Setting

The setting in the novel Wicked uses complex detail to illustrate the distinct regions of Oz in contrast with the simplistic perception provided by the original classic; the Wizard of Oz. Gregory Maguire dramatically altered the original regions from the original to supply the reader with depth and understanding through the novel. The connections between Elphaba and the Land of Oz are revealed because she manages to reside in every major region of Oz through the course of her life. The Land of Oz may seem like a fantasy land to the naked eye but Gregory Maguire transforms the scenery using complexity to reflect our own society and teaches readers to look beyond the looking glass.

Munchkinland:

The beginning of the novel is set in Munchkin Country which is appropriate because that is also where Dorothy embarks on her adventure in the Wizard of Oz. It is known to be the agricultural capital of Oz but the region begins to experience a severe drought. This natural anomaly causes uproar in Munchkin Country and the distressed citizen’s resort to eccentric ideas leading to religious tension and violence. “Nessarose's birth had coincided with a temporary resurgence of well water in the vicinity. They'd been doing pagan dances and there was a human sacrifice ...The crowd, incited by some rabble-rousing pfaithers and a prophetic clock, fell on him and killed him. A man named Turtle Heart." The novel continuously draws references to dust, dirt and destruction to describe Munckinland’s physical state. The region has undergone a drought which provides a deeper understanding of the constant comparisons to dust and dirt and the destruction symbolises the torn up yellow brick road. Nest Hardings was formally known as a lovely setting but the damage done by violent acts symbolises the general state of Munchkinland. “The liberated Munchkinlanders were destroying the house. The Witch had no use for frippery, but it seemed a shame to waste a property this way. Desecration was so shortsighted .” 

Emerald City

Emerald City is the key originator of the religious and political tension in Oz. Emerald City is characterised by fear and oppression and is seen as a dark and cold environment. The city has a large concentration of crime and poverty even though it has beautiful palaces and gardens. Reading about the Wizard reminded me of a dictatorship similar to Adolf Hitler due to his brute force and segregation of the animals of Oz. Emerald City also appeared to me as a place of modernization because of the growing technological and industrial changes. The novel does not see this as a positive change because of the growing poverty. Elphaba disapproves of the innovative change made by the Wizard as corrupt and views the rural regions as the victim (Quadling Country). Can this be a reflection of the changes in our society? 

The Vinkus

The Vinkus is characterised as being a wild and untamed region with wide open plains and towering mountains. The citizens of Quadling Country are displayed in a negative light to the rest of Oz. The decimation of the population and ecosystem of the Vinkus is similar to the series of events that affected Quadling Country. Elphaba’s birth to her child was situated in the Vinkus and this location holds several themes of sexuality, magic and femininity. They couldn't help but feel the unsettling eroticism of the landscape. From the eastern approach, the Kumbricia Pass looked like a woman lying on her back, her legs spread apart, welcoming them” (Maguire 230). The Vinkus are a significant location in the novel Wicked because it is the location where Elphaba gains her identity as the Wicked Witch of the West and tragically dies. This region continuously spreads the popular memory of the Lumbric Witch, tying to the theme of fate in Elphaba’s predetermined life.

The Other World

The mysterious Other World in the novel Wicked is constantly repeated and represents our world. The Wizard is from the Other World and came to Oz on a heart air balloon. The references to the Other World only appear in dreams showing the mysterious world to be very similar to Oz. Gregory Maguire is perhaps showing the similarities between our society and Oz by using the perspective of a parallel universe to make connections. Our world depicts the Land of Oz to be a fictional location and Maguire does the same for the perspective of the characters in Wicked. Elphaba herself represent a collision between Oz and The Other World because her paternal parents are from two distinct worlds. The collision of the two realities could represent Elphaba’s fate and free will. The Other World (us) see her as the Wicked Witch of the West but the novel Wicked is set in the perspective of the characters from Oz instead of our world (Dorothy).