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.