Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

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

Publisher’s weekly illustrates Elphaba as a monster who grows up to be an unconventional representation of how readers depict her. Her green complexion and “huge teeth”  are mentioned to provide contrast between her activism in animal rights and nursing other individuals. They deem this relationship “strange and imaginative” because it is not commonly seen in pop-culture. The article seems to play into the stereotypical aspect of The Wizard of Oz which is the complete contrast of “Wicked”. They call the novel a modern retelling of the classic story to create a “tense realm” that is open for interpretation. The Publisher’s Weekly article mentions the Wizard as a type of dictator that restricts the rights of animals in Oz. They call her mother a “giddy alcoholic” and father a “hermit-like minister”. They depict the humor as “puckish" and say that the novel has a tendency to believe in the worst aspects while lacking hope and confidence for the future. The theme of good and evil receives a nod of approval for its “fantastical meditation” and complexity. The article concluded by saying Elphaba’s free will captivates readers even though her future is clear before opening the novel.

Source Citation

"Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West." Publishers Weekly 21 Aug. 1995: 45. General OneFile. Web. 19 Oct. 2011.

Document URL

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?&id=GALE%7CA17203147&v=2.1&u=ko_k12hs_d21&it=r&p=GPS&sw=w