In the magical land of Oz, there resided a cruel witch who ruled with an iron fist. This wicked sorceress had long plagued the inhabitants of Oz with her malevolence and sinister deeds. Her dark powers were unparalleled, and her thirst for power seemed insatiable. Many feared her, and the mere mention of her name sent chills down the spines of those who knew of her existence. The witch, known simply as the Cruel Witch of Oz, lived in a forbidding castle amidst a sprawling forest. The castle was a reflection of her depravity, with its dark stone walls and eerie atmosphere.
The castle was a reflection of her depravity, with its dark stone walls and eerie atmosphere. It was said that she had a legion of loyal minions who carried out her every command without question. These minions, known as the Witch's Guards, were fearsome creatures clad in black armor, their faces hidden beneath menacing helmets.
'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.
The Cruel Witch's reign of terror stretched far and wide across Oz. She would often send her guards to villages and towns, demanding tributes and subjecting the innocent to her whims. Many had lost loved ones to her cruelty, as she delighted in causing misery and suffering wherever she went. Her black magic was known to be particularly potent, capable of causing great destruction and despair. Despite her malevolence, there were those who dared to challenge the Cruel Witch. There were occasional uprising attempts, led by brave individuals who sought to free their land from her grasp. However, these attempts were often met with swift and merciless retaliation. The Cruel Witch would unleash her dark magic upon those who dared to oppose her, crushing their rebellion and reminding them of her unmatched power. But amidst the fear and oppression, there was always a glimmer of hope. Legends spoke of a chosen one, a savior who would rise up and defeat the Cruel Witch of Oz. This prophesied hero was said to possess abilities that would rival the witch's own dark magic. Many believed that this hero would bring an end to the witch's reign and restore peace to the land of Oz. As the tales of the Cruel Witch of Oz spread, so did the determination of the people to see her overthrown. They longed for a day when they would be free from her tyranny and would finally be able to live in a land where kindness and love prevailed. It was this collective hope that fueled the resistance against the witch and kept the dream of a better Oz alive. In conclusion, the Cruel Witch of Oz was a formidable force that cast a shadow of fear and despair over the magical land. Her reign of terror was met with resistance by those who dared to challenge her, hoping for a brighter future. It was this glimmer of hope that sustained the people and kept their spirits alive, as they awaited the fulfillment of the prophecy and the arrival of the chosen one who would bring an end to the cruel witch's reign..
Reviews for "A Dark Twist on a Classic Tale: The Cruel Witch's Role in the Wizard of Oz"
- Jane - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to read "Cruel Witch in Oz" as I love stories set in the magical world of Oz. However, I was sorely disappointed by this book. The plot was incredibly predictable, and I found the characters to be one-dimensional and lacking depth. The writing style was also quite simplistic, which made it difficult for me to become fully immersed in the story. Overall, I was expecting a captivating and enchanting read, but instead, I found "Cruel Witch in Oz" to be dull and uninspiring.
- Sarah - 1/5 stars - I can't even begin to express how much I disliked "Cruel Witch in Oz." The story felt disjointed and confusing, with no clear direction. The characters were poorly developed and I couldn't sympathize with any of them. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. I struggled to finish the book and I was left feeling unsatisfied and disappointed. I would not recommend "Cruel Witch in Oz" to anyone looking for a well-written and engaging fantasy novel.
- Mark - 2/5 stars - "Cruel Witch in Oz" had a promising premise, but it failed to deliver. The pacing was incredibly slow, and it felt like nothing happened for large chunks of the book. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me with a vague sense of the setting and the magical elements. The main character lacked depth and her motivations were unclear. Furthermore, the ending felt rushed and unsatisfying. Overall, "Cruel Witch in Oz" had potential, but it fell short in execution.