Symbolism

The Grimmerie

The Grimmerie is portrayed as a book of power, destruction, and mystery. Since the Wizard brought the book from his native land, its existence in the Other World questions the magic existing in our world. Does Oz make the Grimmerie magical, proving that witchcraft existed in the Other World? Is it dangerous, or are the people using it the ones who are dangerous? The Grimmerie symbolically portrays the Wizard and represents the theme of power and corruption. Irony is used in the novel Wicked when Elphaba uses the Grimmerie to perform experiments on genetic material. Her experiment uses the book of spells to play god which is similar to the Wizards desires. She uses the Grimmerie to construct wings on the monkey’s she has rescued which distorts god’s creation. Her experimentation proves to us that the Grimmerie can cause danger and potential corruption to its user. Originally, Elphaba only wanted to prove the substantial difference between an Animal and an animal by testing their speech therapy, but eventually begins to perform experiments that reveal no good motive.

The Mirror

When Elphaba was a child, Turtle Heart makes a surprising appearance and makes her a mirror. This mirror (also called the looking-glass) represents the theme of sight and witnessing to help see things as they are. Elphaba is enchanted by the mirror at an early age and is the only one in her home (besides Turtle Heart) to see things in it. Another interesting point aspect is the level of understanding she has when looking into the mirror. While Turtle Heart explains his experiences in Quadling Country under the Wizards rule, Elphaba is prompted to say one of her favourite words while looking into the mirror; “horrors”.“She held it in two hands, and stared at it with one eye closed. She peered, she squinted; her open eye was distant and hollow. Reflection from the starlight off the water, thought Frex, hoped Frex, but he knew the bright vacant eye was not lit by starlight” (Maguire 25). Elphaba later misplaces her mirror as an adult and loses the ability to fully see (physically and metaphorically) as a child. She starts to become practical with age and denies the existence of souls, other worlds, god and sometimes magic. She becomes blind of her surroundings because she loses her lack of imagination. When she retrieves the mirror from the dwarf she can only see the present. The mirror also helped Elphaba see herself as a human being and self reflect on her life. "She thought: the Witch with her mirror. Who do we ever see but ourselves, and that's the curse" (5.11.21). The mirror has the ability to provide a better understanding of the world and an individual’s place in it.

The Familiars

The familiars are a bunch of animals that accompany Elphaba during her political crusade. There are a swarm of killer bees; a talking monkey; crows; and a dog named Killjoy. Since Elphaba is a witch, the familiars were extremely eccentric to suit her appearance. The familiars spread the message that appearances can be deceiving (which is a common theme in Wicked). The familiars prove to be loyal, helpful and loving around Elphaba which contrasts with the first impression of the creatures.

Conflicts

Elphaba vs. Society

One of the main conflicts in the novel Wicked is Elphaba’s war against society. Her green complexion and abnormal physical attributes were not accepted because it was not considered the “norm”. Through the course of her life she had to face obstacles and fight the prejudice of society. Her strong dedication and support for animal rights psychologically connects with the manner in which she was treated. The individual’s in Elphaba’s environment continuously treated her as an outcast who did not belong. Her fight for animal rights represented her counter-attack for the treatment she received from society.  After she joined the rebellion against the Wizard, she officially became an enemy of the state. Her views opposed the “proper” ideology of society. The Wizard even ordered Dorothy to murder Elphaba to eliminate the enemy of Oz. Elphaba was constantly deemed a villain from her birth due to her eccentric appearance and her future actions have continued to oppose the norm.

The “Dorothy” Problem

Munchkinland is visited by a storm that propels a house in the air carrying the infamous passenger, Dorothy Gale. Once stepping out of the Kansas bound home she was greeted by the citizens of Munchkinland proclaiming that the witch was dead (Nessarose). Glinda appears out of the blue and sends Dorothy to Oz hoping th Wizard could send her back to the Wizard. For protection, Glinda gives the shoes of Nessarose to Dorothy. Elphaba arrives at the funeral to find out that the shoes she has wanted all her life have been given to another individual. After her return to Kiamo Ko she learns of the plan the Wizard orchestrated to kill Elphaba using Dorothy and her companions. When Elphaba sends her familiars to lead Dorothy and her friends to the castle, they misinterpreted their actions and murdered them all. Dorothy reveals that her main intention was not to kill Elphaba, but to apologise for killing Nessarose. Dorothy throws a bucket of water on Elphaba after she became furious and inadvertently sets her skirt on fire. Elphaba’s fear of water becomes clear when she begins to melt leaving the infamous hat on the floor. In the novel Wicked, Elphaba and Dorothy have many things in common (both have ties to Oz, The Other World, and both “witnesses”). "I see myself there: the girl witness, wide-eyed as Dorothy. Staring at a world too terrible to comprehend, believing ...that beneath this unbreakable contract of guilt and blame there is always an older contract that may bind and release in a more salutary way." (Maguire 279) They have strong connections but the have one main difference is their life.  Dorothy seems to be everything Elphaba isn’t and she does not have to try very hard to get the things she wants. "Everything I have, every little thing I have, dies when you come across it," said the Witch” (Maguire 322).Destruction seems to shadow behind Dorothy and effects the people around her (tornado in Kansas, death of Nessarose and Elphaba). Elphaba is considered the evil figure while Dorothy is seen as a saint.

The End...

Wicked explores the theme of destiny in a very vague and complex manner. Elphaba simultaneously has fate and free will in the novel Wicked. The reader ultimately knows Elphaba’s fate as the Wicked Witch of the West but the novel provides the opportunity of choice to her character. The Wicked Witch of the West is a simplistic character presented from the Wizard of Oz but Wicked illustrates a complex variation of the one sided character. The reading experience is an important aspect when reading the novel Wicked. Readers spend the entire book aware of Elphaba’s destiny as the Wicked Witch of the West. Elphaba begins to feel as if a malign being is controlling her life and she begins to become hopeless and analytical about her past by blaming her struggle through life on other individuals. . “I just mean, Glinda, is it possible we could be living our entire adult lives under someone's spell? How could we tell if we were the pawns of someone's darker game (Maguire 442)? Wicked can be considered a tale of destiny because of the foreknowledge of the reader but does it also provide an explanation of her death? 

Characters

Wizard of Oz

- is a human who came to Oz from Earth in a hot air balloon

- Originally seeking the Grimmerie sidetracked when he discovered he could overthrow the Ozma Regent

- It is heavily implied that he fathered Elphaba while her mother was under the influence of the Miracle Elixir, which may explain Elphaba's green skin, her fear of water and ability to read parts of the Grimmerie

Dorothy Gale

- 12 year-old girl

-her house travels with a tornado landing in oz

-accidently crushes Nessarose with her house (killing her)

- takes Nessarose's shoes under the advice of Glinda

-The Wizard sends Dorothy to kill Elphaba (Dorothy's intention is to ask forgiveness from Elphaba for killing Nessarose

- the slippers will not come off her feet

-accidentally kills Elphaba by pouring water on her in an attempt to put out a fire on Elphaba's dress

Liir

- a boy who leaves the mauntery with Elphaba for the Vinkus

- It is strongly implied that Liir is the son of Elphaba and Fiyero

-Extremely chubby

- Liir plays with his half-siblings

- Liir and Elphaba stay with Fiyero's widow

- intends to find a way of rescuing his half-sister (Nor) from her slavery

Yackle

- A mysterious crone who appears frequently in Elphaba's life

-Elphaba suspects that Yackle may be exerting control over her fate

-Her appearance resembles a fiend called the "Yakal" which is pictured in the Grimmerie

- takes care of the homeless Elphaba

Mister Boss

- a dwarf who claims to be an immortal 

-sent to Oz to prevent the Grimmerie from returning to Earth

-with his Clock of the Time Dragon

- seems to be controlling Elphaba’s fate or predicting it

Grommetik

- a tik tok creature who is a servant to Madame Morrible.

- killed Doctor Dillamond

 Chistery Nikko, Killyjoy, the Bees, and the Crows

- animals which accompany Elphaba on her way to Kiamo Ko

-The bees are taken along as a source of honey for the travelers

-Killyjoy (the cook's dog) takes a liking to Liir, who decides to keep him

-Princess Nastoya gives the crows to Elphaba (to send them to her if she needs help with anything and tells Elphaba that they are to be her familiars)

- Chistery Nikko is an abandoned infant snow monkey (whom Elphaba rescues) Elphaba sews wings onto the backs of him creating the winged monkeys.

 Avaric Tenmeadows

- is a friend of Boq's and Galinda's

-Gillikenese nobility

-handsome and the "perfect friend" (Maguire 298)

-kills Madame Morrible

Crope and Tibbett

- attend Shiz University

-They are both Emerald City boys

- may be gay or bisexual

-Tibbett is brought to Elphaba's nunnery with an incurable disease (never explained what this illness was)

-His death inspires Elphaba to leave the nunnery

 -Crope becomes an actor and managing an arts auction house

Shell Thropp

- Elphaba and Nessarose's younger brother

-mother dies giving birth to him

Sarima

-Sarima is Fiyero's wife and the mother of his three legitimate children

-Dowager Princess of The Arjikis.

-develops a friendship with Elphaba

-She is taken away by Commander Cherrystone

Irji

- son of Fiyero and Sarima.

-brother to Manek and Nor

-Irji is the oldest of the three and is next in line to be the Prince of the Arjiki tribe

-grows as a character (becomes more strong-willed and open, experiences puberty)

-When his family is captured, he is murdered publicly with the Paraffin Necklace

Manek

- son of Fiyero and Sarima

- character is a trouble maker and sociopath (manipulative, pathological liar, charismatic)

-Manek is very strong willed

-considered (by his aunts) a better choice as prince of the Arjiki tribe

- killed by a falling icicle (possibly accidentally charmed by Elphaba)

Nor

-Nor is the daughter of Fiyero and Sarima.

-she is a nine year old girl

-She is often bullied by her brother Manek

- Nor becomes more independent after Manek’s death

-enjoys snooping around Elphaba's room and possessions

- First makes Elphaba see that her broom is magical

- taken captive by the Gale Force

-Nor is held prisoner by the Wizard and used to blackmail Elphaba

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).

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?”