The primary wicked witch of the west is a character from the classic novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" written by L. Frank Baum. She is one of the main antagonists in the story and is known for her cruelty and evil nature. The wicked witch of the west is first introduced when Dorothy, the protagonist, arrives in the magical land of Oz after being caught in a cyclone. The witch becomes determined to kill Dorothy in order to obtain the silver shoes she is wearing, which possess great power. Throughout the story, she sends her minions, the winged monkeys, to capture Dorothy and bring her to the witch's castle.
The need for power and control drives Ondri-baba. In The Witch Queens, she battles against betrayal. In Crown of the Dreamer, she battles the Wizard for control of the Winged Monkeys. In both cases, her stubborn strength wins the day.
She often, but not always, flies on a broomstick as opposed to her umbrella in the novel , and has a crystal ball through which she can see happenings elsewhere. The Wicked Witch of the West locked Dorothy in a room of the hourglass, but Toto escaped, barking for help to the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion.
Throughout the story, she sends her minions, the winged monkeys, to capture Dorothy and bring her to the witch's castle. The wicked witch of the west is often associated with darkness and fear. She is depicted as having green skin, long black hair, and a hooked nose.
The film version
The best known witch in film history was characterized by Margaret Hamilton in The Wizard of Oz (1939). She was a wicked, cackling menace to Dorothy and her companions, from the beginning, all the way to the end of her miserable life. She controlled the Flying Monkeys, the Jitterbug, and she had a large hourglass filled with red sand. She had no mercy for man nor beast, as exemplified in her well-known quote, “I’ll get you my pretty, and your little dog, too!”
A prequel version of this character appeared in Disney’s, Oz, the Great and Powerful (2013), portrayed by Mila Kunis. She was a young witch who had her heart broken by Oscar Diggs, a con man who was called the Wizard. (I don’t care for this version of any of the characters; more on that in another post.)
She wears a black pointed hat and carries a broomstick, further emphasizing her witch-like appearance. Her cackling laughter and menacing presence add to her intimidating persona. One of the key characteristics of the wicked witch of the west is her ability to use dark magic. She is known for casting spells and curses, such as the spell that turns those who meet her into stone. The witch also has control over the creatures of Oz, including the flying monkeys and the wolves. Despite her malevolent nature, the wicked witch of the west is ultimately defeated by Dorothy and her companions. Dorothy accidentally splashes water on the witch, causing her to melt away. This act of destruction represents the triumph of good over evil in the story. In conclusion, the primary wicked witch of the west is a formidable villain in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Her cruelty, dark magic, and desire for power make her a memorable character. However, she is ultimately defeated by the heroic actions of Dorothy and her friends..
Reviews for "The Primary Wicked Witch of the West: A Complex Character Analysis"
1. Jane - 2/5 - I was really excited to read "Primary Wicked Witch of the West" as I love retellings of classic stories. However, I found the book to be quite disappointing. The plot felt disjointed and rushed, with the characters lacking depth and development. The writing style was mediocre, and I struggled to stay engaged throughout the book. Overall, I found it to be a lackluster retelling that didn't do justice to the original story.
2. Mark - 1/5 - "Primary Wicked Witch of the West" was an absolute letdown. The author completely missed the mark in capturing the essence of the original "Wizard of Oz" story. The characters were bland and uninteresting, and their actions felt forced and unnatural. The pacing was all over the place, with no clear direction or purpose. I was left feeling disappointed and frustrated by the lack of depth and creativity in this retelling.
3. Emily - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Primary Wicked Witch of the West" since I'm a fan of reimagined fairy tales, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The writing was mediocre, and the characters lacked depth and complexity. The plot felt rushed and disjointed, with no clear direction or purpose. Overall, I was left underwhelmed by this retelling and wished for more originality and creativity.
4. Andrew - 1/5 - "Primary Wicked Witch of the West" was a complete waste of time. The author failed to capture the magic and charm of the original story. The characters were one-dimensional and uninteresting, and the plot felt like a jumbled mess. The writing style was lackluster, and I struggled to stay engaged. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating retelling of the "Wizard of Oz."