Wicked (novel)
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Unlike the popular 1939 movie and Baum's writings, this novel is not directed at children. It contains language and content which catches some readers by surprise. Wicked, the hit Broadway musical based upon the novel, is also very different in tone from Maguire's book. While the musical is meant to be enjoyed by all ages, the book is clearly intended for adult readers.
The musical is a lavish production that originally starred Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth as Galinda, and Joel Grey as The Wizard.
A sequel to Wicked, entitled Son of a Witch, was published in fall of 2005.
Plot
The novel is a political, social, and ethical commentary on what good and evil really are. The story centers around Elphaba, the misunderstood green-skinned girl who grows up to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West. Elphaba acquired her green skin through one of her mother's affairs (a man of unknown ethnicity and a green liquid in a green bottle that he feeds to the pregnant Melena) and was also born with incredibly sharp teeth. It tells of her time at Shiz University, as well as her journey to the Emerald City and The Vinkus, among other places in Oz. The book explains Elphaba's motives and examines her true personality. Many familiar characters from Oz are featured in Wicked, including the Wizard, Glinda (here originally called "Galinda" but later adopting the name Glinda out of respect for Dr. Dillamond who often mispronounced her name), the Wicked Witch of the East (here called Nessarose), and Dorothy. Maguire also introduces several new characters including Fiyero, Madame Morrible, and Doctor Dillamond.Characters
- Elphaba is the primary protagonist of the story, who eventually becomes known as the Wicked Witch of the West. She acquires this nickname more as a result of her sister's nickname (the Wicked Witch of the East, who was so named by her political opponents) than for any wicked deeds. Wicked adds details regarding the social and political climate of Oz which make Elphaba a more sympathetic character. She is driven into conflict with The Wizard out of concern for the welfare of sentient and linguistically adept Animals who are suffering under the discriminatory and increasingly genocidal policies of The Wizard. Dorothy unwittingly becomes embroiled in the conflict after her house kills Elphaba's sister Nessarose; Glinda gives Dorothy Nessarose's famously magicked shoes, which Elphaba fears may cause immense harm if they fall into the hands of the Wizard. Elphaba's name comes from sounding out Oz author L. Frank Baum's initials, "LFB".
- Nessarose is Elphaba's sister. She eventually inherits the position of Eminent Thropp, leader of the state of Munchkinland. Through this position, she coerces Munchkinland into seceding from Oz. As a political leader of Munchkinland, she has both supporters and detractors. Her unhappy subjects nickname her "the Wicked Witch of the East". Nessarose is also the apple of her father Frexspar's (Frex) eye, and his most favored child out of three. She was born armless, possibly as a result of her mother's attempts to prevent another green child, and the silver shoes are charmed by Glinda to help her to become more independent.
- Galinda, later Glinda, is Elphaba's roommate at Shiz University. As she matures, she and Elphaba become close friends. It is implied as well that perhaps Galinda has feelings for Elphaba; indeed, she cares for her deeply, and Elphaba for her in return. However, the two are separated for fifteen years when Elphaba goes into hiding. Glinda is part of the high society in Gillikin, Oz's northern state.
- Fiyero is the prince of the Vinkus, Oz's western state. He meets Elphaba at Shiz, and later has an affair with her while she is involved in a resistance movement against the Wizard of Oz. This leads to his murder by the Gale Force, the Wizard's secret police. Elphaba and Liir later take residence in Fiyero's wife's home.
- The Wizard is the dictator of Oz, and primary villain of the story. He originally came to Oz from America in a hot air balloon seeking the Grimmerie, but became sidetracked when he discovered he could orchestrate a coup in Oz. It is heavily implied that he fathered Elphaba while her mother was under the influence of the Magical Elixir, which may explain Elphaba's green skin, aversion to water, and ability to occasionally read parts of the Grimmerie, which originated in the Wizard's world. After Elphaba's death and Dorothy's return to the Emerald City, the Wizard hastily leaves Oz for America in another (or the same) hot air balloon, and plans his suicide. After taking the Magical Elixir herself, Elphaba sees visions of the future, in which the Wizard fails to drown himself in the ocean. This is consistent with Baum's books, in which the Wizard later returns to Oz, alive.
- Madame Morrible is the headmistress of Elphaba and Galinda's college (Crage Hall) in Shiz. She is suspected by Elphaba and her friends to be responsible for the murder of Dr. Dillamond. At one point, she proposes that Elphaba, Galinda, and Nessarose become future behind-the-scenes rulers in Oz, a proposal which they never willingly follow up on. Elphaba suspects that Madame Morrible has at least some magical powers and may have indeed controlled the fates of the three women. It is possible that she spies on Elphaba and sends messages to Liir through the Carp in the well at Elphaba's home in the Vinkus; the Carp dies at about the same time as Morrible. Morrible dies of natural causes minutes before Elphaba attempts to murder her.
- Dr. Dillamond is a talking Goat and professor at Crage Hall in Shiz. Assisted by Elphaba, Dr. Dillamond performs research on the differences between animals and Animals (intelligent animals). He suspiciously dies from a slit throat; Madame Morrible claims that this an accident, but her account is contradicted by Galinda’s Ama (chaperone) who claims she witnessed the event.
- Boq is a Munchkin who grew up with Elphaba, and reunites with her at Shiz University. At first he is only interested in talking to Elphaba in the hope that it will help his crush, Galinda, notice him. However, over time Boq and Elphaba become close friends and help Dr. Dillamond with his research.
- Dorothy Gale is an eight- or nine-year-old girl who lands in Oz in her house, which crushes Nessarose. She takes Nessarose's shoes under the advisement of Glinda. These shoes are seen by many as a symbol of power over Munchkinland. During her travels, many citizens of Oz are superstitious about her because of these shoes and her name. Her first name sounds like a reversal of the name of the "king" of her land (Theodore Roosevelt). The Gale Force fear her for her last name. The Wizard sends Dorothy to kill Elphaba, but Dorothy's intention is to ask her for forgiveness for killing Nessarose. Elphaba does not know whether to treat Dorothy with kindness or to fear her. Dorothy accidentally kills Elphaba by pouring water on her in an attempt to put out a fire on Elphaba's dress.
- Liir is a boy who leaves the Emerald City with Elphaba for the Vinkus. It is heavily implied that Elphaba is his mother and Fiyero is his father. She does indeed admit that there is a year of her life she does not remember, during which she could have borne Liir. He is also the main character of Maguire's sequel to Wicked, Son of a Witch.
- Yackle is a mysterious crone who appears frequently in Elphaba's life and who Elphaba suspects may be exerting control over her fate and be Lurline, the mythical founder of Oz.
- The dwarf claims to be an immortal sent to Oz to prevent the Grimmerie from returning to Earth. With his Clock of the Time Dragon, he seems to Elphaba to either be able to control fate or predict it.
- Frexspar is Elphaba, Nessarose, and Shell's father (at least in the emotional and physical sense; there are questions of whether he may or may not share biology with some of the children.) Frex is a devout Unionist priest. Nessarose was his favorite child, and to her he gave the famous jewelled slippers.
- Melena is Elphaba, Nessarose, and Shell's mother, and comes from a high class family. She has mostly pagan traditions, which contradicts with Frex's statements. She has very loose morals, and dreams of her days as a pampered girl, despite her rebelling against it when she was present. She has a taste for alcohol and pinlobble leaves.
- Turtle Heart is a wandering glassblower from Quadling country. He comes upon Melena's home while Frex is out preaching. Melena and Turtle Heart have an extended affair and it is suggested that Frex may have had intimate relations with him as well.
Objects
- The Grimmerie (derived from grimoire) is a book of Magic that originated on Earth but was taken to Oz by a wizard to prevent it from being used for evil. It is sought by the Wizard of Oz and is the reason he traveled to Oz. It ends up in the possession of Elphaba.
- The Magical Elixir is a bottle of potion that Elphaba keeps with her throughout her life. It was presented to Elphaba's mother once who took it and had bizarre dreams. It may have been the Wizard who gave it to Elphaba's mother and fathered Elphaba at that time. Elphaba takes some of the Elixir late in life and has many prophetic dreams. Some are so disturbing to her that she rarely sleeps for the rest of her life. This may contribute to her loss of wits near the end of her life. This is the object Dorothy takes to the Wizard as proof of Elphaba's death.
- The Clock of the Time Dragon is a travelling show which contains many magicked tiktok puppets that act out prophetic scenes. It is the center of the pleasure faith religion and is accompanied by the dwarf. Elphaba is born inside the Time Dragon, and receives the revelation that the Wizard is her father from the Dragon.
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Wicked (Wicked (book series)>The books | The musical)
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