The Witch of the North is a character in L. Frank Baum's famous children's novel, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." She is a powerful and wise sorceress who lives in the land of Oz. The Witch of the North is known for her kind and helpful nature, as she often assists those who find themselves lost or in need of guidance. In the story, she first appears to Dorothy Gale after her house is carried away by a tornado from Kansas to the magical land of Oz. The Witch of the North greets Dorothy and explains a bit about the land she has arrived in.
Richard Genée introduced the duet for the first time in 1898 in an article entitled “Ein bisher unbekannt gebliebenes Duett zu Mozarts ‘Zauberflöte’ ” in the Mittheilungen für die Mozart-Gemeinde in Berlin; it was then published in early 20th century vocal scores of Die Zauberflöte by C. F. Peters, but was no longer included in the vocal score of the work by Kurt Soldan (1932) which remains well-known to the present day. The duet has not been included in the full score until now; it occasionally appears on recordings.
The use of two duets for tenor and bass in direct succession, even though they are for different characters, would be unusual, and the insertion of a piece in B flat major between the C major duet and the quintet in G major is not convincing in the sequence of keys. In the Supplement volumes of the New Mozart Edition various compositions which have been transmitted under the name of Mozart are included for discussion as Works with Doubtful Authenticity.
The Witch of the North greets Dorothy and explains a bit about the land she has arrived in. She also gives Dorothy the silver shoes, which are one of the key plot elements in the story. Although the Witch of the North only has a brief appearance in Baum's novel, her role is significant.
The Magic Flute
Pursued by a dragon, Prince Tamino falls faint from exhaustion. Three Ladies in the service of the Queen of the Night slay the monster, then admire Tamino’s beauty. They fight over who will remain with him while the others fetch the Queen. Not coming to any resolution, all three depart.
Tamino revives and observes the approach of Papageno, who catches birds for the Queen. In the course of becoming acquainted, Papageno claims he killed the serpent. The Three Ladies return and seal his mouth for telling the lie. They show Tamino a portrait of the Queen’s daughter, Pamina, and Tamino immediately falls in love with her visage. The Queen of the Night appears and asks him to rescue Pamina from the temple of the tyrant Sarastro, where she is being held captive. As a reward, the young couple will be wed. Tamino agrees enthusiastically, and the Three Ladies give him a magic flute for protection. Restoring Papageno’s power of speech, they order him to accompany Tamino. He receives a set of magic bells. Three Spirits will guide their journey.
At Sarastro’s temple, Monostatos is charged with guarding Pamina, whom he treats harshly. Papageno enters, and both men startle one another with their unusual appearance and momentarily flee. Papageno is the first to return, recognizes Pamina as the Queen’s daughter and tells her of the ardent young prince who has been sent to her rescue. She takes pleasure in the prospect of love, and Papageno too pines for his perfect mate.
Elsewhere in the temple, Tamino comes upon the inner sanctuary, but is barred entrance. A priest tells him he has been deceived by a mother’s tears – Sarastro is not the evil person she described. Feeling lost, Tamino plays his magic flute and hears Papageno’s pipe in response; he then follows its sound. Back in Monostatos’s lair, Pamina and Papageno face recapture, but Papageno plays his magic bells, charming Monostatos and his slaves and allowing their escape.
Sarastro enters magnificently, and Pamina admits that she tried to flee, but only to escape Monostatos’ amorous advance. She misses her mother, but Sarastro proclaims there is still much for her to learn from his tutelage. Tamino is brought in and embraces Pamina, while Monostatos is punished for his dereliction.
She sets the stage for Dorothy's journey by providing her with the necessary tools and information. Additionally, her kind and caring nature foreshadows the friendships that Dorothy will later form with other characters in Oz, such as the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion. The Witch of the North is depicted as a benevolent and wise figure. Her magical abilities and knowledge make her someone to be respected and admired. She is portrayed as a protector and guide for those who find themselves in the unfamiliar and often dangerous world of Oz. Overall, the Witch of the North is a memorable and important character in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Her presence adds depth and intrigue to the story, and she serves as a beacon of hope and assistance for Dorothy throughout her journey in the magical land of Oz..
Reviews for "The Witch of the North: A Traveler’s Guide to Northern Magical Locations"
- Jennifer - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to reading "Witch of the North" based on all the positive reviews I had seen. However, I was left disappointed. The story felt disjointed and lacked depth. The characters were not well-developed, making it hard to connect or sympathize with them. Additionally, the pacing was off, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. Overall, I found "Witch of the North" to be underwhelming and would not recommend it.
- Mark - 3 stars - I have mixed feelings about "Witch of the North". While the concept was intriguing and the world-building was decent, the execution fell short for me. The writing style was heavy and overly descriptive, which made it difficult for me to get immersed in the story. The plot also lacked originality, following a predictable and formulaic structure. While there were some interesting moments, I ultimately felt that "Witch of the North" did not live up to its potential.
- Sarah - 2 stars - I struggled to finish "Witch of the North". The story felt convoluted and confusing, with too many subplots that were never fully explored or tied together. The pacing was inconsistent, with long stretches of nothing happening followed by sudden bursts of action. The main character lacked depth and failed to elicit any emotional response from me. I had high hopes for "Witch of the North", but it ultimately left me feeling unsatisfied and frustrated.