The Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz is one of the most iconic and memorable characters in literature and film. While her appearance and actions may be dark and menacing, she plays a crucial role in the story and serves as a foil to the protagonist, Dorothy. The Wicked Witch of the West, also known as Elphaba, is portrayed as the main antagonist in the Wizard of Oz. She is characterized by her green skin, long black hair, and a pointy hat. Her appearance alone evokes fear and unease in both the characters within the story and the audience. Throughout the narrative, the Wicked Witch is determined to obtain Dorothy's magical ruby slippers, which have the power to grant her immense power and immortality.
“I first tested this pattern on the Cache la Poudre above Fort Collins, Colorado,” recalls Takahashi. “I caught five fish on my first five casts that day. My first thought was, ‘I’m not that good of a fisherman!’” Just as tiers have added their own flare to the original Prince Nymph, tiers have reimagined Takahashi’s variation a number of times, and my favorite, which I like to fish in the late spring and early fall with a trailing midge emerger, has an orange hot head.
Just as tiers have added their own flare to the original Prince Nymph, tiers have reimagined Takahashi s variation a number of times, and my favorite, which I like to fish in the late spring and early fall with a trailing midge emerger, has an orange hot head. If you tie your hackle on the hook just behind the hook eye and wrap the hackle from front to back you will not experience the feather slipping problem.
Throughout the narrative, the Wicked Witch is determined to obtain Dorothy's magical ruby slippers, which have the power to grant her immense power and immortality. Her relentless pursuit of these slippers showcases her villainous nature and her willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve her goals. However, it is important to note that the character of the Wicked Witch is not entirely one-dimensional.
The Prince Family Tree
My dad’s fly box is chock-full of the classics like Hare’s Ear Nymphs, Royal Coachmans, mosquitoes, red quills, Elk Hair Caddis, and so on. Conversely, my fly box has a number of variations of his originals—flies like the Para X, WMD Pupa, hot-head soft hackle sow bugs, and Disco Beetles. Maybe it’s a generational thing.
BROWN FORKED-TAIL NYMPH
HOOK: Tiemco 300, sizes 6 to 12.
THREAD: Black 6/0 Danville.
WEIGHT: Non-toxic .025-inch wire.
TAIL: Black goose biots.
RIB: Extra fine silver wire. BODY: Black ostrich herl.
WING: White goose biots.
COLLAR: Black hen neck hackle.
Nonetheless, there is one classic that has taken a number of different twists and turns throughout the years—the Prince Nymph. Using the basic design and look of a Prince, different tiers from around the world have added their own twists over the years, with great effect. The great thing is you can change the tail, the body color, the shape of the hook, or even the size, shape, and shine of a bead and be fairly confident it will catch fish. Just about any variation will work well and have a role on the river. But like my dad, I tend to go back to the original.
The Prince Nymph’s roots go back to the 1930s and the pattern as we know it today was named after the fly’s creator, Doug Prince. However, the great-grandfather of the Prince was a pattern tied by brothers Don and Dick Olson that they called the Brown Forked-Tail Nymph. And while the Olson’s fly looks similar to most modern renditions, they attached the white biot wings so they curved up and away from the fly, versus down over the body, as it’s tied today. Both patterns are mainly used to imitate stoneflies, though Prince’s version is so effective year round, many anglers fish the nymph as a general attractor pattern, especially as a dropper beneath a buoyant fly like a hopper.
GO 2 PRINCE
HOOK: Tiemco 9300, sizes 8 to 16.
THREAD: 8/0 Uni-Thread.
WEIGHT: Gold bead, size to match hook.
TAIL: Brown hen hackle fibers.
BODY: Peacock herl.
RIB: Pearl Krystal Flash.
HACKLE: Brown midge sized hackle.
WING: White poly yarn.
COLLAR: Peacock Ice Dub.
Over the years, tiers have recreated the Prince with somewhat foreseeable variations— like using a lead-wire underbody or a bead head for depth. Possibly my favorite deviated pattern is the Nymph Formerly Known As Prince. For the most part, you tie the pattern exactly like its predecessor. The alteration comes only at the last step. Instead of tying on traditional white turkey biot wings, they’re replaced by slivers of silver flash, giving the fly a highly-visible “sparkle” that is perfect for high, fast-moving, murky water. I discovered this pattern while fishing Colorado’s Vail Valley during spring runoff, and now I fish it regularly, often trailing behind a sow bug pattern.
Noted tier Rick Takahashi creates some beautiful flies, and one of my favorites is his Go 2 Prince Nymph. This pattern was born out of necessity after Takahashi sustained a neck injury that left his fingers without feeling. He found it much too difficult to feel the position of the biots as he was tying them on. It’s easier to tie than the original because it eliminates both the forked-tail and turkey biot wings (both of which I consider to be the most difficult materials to tie on to the original pattern, even with fully functional fingers). Instead, Takahashi uses Whiting Farms midge saddle hackle for the tail and white poly yarn for the wings. It’s a quick and forgiving pattern to tie and has proven to be an extremely effective substitute for the original.
RAINY’S MULBERRY PRINCE
HOOK: Daiichi 1530, sizes 6 to 10.
THREAD: Black 6/0. WEIGHT: Gold bead.
TAIL: Two brown goose biots.
BODY: Blue, purple, and red spun deer hair trimmed to shape.
WING: Two white goose biots.
COLLAR: Brown hackle.
“I first tested this pattern on the Cache la Poudre above Fort Collins, Colorado,” recalls Takahashi. “I caught five fish on my first five casts that day. My first thought was, ‘I’m not that good of a fisherman!’” Just as tiers have added their own flare to the original Prince Nymph, tiers have reimagined Takahashi’s variation a number of times, and my favorite, which I like to fish in the late spring and early fall with a trailing midge emerger, has an orange hot head.
“The pattern is extremely versatile and wasn’t designed to imitate anything specific,” Takahashi explains. “It’s meant as an attractor pattern and man does it catch fish.”
Another fly tier that’s leaving an indelible mark on the sport is Mike Mercer. He’s credited with dozens of pioneering, unique patterns, but he has also improved numerous classics throughout his career. Whether you know it or not, you’ve probably fished with one of Mercer’s patterns on more than one occasion. His take on the classic Prince is a pattern called the Psycho Prince and it’s a variation built around color and flash. Bright purples, hot pinks, neon greens, and other “loud” colors are common themes with the Psycho Prince, as is the wing tuft that adds an extra layer of “psychotic-ness.” The Psycho is an excellent prospecting pattern when fishing for everything from brook trout to steelhead.
DALE’S CROWN PRINCE OF FLASH
HOOK: Daiichi 1550, sizes 12 to 16.
THREAD: Black 6/0.
WEIGHT: Gold bead.
TAIL: Two olive goose biots and Krystal Flash.
RIB: Red wire.
BODY: Peacock herl.
WING: Pearl Flashabou.
LEGS: Small white rubber legs.
COLLAR: Brown hackle.
Rainy’s Premium Flies out of Logan, Utah (www.rainysflies.com) sells Gilbert Rowley’s Black Jack. The Black Jack is a streamlined, no nonsense Prince Nymph variation that leaves out the herl and dubbing in favor of bright, contrasting threads and a glossy, cement finish. Rowley coats the body with Sally Hansen Hard as Nails just before tying on the white biot wings. This step gives the fly added durability and a glossy sheen. The Black Jack fishes well in both stained or clear water.
Some say imitation is the highest form of flattery. Others say if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The Prince Nymph and his direct descendants are proof that truth exists in both adages. Whether you add a tungsten bead, a copper one, a soft hackle collar, or you tie it on a straight hook or curved, the Prince is a classic that should have a place in your fly box year round, but of course, leave room for some of its offspring.
Ken McCoy is a freelance writer, technologist, and part-time guide. He likes night vision goggles and doing karate in the garage.
FLY BOX
ALISON’S PURPLE WILD THING
HOOK: Daiichi 1130, sizes 12 to 16.
THREAD: Black 6/0.
WEIGHT: Gold bead.
TAIL: Brown Z-Lon.
BODY: Purple floss.
RIB: Silver wire.
THORAX: Purple Ice Dub.
WING: Dun CDC under two white goose biots.
LEGS: Purple Krystal Flash. BLACK JACK
HOOK: Tiemco 2475, sizes 12 to 16.
BEAD: Black nickel tungsten, size to match hook.
WEIGHT: .025-inch non-toxic wire.
THREAD: Black 140 denier UTC.
TAIL: Black goose biots.
RIB: Fluorescent pink/chartreuse 140 denier UTC thread.
FINISH: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails.
WING: White goose biots.
COLLAR: Fluorescent pink/chartreuse (match rib) 70 denier UTC thread. MALDONADO’S CASINO ROYALE
HOOK: Daiichi 1270, sizes 6 to 8.
THREAD: Black 6/0.
WEIGHT: Black nickel bead.
TAIL: Two ginger goose biots.
BODY: Peacock herl bisected by a few turns of red wire.
UNDERWING: Two white goose biots.
WING: Two white goose biots. PSYCHO PRINCE
HOOK: Tiemco 3769, sizes 12 to 18.
THREAD: Tan 70 denier UTC.
TAIL: Brown goose biots.
RIB: Small copper wire.
SHELLBACK: Pheasant tail.
BODY: Purple STS Trilobal Dubbing.
WING CASE: Chartreuse DNA Holo Fusion.
COLLAR: Brown Ice Dub dubbing.
LEGS: Yellow goose biots.
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The Bugmeister is not new, it actually is a creation of John Perry in Montana that dates back to the mid 80’s. Like most things in today’s world this pattern is definitely not a secret, but this large dry fly still slips under the radar of most fly fishermen. Watching fish come out of nowhere to take the Bugmeister is what dry fly fishing is all about, and this pattern also functions very well for dry-dropper rigs.
In the novel and subsequent adaptations, there is also a backstory to her character. Elphaba was born with green skin and was often shunned and misunderstood by others. Her experiences of discrimination and mistreatment shaped her into the villain she becomes. Despite her wickedness, there are moments in the story where the Wicked Witch displays vulnerability and humanity. For example, her love and care for her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East, is evident when she seeks revenge on Dorothy for her sister's death. This complexity adds depth to her character and challenges the notion of good versus evil. Ultimately, the Wicked Witch of the West meets her demise when Dorothy inadvertently splashes water on her, causing her to melt. This unexpected turn of events highlights the idea that even the most powerful and feared individuals can be defeated by the simplest of things. In conclusion, the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz is a multi-faceted character who brings both fear and sympathy to the story. While she is portrayed as wicked and menacing, her backstory and moments of vulnerability add depth to her character. She serves as a contrasting figure to Dorothy and emphasizes the themes of power, prejudice, and the complexity of good and evil..
Reviews for "The Wicked Witch: A Reflection of Society's Fears in The Wizard of Oz"
1. Jennifer - 1/5 rating - I had high hopes for "Wizard of Oz: Wicked Witch is Dead" but unfortunately, it fell short in almost every aspect. The storyline was confusing and lacked cohesion, making it difficult to follow the plot. Additionally, the acting was subpar and failed to captivate the audience. The special effects were outdated and failed to create a sense of wonder. Overall, I was extremely disappointed with this production and would not recommend it to others.
2. Michael - 2/5 rating - "Wizard of Oz: Wicked Witch is Dead" was a mediocre rendition of the classic story. While it had some redeeming qualities such as the colorful costumes and catchy musical numbers, it failed to deliver a captivating performance. The choreography seemed unimpressive, and the pacing dragged in several parts. The cast lacked chemistry, making it difficult to connect with their characters. Overall, it was an underwhelming experience that did not live up to its potential.
3. Sarah - 2/5 rating - I was excited to see "Wizard of Oz: Wicked Witch is Dead," but unfortunately, it did not meet my expectations. The production value was lacking, with minimal sets and uninspired staging. The performances felt lackluster, with little emotion conveyed by the actors. The dialogue was weak, and the songs were forgettable. Overall, it was a disappointing experience that failed to capture the magic of the original story. I would recommend exploring other adaptations of the "Wizard of Oz" rather than wasting time on this one.
4. David - 1/5 rating - "Wizard of Oz: Wicked Witch is Dead" was a complete disaster. The acting was cringe-worthy, with wooden performances throughout. The script seemed poorly written and lacked originality. The staging was unimaginative, and the costumes were lackluster. It felt like a cheap and hastily put-together production. Overall, I regretted spending my time and money on this show, and I would advise others to steer clear of it. Save yourself the disappointment and find alternative entertainment options.