The Wizard of Oz is a beloved children's book, later adapted into a successful movie, that tells the story of a young girl named Dorothy who is transported to the magical land of Oz. In this fantastical world, Dorothy encounters a variety of colorful characters, including the Wicked Witch of the West. The Wicked Witch of the West is one of the most iconic characters in the Wizard of Oz story. She is known for her green skin, long black cloak, and pointed hat. Throughout the story, the Wicked Witch of the West tries to stop Dorothy from reaching the Emerald City and obtaining the help she needs to return home. In the climax of the story, the Wicked Witch of the West confronts Dorothy and her friends in a final attempt to destroy them.

Does the Wicked Witch of the West know she can be killed by water?

In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West lights the Scarecrow on fire. Dorothy picks up a bucket of water to douse him, but she splashes it on the Witch, who begins to melt. It seems unusual to me that the Witch would allow a lethal substance anywhere near her castle, which makes me wonder: did she know that she could be killed by water? I would like an answer from the original book series written by L. Frank Baum, not the movie adaptations or derivative works (e.g. Oz the Great and Powerful, Wicked).

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If you ever get the chance, go and see Wicked - it's excellent. This is one of the plot points covered - but I'll say no more here :)

It would sound rather improbable that she would not know. How would it be possible that she'd never come in contact with water in her life?

I asked a slightly different of this question months ago, and it got downvoted to hell and auto-deleted. :(

In the climax of the story, the Wicked Witch of the West confronts Dorothy and her friends in a final attempt to destroy them. She summons fireballs and attempts to set Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion on fire. However, she is ultimately defeated when Dorothy accidentally throws a bucket of water at her, causing her to melt away.

5 Answers 5

So it would seem:

The Witch was too much afraid of the dark to dare go in Dorothy's room at night to take the shoes, and her dread of water was greater than her fear of the dark, so she never came near when Dorothy was bathing. Indeed, the old Witch never touched water, nor ever let water touch her in any way.

She also always carried an umbrella, presumably to avoid getting wet:

The girl had to work hard during the day, and often the Witch threatened to beat her with the same old umbrella she always carried in her hand.

As in Project Gutenberg's Wizard of Oz, in Chapter 12 - The Search for the Wicked Witch.

@MrLister: I was thinking more, e.g., by pushing her into Dorothy's room at night. (Or, alternatively, by dropping a house on her . . . maybe that's what really killed the Wicked Witch of the East!)

If you're asking about the book, the odds are decent that she does know that water is harmful to her as she "did not carry a broom in the novel, but rather an umbrella" according to the Oz wiki. Baum never elaborated on exactly why she was vulnerable, but Mombi is killed the same way in The Lost King of Oz and Singra was afraid enough of water to secure protection from it via a favor from a water nymph, so it seems to be a trait of wicked witches in the setting. There's some speculation on the wiki that their bodies were already used up and therefore were only barely held together by magic.

It is stated in Baum's book that the Wicked Witch of the West was so old and Wicked that all the blood in her body dried up long before The Wonderful Wizard of Oz takes place. And when she fnally comes into contact with water, it burns her skin like acid and she dissolves into a puddle on the floor. Baum described it as "melting away like brown sugar." In the beginning of the story when Dorothy's farmhouse fell on the Wicked Witch of the East, her body soon caved in and crumbled to dust under the fallen establishment. (The feet of the dead Wicked Witch had disappeared entirely and nothing was left but the Silver Shoes.) The Good Witch of the North explains that "She was so old that she dried up quickly in the sun." So whatever mysterious magic potion or spell that was holding the Wicked Witch of the East together was possibly something the Wicked Witch of the West used to keep herself alive as well, even though Baum never elaborated upon this aspect.

How The Wizard Of Oz Changed Margaret Hamilton And Her Stunt Double Forever

Many of us grew up watching "The Wizard of Oz." While the word "iconic" is thrown around a lot these days, I think this film has earned it. Yellow brick roads, red slippers, and flying monkeys are all symbols we constantly encounter throughout pop culture. Oz is a fantasy world of Technicolor wonder and excitement, but the reality is much darker.

The abuse Judy Garland suffered during her time as Dorothy is often discussed today. She was put on a strict diet of soup, coffee, cigarettes, and pills. During filming, she was given uppers to keep her lively, and then she was given downers to sleep a bit before being called back to set to do it all again. In the decades following, Garland continued to experience issues with substance abuse, which led to her death from an accidental overdose at the age of 47.

Unfortunately, Garland wasn't the only actress who suffered in Oz. Margaret Hamilton and her stunt double, who played The Wicked Witch of the West, were literally burned by the production.

This scene in which the Wicked Witch of the West is burned is a pivotal moment in the story. It represents the triumph of good over evil and showcases Dorothy's bravery and resourcefulness. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of water in the Land of Oz, as it is the substance that ultimately destroys the Wicked Witch. The burning of the Witch has become an iconic image in popular culture. It has been recreated and referenced in various forms of media, including other films, TV shows, and even Halloween costumes. The wicked witch's demise is a pivotal point in the story that is often remembered and celebrated by fans. Overall, the burning of the Wicked Witch of the West is a key moment in the Wizard of Oz story. It symbolizes the defeat of evil and the triumph of good, as well as the significance of water in the Land of Oz. While the Wicked Witch of the West may be gone, her character will forever live on in the hearts and imaginations of readers and viewers alike..

Reviews for "The Witch's Power: Analyzing the Symbolism of the Fire in 'The Wizard of Oz"

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The Witch's Sacrifice: How the Burning Scene Provides Closure in 'The Wizard of Oz