The concept of a "wholly occult oracle" refers to a form of divination that is completely hidden or concealed from ordinary perception. It suggests a medium or source of divine guidance that is beyond the realm of human understanding and can only be accessed through supernatural means. In many cultures and belief systems, oracles have been revered as conduits of divine wisdom and predictors of the future. They are often sought after for answers, guidance, and insights into important decisions and events. A "wholly occult oracle" takes this idea to a deeper level, suggesting a source of knowledge that is not just mysterious or enigmatic, but entirely hidden from human knowledge and perception. It implies that the workings and revelations of such an oracle are beyond the grasp of ordinary senses and understanding.
Theodora from Oz the Great and Powerful may be the exception to this. She is not initially evil, and falls in love with the Wizard of Oz, similar to how Elphaba falls in love with Fiyero in both versions of Wicked. Eventually, her heart is broken by the Wizard, and her sister gives her a magic apple that will supposedly cure her, but instead it turns Theodora’s skin green and takes away all the good in her heart, making her evil. Compared to Wicked, Theodora’s character development is quite weak, however , Theodora actually becomes wicked , while Elphaba is simply labelled that by society , a clear difference between the two characters.
The evolution of the Wicked Witch of the West’s personality is just as important , possibly more important, than her physical evolution, due to reversionings such as Wicked.
Baum s original character is quite tame in comparison to later versions, and there s no clear indication that she desires to see harm come to Dorothy Edwards Klosa 2009 p. When Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion are sent to kill her and bring her broomstick back, she captures Dorothy and tries to take her slippers, threatening to drown Toto if she doesn t give them to her.
It implies that the workings and revelations of such an oracle are beyond the grasp of ordinary senses and understanding. This notion of a wholly occult oracle can be found in various mystical and esoteric traditions, where practitioners seek to tap into the hidden realms of consciousness and beyond. It is believed that through spiritual practices, rituals, and altered states of consciousness, one can access hidden knowledge and insights that are not available through rational thinking or ordinary perception.
Green witch wozard of oz
With every new adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Wicked Witch of the West always looks different. Some reversionings have the character looking or acting similar to previous ones, others are completely new. Below is a discussion of three of the Wicked Witch of the West's main attributes.
GREEN SKIN
One of the key physical attributes of the Wicked Witch of the West is her green skin. The unique colour of her skin is her main identifier, allowing characters from the world of Oz, as well as the audience, to instantly recognise her. Baum’s original character did not have green skin, and was described as an old woman with three pigtails and one eye. However, the 1939 film reinvented the character, giving her green skin, possibly due to the film’s use of Technicolor.
The majority of reversionings have the character with green skin, although there are a few that decided against it, for example The Wiz. In reversionings such as Wicked (both the novel and the musical) and Oz the Great and Powerful, the character’s green skin is a large part of the plot.
In the 1939 film, although her actions certainly make her the villain, it’s her physical attributes that cause characters to view her as wicked. Her green skin, warts, and overall ugliness frighten the citizens of Oz: “she’s wicked because she looks wicked” (Bremer 2009 p. 13). Good Witch Glinda even states that “only bad witches are ugly”. If the Wicked Witch of the West was as beautiful as Glinda, she may have been less feared, even with her actions.
VOICE
As the 1939 film is a musical, a fair amount of the story is told through song, with the Wicked Witch of the West being one of the only main characters who does not sing. This is something Gregory Maguire wanted to explore in his novel: “If we had heard her sing . . . could we have stayed quite so terrified of her?” (Maguire 2014). In Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba sings at a funeral, and is described as having a good voice. This is expanded upon through the Broadway musical Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz, where the character sings in a fair amount of the songs.
Elphaba’s ability to sing “humanizes her and gains audience sympathy” (Boyd 2010 p. 110) by sharing her emotions and private thoughts through song, something the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 film does not have the chance to do. The lack of singing ability “reduces her . . . to a one-dimensional character” (Boyd 2010 p. 106), one the audience sees as evil, because most of the good characters can sing.
The musical Wicked is not the only reversioning where the Wicked Witch of the West sings, although it is the only one where the Witch is the protagonist. The song the Witch sings in The Wiz, “No Bad News”, does not particularly contribute to the development of the character.
However, in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 2011 West End musical based on the 1939 film, a new song is created for the Wicked Witch of the West. “Red Shoes Blues” reveals the Witch’s motives behind her desire to obtain the ruby slippers, advancing her character development and deepening the audience’s understanding of her. This was potentially inspired by the success of the musical Wicked.
Image retrieved from Wicked Wikia: http://wicked.wikia.com/wiki/Defying_Gravity?file=Tumblr_m9wuxz9kYe1rfph73o1_500.png
PERSONALITY
Through many reversionings, the Wicked Witch of the West’s personality changed immensely. Baum’s original character is quite tame in comparison to later versions, and there’s “no clear indication that she desires to see harm come to Dorothy” (Edwards & Klosa 2009 p. 38), although she is still considered to be wicked.
The 1939 film expands the role of the Wicked Witch of the West greatly, evolving her personality along with it. The character is much more wicked than she is in Baum’s novel, threatening the lives of Dorothy and her companions frequently. While her motivations are not explicitly stated, the Witch’s “motivation appears to be nothing more than naked power” (Edwards & Klosa 2009 p. 38), reinforced by her cruel actions when attempting to acquire the ruby slippers.
The Wiz takes this cruelty even further, with the Wicked Witch of the West portrayed as a “sadistic tyrant and probable cannibal” (Burger 2012 p. 63). Evillene, as the character is known as, is the slave lord of an underground sweat shop, and brutally tortures Dorothy and her companions.
The Wicked Witch of the West receives the most dramatic personality change, however, in Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, as well as the Broadway musical it inspired. In both, the character, known as Elphaba, is the protagonist in the eyes of the audience, although many characters see her as evil. Wicked explores how the character became known as wicked, but also portrays her as a compassionate animal rights activist, though she does have flaws, “shifting between violence and charity” (Burger 2012 p. 64).
The musical is a lot lighter than the novel, therefore so is the character. She is still compassionate and charitable, but her relationships are at the forefront of the story, particularly her friendship with Glinda. Past reversionings of the character are not shown to have any positive relationships at all, for example the character in the 1939 film. The ability to love makes both versions of Elphaba stand out amongst the rest, who are mostly considered to be pure evil.
Theodora from Oz the Great and Powerful may be the exception to this. She is not initially evil, and falls in love with the Wizard of Oz, similar to how Elphaba falls in love with Fiyero in both versions of Wicked. Eventually, her heart is broken by the Wizard, and her sister gives her a magic apple that will supposedly cure her, but instead it turns Theodora’s skin green and takes away all the good in her heart, making her evil. Compared to Wicked, Theodora’s character development is quite weak, however , Theodora actually becomes wicked , while Elphaba is simply labelled that by society , a clear difference between the two characters.
The evolution of the Wicked Witch of the West’s personality is just as important , possibly more important, than her physical evolution, due to reversionings such as Wicked.
When Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion are sent to kill her and bring her broomstick back, she captures Dorothy and tries to take her slippers, threatening to drown Toto if she doesn't give them to her. She is unable to take them while Dorothy is still alive, so locks her in a room for an hour to figure out the best way to kill her without damaging the slippers' power. Toto escapes and gets the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion, who get her out of the room, but the Wicked Witch and her guards chase them and corner them. In the movie, Dorothy's reasons for throwing the bucket of water are different; The Wicked Witch decides to kill everyone else before Dorothy, starting with the Scarecrow by setting him on fire. Dorothy throws a bucket of water to put out the fire, which is unwittingly thrown onto the Wicked Witch in the process, causing her to melt.
The idea of a wholly occult oracle challenges the limitations of human understanding and invites individuals to transcend the boundaries of the known world. It suggests that there are depths of wisdom and truths that can only be accessed through a deep, intuitive connection with the divine or supernatural forces. Ultimately, the concept of a wholly occult oracle highlights the mystical and spiritual dimensions of human existence. It reminds us of the vastness of the universe and the possibilities that lie beyond our ordinary senses and rational thinking. In seeking the guidance of a wholly occult oracle, individuals embark on a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment, hoping to unlock hidden truths and tap into the boundless wisdom of the divine..
Reviews for "The Wholly Occult Oracle: A Journey into the Beyond"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed by "Wholly occult oracle". The book promised to be a thrilling and suspenseful occult mystery, but it fell flat for me. The characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with them. The plot was also confusing and it felt like the author was trying too hard to be mysterious, but ended up losing me along the way. Overall, I found the book to be unengaging and would not recommend it.
2. Emily - 1 star - I couldn't finish reading "Wholly occult oracle" because it was just too slow and boring for my taste. The story dragged on and the pacing seemed off. The writing style did not captivate me and I found it hard to stay interested. I was hoping for a gripping occult thriller, but instead found myself struggling to get through each chapter. It's rare for me to not finish a book, but unfortunately, this one just didn't do it for me.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I found "Wholly occult oracle" to be too predictable and lacking originality. The twist and turns were not surprising and the ending was unsatisfying. The writing style was average, and I didn't feel compelled to keep reading. The author relied too much on clichés within the occult genre and failed to bring anything new to the table. Overall, I was left wanting more and would not recommend this book to others.
4. Michael - 2 stars - "Wholly occult oracle" failed to live up to the hype for me. The plot was promising, but it lacked depth and complexity. The characters felt one-dimensional and their actions often felt forced. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on and others feeling rushed. I also found the writing style to be unengaging and had trouble connecting with the story. Overall, it was a letdown and I wouldn't recommend it to fellow readers.