versus free will comes to mind.

Nessarose's shoes

Nessarose’s Shoes:  These shoes represent a symbol of family, acceptance and love. The silver sparkly shoes were given to Nessarose from her father Frexspar. Elphaba was jealous of her sister and the affection Nessarose is given from her father. Even though the movie “The Wizard of Oz” shows these shoes as a symbol of power, wicked channels Elphaba’s need to belong in a world that was not shaped for her and the shoes that her sister receives is symbol of love from her father (which he made abundantly clear that Nessarose is his favourite).

A red ruby

The Colour Red: the colour red was frequently mentioned when Turtle Heart was discussing the Wizard of Oz coming to Quadling Country and mining for rubies situated underneath the area. The workers of Oz began killing the citizens of Quadling Country and polluting their land. This makes me think of greed, death and power. Since rubies represent wealth, Oz wanted it so his greed was abundant and therefore death was incidental. Turtle Heart continues by characterizing the rubies as “the blood of Oz”.

The Clock of the Time Dragon 

The Clock of the Time Dragon: The theme of fate versus free will plays an important theme in Wicked. The Clock of the Time Dragon is a device to predict the future which already has a fate designated without free will. We also know Elphaba’s future as the wicked witch of the west and her role as the villain of the novel. This format of reading the novel plays a key role because technically she has no free will left. An important question is ‘was Elphaba’s death bound to occur or did her choices affect her impending doom?”

Conflicts

Birth of Elphaba:

Elphaba as a baby

Difference is not a characteristic praised upon in society. Difference represents something of the unordinary. History has shown us that the public never reacted well towards change. So when an ordinary family from Munchkin Country breeds a set of rainbow coloured children (literally), there is an automatic problem.

The birth of Elphaba had drastic future implications for the Thropp household. Before Elphaba’s birth, her mother (Melena) was known to have many affairs with men and one included a strange figure who gave her a potion named “Miracle Elixir” from a green bottle. Elphaba was born with distinct green skin and frighteningly sharp teeth. Due to her physical abnormalities, The Thropp family decided to live in seclusion after the birth of their children in Quadling country. Melena begins having trouble developing a motherly relationship with Elphaba so she calls her childhood nanny for help while Frexspar begins to believe that Elphaba is punishment from god for failing to protect his church assembly he leaves home to spread the word of god.  Elphaba’s birth destroys the structure of Melena and Frexspar’s marriage and the two begin losing their relationship as man and wife. Since Frexspar is away from home for long periods of time, Melena begins to initiate an affair with Turtle Heart, the glassblower from Quadling Country. This relationship likely developed due to the slow deterioration of Melena’s marriage. Another flaw that develops during the novel is Melena’s dependence on the Nanny. Melena is incapable to care for Elphaba because she is unable to properly gain the knowledge and experience of being a mother. Before Nanny took Elphaba to Rush Margins to socialise with the other children, Melena believed it was wise to keep Elphaba away from the public as a child to avoid mockery. Placing Elphaba in a social environment strongly aided her development for the future. If she was to be kept in hiding her whole life, Elphaba would not be the strong and independent character we know her to be.

Elphaba's love for animals is shown in the film
"the Wizard of Oz"

Animal Discrimination:

The issue of the discrimination of animals in the Land of Oz seems to be a continuing trend in Wicked. The appearance of this topic is first established when Elphaba attends Shiz University. Her Biology professor is a Goat named Dr. Dillamond who entangles her in the topic of the difference between sentient (has a conscious and human characteristics) and non sentient animals. The animals do not have the same civil rights as the humans in Oz and are being discriminated and forced to return to the rural life. Dr. Dillamond begins to feel that the problem is worsening so he looks on the assistance of Elphaba who is more than willing to help. On the verge of a scientific discovery linking the genetic similarities between humans and animals, Dr, Dillamond is murdered. This tragic incident has a profound impact in Elphaba’s life and she begins her studies in sorcery in his memory. The Headmistress of Cage Hall (Madame Morrible) in Shiz University is revealed to be the main accomplice to Dr. Dillamond’s murder to stop his ground breaking research on animals. After this information is revealed, Glinda, Elphaba and Nessarose spread out to different quadrants around The Land of Oz. The injustice of Dr. Dillamond’s murder left a hole in Elphaba’s heart and while the people around her were losing enthusiasm for helping th cause, Elphaba begins to work alone. The significance of the discrimination of animals can reflect her fture actions in the novel. I believe that the murder of Dr. Dillamond began a deep anger inside of Elphaba’s heart that could not be lit out with a splash of water from a bucket. Elphaba began to see the injustice in the world and therefore begins to rebel against society while dropping her morals along the way to fight for the bigger picture. Elphaba’s path to villainy became clearly illustrated and her perception of life was dramatically changed forever.

Book Notes: Characters

Elphaba Thropp

-main protagonist

-green skin, sharp teeth (physical abnormalities)

-animal rights activist

-grew up in Quadling Country

-befriends Galinda

-develops a hatred toward Madame Morrible and The Wizard of Oz

-jealous of her sister Nessarose (believes Nessa is her father’s favourite)

Galinda

- part of the high society in Gillikin

-behaves in a snobby and mean fashion but also very intelligent

 -hates Elphaba at first, but later become close friends

-studies sorcery after the death of Doctor Dillamond

Nessarose Thropp

-Elphaba's younger sister

-claimed to be the favourite of Frexspar

-born with pink skin and no arms

-silver shoes

-Unionist (like Frexspar)

-she could be the daughter of Turtle Heart (not Frexspar)

Madame Morrible

-headmistress of Shiz University Crage Hall (Elphaba and Galinda attend)

-suspect her to be responsible for the death of Doctor Dillamond

Doctor Dillamond

-talking goat

-professor at Crage Hall in Shiz

-performs research (with Elphaba) on the difference between animals and conscious animals who display human characteristics (like Doctor Dillamond)

- suspiciously dies from a slit throat (Madame Morrible may be responsible)

Nanny

-member of the Thropp family (though whether by blood or employment is not clear)

-raised Elphaba and Nessarose

-wanted Elphaba to be raised regularly (with other individuals besides her family)

-speaks her mind

“Since when did you even know your place or keep it either Nanny?”

“When Nanny leaves her place, believe me you’ll know!”

-holds pagan beliefs

Frexspar

- Elphaba and Nessarose father (at least in the emotional and physical sense; whether he shares a genetic link with some of the children is questionable)

-unionest preist

-Nessarose was his favourite child (gave her the ruby slippers)

-goes on long trips searching for the unnamed god

Melena Thropp

-Elphaba and Nessarose mother

-comes from a high class family

-pagan traditions (contradicts frexspar’s beliefs)

-very loose morals (multiple affairs and dreams of her days as a pampered girl)

-affair with Turtle Heart (strongly hinted that Nessarose is Turtle Heart’s biological daughter)

Turtle Heart

- wandering glassblower

-from Quadling Country 

-very handsome and fit

 -comes upon Melena's home while Frex is out preaching (they have a long affair)

- strongly suggested that he is the father of Nessarose

-leaves Quadling Country because of the “horrors” ( The Wizard of Oz is ruining their land and murdering citizens for the rubies situated below)

Boq

-He is a Munchkin

-knew Elphaba as a child and reunites with her at Shiz University

-in the beginning, he is interested in the friendship of Elphaba for Galinda (his crush)

-later become close friends and help Dr.Dillamond with his research

Fiyero

- the prince of the Arjiki tribe in the Vinkus

- meets Elphaba at Shiz Univeristy

Book Notes: Setting

Map of Oz

There are various regions in the Land of Oz that hold distinct ideologies. The Land of Oz was inspired from the original story of “The Wizard of Oz” but with deep complexity that strongly reflects our society even though it is a fantasy world.

Munchkin Country:

Munchkinland in "The Wizard of Oz"

The novel begins by familiarising the audience with the birth of Elphaba in Munchkinland. Elphaba was born in Munchkin Country but soon has to relocate with her family in order to protect her from the outside world. Her parents (especially her mother, Melena) expect seclusion and mockery from the citizens if Elphaba is released to the outside world and do not feel it is a wise decision if they want her to have a normal growth. The Nanny blackmails Melena to let Elphaba go to the Rush Margins (a park) and interact with children near her age to develop social skills. This change of setting was important with Elphaba’s self discovery as a human living in the Land of Oz. If she was secluded from society her whole life she would not have had the chance to establish a name for herself. In my grade 11 psychology class, I learnt about feral children and the obstacles they had to overcome after they had been in seclusion as an infant. This incident made me think about the characteristics she developed with society after she was introduced to the public and the ramifications surrounding Elphaba’s future identity as the Wicked Witch of the West. Nessarose (Elphaba’s sister) was also born with physical abnormalities in Munchkin Country. She was also faced with prejudice from the public and she developed a common understanding with her big sister. Munchkinland begin acting violently due to religious tensions in Munchkinland surrounding its agriculture. Munchkinland is an agriculture region in the Land of Oz suffering from a major drought that leads to the reliance on several eccentric ideas to provide a fast conclusion to their agronomy problems (Resulting in Turtle Hearts death).
Quadling Country:

My illustration of Quadling Country

The discussion of Quadling Country first occurs with the appearance of Turtle Heart. Quadling Country is considered undeveloped, swampy and without culture. Munchkinlander’s describe them as artistic and sexually free. (Turtle Heart was a glassblower who began an affair with Melena). The citizens of Quadling Country are displayed in a negative light to the rest of Oz. Elphaba and Nessarose moved to Quadling Country after their birth and lived away from society to escape the intolerance of the public. The decimation of the population and ecosystem of Quadling Country is initiated when the Wizard send forces to clear the land for mining to find rubies situated underneath the region. Quadling Country played a major role in the development of Elphaba and Nessarose and could illustrate their disapproval of Emerald City.

Shiz University

Gillikin Country:

 Gillikin Country is home to Shiz University is a industry developed and prosperous region in the Land of Oz. Glinda (the Good Witch of the North) is a native Gillikinese. The citizens are distinguished by their large foreheads, gapped front teeth and curly blond hair. Shiz University is a cluster of several distinct collages and is illustrated by looking like a cluster of various types of architecture. Elphaba and Glinda become roommates in Crage Hall (an only female college due to the apparent gender segregation). This was the start of a complicated relationship amongst the duo and its significance plays a major role in the development of Elphaba’s independent character.