Feelin' Wicked

Nearly everyone has seen The Wizard of Oz (and those who haven't need to go watch it right this second!), but how many people can say that they know the full story behind the infamously Wicked Witch of the West? Fortunately for her, there are more and more people all the time who do, thanks to Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.

In this novel, that awful green lady is given a name: Elphaba (a phonetic play on The Wizard of Oz's author's name: L. Frank Baum). Elphaba was born with green skin and very sharp teeth, while her younger sister Nessarose (later the Wicked Witch of the East) was born very pink and lacking arms.

It is explained in the novel that Elphaba and Galinda (later Glinda the Good Witch of the South) were unwillingly made roommates at school. They begin their relationship hating one another but eventually grow very close. Elphaba is very passionate about Animal rights ("Animals" in Wicked are talking animals who hold the same rights as humans) and Galinda changes her name to Glinda--their favorite professor's mispronunciation of her name--after the professor is murdered when on the verge of announcing an important discovery showing similarities between Animals and humans. Elphaba takes up his work in secret and falls in love with a young prince named Fiyero, whose body is covered in a pattern of blue diamonds.

Elphaba discovers who is responsible for the professor's murder and she and Glinda travel to Oz to seek the Wizard's help. When they are rebuffed, Elphaba sends Glinda back to school and remains behind, telling Glinda that she cannot see her again and that she shall be taking matters into her own hands.

The next five years are spent in vigilantism for Elphaba, trying to free the Animals and throw the Wizard out of power. Fiyero finds her and they begin an illicit affair, though Fiyero already has a wife and three children. The Gale Force, the Wizard's secret police squad, are looking for Elphaba but find Fiyero alone in her apartment. Fiyero is kidnapped and murdered, sending Elphaba spiraling into a grief so strong that she abandons her cause and spends the next six years as a mute nun.

Eventually, Elphaba returns home at the request of her father to help her sister Nessarose. While there, Nessarose promises Elphaba that she may have her ruby slippers--enchanted by Glinda so that Nessarose may walk without assistance--after her death. This is where our friend Dorothy comes in.

When Dorothy's house falls on Nessarose, killing her, Glinda gives Dorothy the ruby slippers and sends her to find the Wizard, in hopes that he can send her back to Kansas. Glinda fears for Dorothy's safety. Meanwhile, Elphaba is livid that Glinda gave Nessarose's shoes to Dorothy. After meeting with the Wizard, she finds out that Dorothy & Co. are on their way to her castle, possibly to kill her. Elphaba returns to her castle and Dorothy confirms that the Wizard sent them to kill her, but that she really just wants to apologize for killing her sister. Elphaba is doubtful and enraged and accidentally sets herself on fire. Dorothy, trying to help, throws a bucket of water on her to put her out, but melts her instead.

After reading this novel, I couldn't help but feel sorry for Elphaba. Though she has always been referred to as Wicked, she wasn't really. This poor, unfortunately green girl was simply misunderstood.