The nasty witch of The Wizard of Oz is a character that plays a significant role in the well-known children's novel by L. Frank Baum. In the story, the nasty witch, whose name is the Wicked Witch of the West, is portrayed as an evil and ruthless figure that seeks to harm Dorothy and her friends. She is described as having green skin, a hooked nose, and a menacing cackle. The main idea of this character is to show the power of good over evil and the importance of friendship and bravery. Throughout the story, the Wicked Witch of the West attempts to hinder Dorothy's journey to meet the Wizard of Oz and obtain her way back home.
Eventually, other writers gave Wanda’s brand of magic a specific source: The God-of-Chaos-turned-ancient-demon-turned-Lovecraft-style -creepy-force-of-darkness-locked-away-in-an-alternate-dimension Chthon. Chthon’s place of power was Mount Wundagore, a fictional place in Eastern Europe where Wanda just happened to have been born. That’s probably not going to make it into WandaVision, but it does put Wanda among the Marvel Universe’s foremost wielders of Chaos Magic.
Eventually, other writers gave Wanda s brand of magic a specific source The God-of-Chaos-turned-ancient-demon-turned-Lovecraft-style -creepy-force-of-darkness-locked-away-in-an-alternate-dimension Chthon. As it turns out, it took a now-revealed villain in Agatha Harkness familiar with the dark arts to recognize Wanda s actions as coming from something called Chaos Magic.
Throughout the story, the Wicked Witch of the West attempts to hinder Dorothy's journey to meet the Wizard of Oz and obtain her way back home. She sends her flying monkeys to capture Dorothy and her companions, and even sets fire to the Scarecrow. However, her efforts are constantly thwarted by Dorothy's determination, her friends' bravery, and the help of the Good Witch of the North.
WandaVision finally said the ‘Scarlet Witch’ part out loud
Susana Polo is an entertainment editor at Polygon, specializing in pop culture and genre fare, with a primary expertise in comic books. Previously, she founded The Mary Sue.
Since Wanda Maximoff’s introduction in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, Marvel Comics fans have been waiting for the character to reach the universe-shaking power of her incarnation in the comics, Scarlet Witch. And WandaVision has been making good on that, what with Wanda taking control of an entire New Jersey town from the molecules up.
But this week, the Disney Plus series gave Scarlet Witch fans one more reason to celebrate, and opened up the Marvel Cinematic Universe to a host of possibilities.
[Ed. Note: This piece contains spoilers for WandaVision through episode 8.]
Image: Marvel Studios
You could say that episode 8, “Previously On,” was also a tribute to classic television, if you could reimagine This Is Your Life as This Is Your Trauma. Under duress from Agatha Harkness, Wanda relived the moments of tragedy that lead to her current inner turmoil, starting with the day her parents died, continuing with how she got her powers from the Mind Stone in a Hydra laboratory, and concluding with her growing close to and then losing the Vision.
It was all because Agatha had a hunch that Wanda was a real witch, not just a Hydra experiment, and a burning need to find out how she had become so powerful. Agatha has been practicing dark magic for over 400 years, but had never come close to the power or skill necessary to mind control and transform an entire town for weeks.
The episode concludes with Agatha announcing her realization. “You’re supposed to be a myth. A being capable of spontaneous creation [. ] This is Chaos Magic, Wanda. And that makes you the Scarlet Witch.”
The Wicked Witch of the West represents the embodiment of evil in the story. Her green skin symbolizes her wickedness and the darkness that surrounds her. Her ruthless actions and desire to cause harm convey a sense of danger and fear. However, the main message of the story is that evil can be overcome through acts of kindness, courage, and the power of friendship. In the end, it is not brute strength or magical powers that defeat the Wicked Witch of the West, but rather a clever and resourceful plan executed by Dorothy and her friends. This highlights the importance of using intelligence and strategy to overcome challenges. By working together, they manage to melt the witch with a bucket of water, ending her reign of terror and allowing Dorothy to return home safely. Overall, the nasty witch of The Wizard of Oz serves as a symbol of evil and the obstacles that must be overcome on the journey to find oneself. Her defeat showcases the power of good and the triumph of friendship and bravery. Through this character, the readers are reminded to face their fears, help others, and believe in their abilities to conquer any wicked witch that comes their way..
Reviews for "The Nasty Witch's Legacy: How The Wizard of Oz Continues to Influence Popular Culture"
1. Jane - 1 star - I was really disappointed with "The Nasty Witch of The Wizard of Oz". The story seemed disjointed and lacked depth. The characters were poorly developed and it was hard to connect with any of them. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural. Overall, it just didn't capture the magic and charm of the original Wizard of Oz story. I would not recommend this book to fans of the Wizard of Oz.
2. Mark - 2 stars - "The Nasty Witch of The Wizard of Oz" was a letdown for me. The plot felt predictable and lacked originality. The writing style was mediocre at best and failed to engage me. The narrative dragged on unnecessarily and I found myself getting bored. The author's attempt at adding a new twist to the classic story fell flat, and I was left feeling disappointed. I would not recommend this book to anyone expecting a fresh take on The Wizard of Oz.
3. Sarah - 1 star - I couldn't get through "The Nasty Witch of The Wizard of Oz". The writing was amateurish and the story felt disjointed. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth. The author seemed to rely too heavily on the original Wizard of Oz concept without adding anything new or exciting. The book felt like a poor attempt at capitalizing on a beloved story rather than a genuine creative endeavor. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable read.