The Wicked Witch of the West is a fictional character from L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and its subsequent adaptations, including the famous 1939 film adaptation "The Wizard of Oz." She is one of the primary antagonists in the story and is known for her green skin, black pointed hat, and long black dress. The Wicked Witch of the West is portrayed as a malevolent and power-hungry witch who seeks to regain control over the magical silver slippers that Dorothy Gale accidentally acquired upon arriving in the Land of Oz. She is determined to obtain the slippers because they possess the power to grant their wearer any wish they desire. Throughout the story, the Wicked Witch of the West uses various tactics to try and retrieve the slippers from Dorothy.
"Oz the Great and Powerful" presents two forms of flying primate. The first is a chipper, chatty monkey in a bellhop's uniform who proves to be one of Oscar's closest allies; the others are big, bat-winged baboons who gleefully ravage the good people of Oz at the command of the Wicked Witch.
The first is a chipper, chatty monkey in a bellhop s uniform who proves to be one of Oscar s closest allies; the others are big, bat-winged baboons who gleefully ravage the good people of Oz at the command of the Wicked Witch. Oz the Great and Powerful predates The Wizard of Oz by at least 16 years in the connective chronology, so there s no Dorothy here though we do meet her mom.
Throughout the story, the Wicked Witch of the West uses various tactics to try and retrieve the slippers from Dorothy. She sends her flying monkeys to capture Dorothy and her companions, and she casts spells and uses dark magic in an attempt to defeat them. Despite her best efforts, the Wicked Witch of the West is ultimately defeated when Dorothy accidentally throws a bucket of water on her, causing her to melt away.
'Oz the Great and Powerful' Vs. 'The Wizard of Oz' Vs. 'Wicked': Breaking Down the Monkeys, Witches and Yellow Brick Roads
You know the Wizard of Oz is wonderful, great and powerful. Victor Fleming's "The Wizard of Oz" has been telling us that for generations. But what was Oz like before Dorothy and her little dog arrived from Kansas and shook things up?
The world of Oz created by children's author L. Frank Baum is so rich with storytelling possibilities that other writers have offered enchanting prequels of their own. The Broadway sensation "Wicked" focuses on the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West, while Sam Raimi's new movie "Oz the Great and Powerful" explores how the Wizard came to Oz, greatness and power.
As someone whose experienced both the thrill of seeing "Wicked" on Broadway and the exhilaration of Raimi's 3D journey into Oz, I've compiled a string of comparisons on how each of these dueling prequels tap into the iconography we all know and love.
Be warned, there are SPOILERS for both "Wicked" and "Oz the Great and Powerful" ahead.
Land of Oz
In "The Wizard of Oz," the citizens of Oz live in perpetual fear of the Wicked Witch, despite the best efforts of Glinda the Good Witch and the Wizard. Festively dressed Munchkins hide in tiny villages as she and her sister's cruel flying monkeys rain terror all along the Yellow Brick Road.
In "Wicked," we see familiar locations like the witch's castle, Munchkinland and the Emerald City. But we're also shown that Oz is changing. Anthropomorphic animals that have long talked, taught and functioned as members of the community are being caged and literally made speechless.
In "Oz the Great and Powerful," Raimi takes the opportunity to expand Oz beyond the poppy fields and Yellow Brick Road, revealing glowing-eyed Venus flytraps, a "chinatown" populated by living porcelain dolls, river fairies with razor-sharp teeth and a tribe of genius tinkers who can build anything imaginable. But it's a place terrorized by an evil witch . though her identity is a mystery.
The Witches
In both prequels, we're treated to the Witch with her trademark green skin, pointed black hat and broom. In "Wicked" she starts out green but kind-hearted. "Oz the Great and Powerful" introduces her as beautiful and peach-skinned, but with a fiery temper that soon spurs her to change inside and out for the worse.
The former deals in moral ambiguity; the latter paints her as born to be bad. "Wicked" presents the Witch as a misunderstood outcast; "Oz the Great and Powerful" shows her as evil to her core with the cackle to prove it. Similarly, Glinda is less good/more complex in "Wicked" and nothing but sweetness and light in "Oz."
The Wizard
In "The Wizard of Oz," the man behind the curtain is revealed to be essentially a con man from Kansas with no powers but a penchant for thoughtful gift-giving. This approach is closely followed in "Oz the Great and Powerful," as Oscar 'Oz' Diggs starts off a as womanizing scoundrel and sideshow magician who plays the people of Oz for his own ends until he sees the light . well, rather, Glinda.
Where Raimi's movie shows the will-be wizard's arrival to Oz, "Wicked" has him already ruling over it. At the play's start, he's an idol to the young and not-yet-wicked Witch . that is, until she discovers his evil plan to make Oz more like his homeland, striking its animal citizens dumb and forcing conformity. Here his wonderfulness is all smoke and mirrors.
Monkeys
The chattering minions of the Witch in "The Wizard of Oz" also get an origin in "Wicked." There she creates them at the command of the wizard to show him her incredible prowess in spell casting. Regrettably, it's a spell she can't undo.
"Oz the Great and Powerful" presents two forms of flying primate. The first is a chipper, chatty monkey in a bellhop's uniform who proves to be one of Oscar's closest allies; the others are big, bat-winged baboons who gleefully ravage the good people of Oz at the command of the Wicked Witch.
Dorothy & Company
"Wicked" serves as an origin story not just for the witches and flying monkeys but also for the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. The Witch creates each in a well-meaning but flawed attempt at heroism. As for Dorothy, her arrival via falling house proves key to the plot, though she's never seen on stage.
"Oz the Great and Powerful" predates "The Wizard of Oz" by at least 16 years in the connective chronology, so there's no Dorothy here (though we do meet her mom). Oscar is sort of given credit for the creation of Dorothy's friends, having declared a lion a "coward" after scaring him off with a smoke bomb, and urging the tinkers to make metal men dressed as scarecrows (these later two are more nods to "The Wizard of Oz" than thorough allusions, though). In the end, this one is all about Oscar becoming the titular Great and Powerful Oz.
There are so many similarities and differences and storyline quirks to put into words, not to mention those between the book and the stage show, so I’m going to attempt to unravel some of them in a pictorial format. Feel free to join the discussion and change my “wicked ways”.
This is due to a weakness the witch had, as she was vulnerable to water. The character of the Wicked Witch of the West has become an iconic figure in popular culture and is often referenced in various forms of media. She has been portrayed in numerous adaptations of "The Wizard of Oz," including stage productions and films. Additionally, she has been parodied and referenced in films, television shows, and novels. In recent years, the character has gained increased attention due to the popularity of the Broadway musical "Wicked," which serves as a prequel to "The Wizard of Oz" and provides an alternative perspective on the events of the original story. In "Wicked," the character is portrayed as a more complex figure with a tragic backstory, challenging the audience's perception of her as purely wicked. Overall, the Wicked Witch of the West continues to be a compelling and iconic character in the realm of fantasy and children's literature. Her green skin, black attire, and evil nature have made her one of the most memorable and recognizable villains in popular culture..
Reviews for "The Wicked Witch of the West: A Complex Character Study"
1. John - 1/5 stars: I found "Wicked Witch of the West KRGs" to be a complete letdown. The story was convoluted and poorly executed, making it difficult to follow along and connect with the characters. The dialogue was stilted and lacked depth, making it hard to believe in the world that the author was trying to create. Overall, I was highly disappointed and would not recommend this book.
2. Emily - 2/5 stars: I had high hopes for "Wicked Witch of the West KRGs" but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was incredibly slow and there were several unnecessary subplots that only served to confuse the reader. Additionally, the characters lacked depth and their motivations were unclear, making it difficult to invest in their journey. While the concept had promise, the execution left much to be desired.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars: I found "Wicked Witch of the West KRGs" to be a frustrating read. The writing style was clunky and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The world-building was underdeveloped, leaving me confused about the rules and dynamics of the story. The plot meandered without a clear direction and it felt like the author was trying to juggle too many ideas at once. Overall, I was left disappointed and would not recommend this book.
4. Michael - 1/5 stars: "Wicked Witch of the West KRGs" was a complete waste of time for me. The characters lacked any depth or likability, and the plot was predictable and uninteresting. The writing style was uninspiring and the pacing was extremely slow, making it difficult to stay engaged with the story. Overall, I found this book to be a tedious and forgettable read.
5. Laura - 2/5 stars: I was expecting "Wicked Witch of the West KRGs" to be a captivating retelling of a classic story, but sadly, it missed the mark. The writing was mediocre at best, with cliché dialogue and flat descriptions. The plot lacked originality and failed to bring anything new to the table. While the concept had potential, it was poorly executed, leaving me feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied with the read.