Survery of Author's & Secondary Sources

Author: Gregory Maguire/ Title: Wicked

 Interest Towards Author

the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz

My interest towards this author was established through my combining fascination and curiosity towards the story of the little green skinned girl named  Elphaba (or more commonly familiarised as The Wicked Witch of the West).  It is fair to say that my motive to read the novel was not due to my prior knowledge of the author, but because of the positive critical acclaim surrounding the musical adaptation of Wicked. But simultaneously,  i can not conclude my reasoning with out confessing Gregory Maguire’s contributions towards the choice of my novel. Since i was an infant, i have considered the Wizard of Oz to be my favorite film. So when Ms. Brievik (my present english teacher) recommended me the novel Wicked and explained how it exhibited the wicked witch of the west as the main protagonist, i was automatically hooked. Grergory Maguire’s continuity from the "Wizard of Oz" has the power to make it stand on it’s own as a separate identity and simultaneously as equals.

Biograghy

Gregory Maguire in 2003

Gregory Maguire is an author born on June 9^th, 1954 in Albany New York. His mother died while he was an infant and he was raised by his aunt due to complications with his father. He received his B.A. and Ph.D. in English and american literature. He was a proffeser at Simmons College and co-direcor of children`s literature. In 1979, Maguire co-founded a non-profit charity called Childrens Literature of New England and a board member of the National Children`s Book and Literacy Alliance. He currently has a wife named Andy Newman and three adopted children from undeveloped nations.

Other Published Works/Genres

Confession of an Ugly Step
 Sister by Gregory Maguire

Gregory Maguire is a popular author among children and adults and his novels show a wide range of versatality from genres to age group. Maguire commonly uses fantasy in his novels but in a realistic manner which can be associated with the world we live in.His popular works are frequently continuations of classic stories that are in the point of view of other individuals. Maguire  has also written a five-novel trilogy through an unorthodox perspective from the characters in “The Wizard of Oz” entitled“the Wicked Years” and a series for young readers called the “Hamlet Chronicles”.
Confessions of an Ugly Step Sister-The tale of the classic story of `Cinderella` in the perspective of one of her ugly stepsisters

Lost- revolves around a writer trying to solve the mystery of her missing cousin and the strange supernatural presence that exists in her old aprtment

Missing Sisters – about an orphan who realises she has a twin after going to summer camp

Making Mischief: A Maurice Sendak Appreciation- an analytical overview of the illustrations in “Where the Wild Things Are”

Influence



The Wicked With of the West from "the Wizard of Oz"





Hitler in 1937



Gregory Maguire’s writing is notably influenced from past children’s stories. He uses the general plot line while adding depth to the incomplex original. Maguire was raised in the late 1950’s so he was constantly exposed to the annual broadcasting of the Wizard of Oz. The habitual theme of good and evil was introduced while watching a news story about a child who was kidnapped and murdered by a pair of schoolboy’s. Continuous thought about the nature of evil prompted his actions to write the novel “wicked” as a means of exploring the underlying motives of villainous individuals. Gregory Maguire’s mother died while giving birth to him and coincidentally, Elphaba’s sister became disabled after her mother continuously ate a sleep inducing herb for the hope that her second child would not have green skin. Elphaba was guilt ridden about her sister’s disability because she believed her green skin was what prompted her mother’s actions. After Gregory Maguire’s mother passed away, he wound up living with his aunt. The second half of his childhood was exposed to literature from his aunt’s poetry and it was an early influence in his creative writing. Wicked was also influenced by a news article which compared Saddam Hussein to Adolf Hitler. The article frightened him because he began thinking about evil in modern day society. The beginning of the gulf war prompted his complex thoughts about the nature of good and evil. This began the writing process of the novel “Wicked” where the characters do not seem to display a clear moral standing. The Wizard’s leadership in “Wicked” can be closely compared to Adolf Hitler’s rule. The animals (Jewish race during the Nazi rule) were not treated as equal citizens and had minimal rights compared to the humans (Aryan race). As you can clearly distinguish, Gregory Maguire’s writing was influenced by many events that occurred in and around his life. He even quoted that his past often subconsciously appears in his writing technique because the events in our life shape us as human beings.   

Themes in “Wicked"

Nature of Good and Evil

Elphaba and Belinda in the Broadway
musical "Wicked"

The main them in “wicked” is the nature of good and evil. Throughout the novel, the definition of these two identities has unsuccessfully been resolved. “Wicked” teaches us that evil is a matter of perception instead of fact. We know Elphaba’s ultimate fate as the Wicked Witch of the West but the story provides the reader with a new perspective which supports her actions with reason. Since we are taking the journey through life beside Elphaba, the audience can only sympathise with the character.
Fate

the Wicked Witch of the West in
"The Wizard of Oz"

Elphaba’s death as the Wicked Witch of The West is known before the reader even opens the book. Was her life predetermined? Was she in control of her life or was she merely waiting for her impending doom. The knowledge the reader beholds before reading the novel is an important aspect in this theme because free will seems to be non-existent from the time she is born to her untimely death.
Religion

Religion is an important theme in “Wicked” because it is a constant aspect in the Land of Oz. Elphaba’s father is a priest and follows unionism. The people practiced their religion very spiritually and affected every aspect of their lives. The Land of Oz is commonly divided by different types of religion which can ultimately lead to violence and discrimination. The Land of Oz closely ties with the world we live in where people used to be divided by their belief system and race.

Family

Elphaba’s family is a recurring theme in “Wicked”. After her birth, she is secluded from the outside world and her family becomes her only source of human interaction. The theme continues after the birth of her disabled sister, Nessa. They are closely tied because they both share physical abnormalities.

Women

Broadway musical, "Wicked" 

The women of “Wicked” have played a significant role throughout the start of the novel. The witches of Oz are the powerful figures in “The Wizard of Oz” and are concentrated of all female identities. Also, the novel is set in the perspective of Elphaba, a female figure. 
Their characters often shape the course of the novel and have the highest significance when it comes to their roles. Examples- Elphaba, Melena, The Nanny, Nessa, Glinda, Sarima

Similar Authors

J.R.R. Tolkien

These authors closely tie with Gregory Maguire because they have published works that are retellings from other prospective (not only characters, but “common” settings are shown in a different light).

Donna Jo Napoli, Priscilla Galloway, Robin McKinley

These authors write fantasy similar to Maguire’s technique. The setting is illustrated in another world completely different from our own.

CS Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling


Biograghy:

• “Gregory Maguire.” Gale Databases n. Pag. Gale Literacy Databases. Database. 11 October 2011.
• "Interview: Gregory Maguire Discusses His Book Wicked, Which Is the Basis for a New Musical, and His Other Work Based on Fairy Tales." National Public Radio. ProQuest Learning: Literature, 30 Aug. 2003. Web. 11 Oct. 2011.<http://literature.proquestlearning.com/quick/displayMultiItem.do?Multi=yes&ResultsID=13256B6D7D8&forAuthor=0&QueryName=reference&ItemNumber=1>.
• Bakkum, Beth. "Gregory Maguire." Writer 3(2007):66. eLibrary. Web. 11 Oct. 2011.
• "Mr. 'Wicked'." New York Times Magazine. 11 Mar. 2007 eLibrary. Web. 11 Oct. 2011.
• Gregory Maguire Home Page, http://www.gregorymaguire.com (October 11, 2011).

Critical Articles:

• "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West," Publishers Weekly 21 Aug. 1995: 14. General OneFile. Web 11 Oct. 2011.(http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?&id=GALE%7CA17203147&v=2.1&u=ko_k12hs_d21&it=r&p=GPS&sw=w)
• Mediatore, Katie. "Mistress of her intergalactic domain." Booklist 15 Apr. 2005: 1443. General OneFile. Web. 11 Oct. 2011(http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?&id=GALE%7CA137502539&v=2.1&u=ko_k12hs_d21&it=r&p=GPS&sw=w)
• Fraser. Stephen. "Wicked with words: Gregory Maguire reimagines fairy tale." Writing! Feb.-Mar.2006:8+. General OneFile. Web. 11 Oct. 2011. (http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?&id=GALE%7CA141492675&v=2.1&u=ko_k12hs_d21&it=r&p=GPS&sw=w)