The Wizard of Oz is a popular children's book written by L. Frank Baum in 1900. It tells the story of a young girl named Dorothy who is swept away to a magical land called Oz. Along her journey, she encounters various characters, including the Witch of the West. The Witch of the West is portrayed as the main antagonist in the story. She is described as an evil and powerful witch who seeks to obtain Dorothy's magical silver shoes.
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.
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 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.
She is described as an evil and powerful witch who seeks to obtain Dorothy's magical silver shoes. The shoes have the power to grant the wearer extraordinary abilities, which the Witch desires for herself. Throughout the story, the Witch of the West tries to stop Dorothy and her companions from reaching the Emerald City, where they hope to find the great and powerful Wizard of Oz.
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).
- the-wizard-of-oz
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 :)
Feb 9, 2016 at 9:59 Broadcasting ones vulnerability to a world that wanted one dead sounds terminal. Feb 9, 2016 at 16:54It 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?
Feb 10, 2016 at 0:30I asked a slightly different of this question months ago, and it got downvoted to hell and auto-deleted. :(
Feb 10, 2016 at 2:59 I know it says she melts, but that doesn't make a lot of sense. She's dissolving! Jan 11, 2017 at 20:17She sends her flying monkeys to capture them and uses various spells and tricks to hinder their progress. However, the Witch of the West is ultimately defeated by Dorothy and her friends. Dorothy accidentally throws a bucket of water onto the Witch, causing her to melt away. This moment is famously known as "I'm melting! I'm melting!" from the 1939 film adaptation. The Witch of the West serves as a symbol of evil and fear in the story. She represents the obstacles that Dorothy must overcome on her journey to find her way back home. Ultimately, her defeat contributes to the triumph of good over evil. The character of the Witch of the West has become an iconic figure in popular culture, appearing in various adaptations of The Wizard of Oz, including the classic film and its later musical adaptations. She continues to captivate audiences with her wickedness and role as Dorothy's main antagonist..
Reviews for "The Witch of the West: Friend or Foe?"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Wizard of the Witch of the West". I had heard so many great things about it, but I found the story to be slow and the characters uninteresting. The plot was predictable, and I didn't feel any connection to the main character. Overall, I found the book to be quite underwhelming and wouldn't recommend it.
2. Ethan - 1 star - I can't believe this book received so much praise. I found it to be extremely boring and hard to get through. The writing style was dull, and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. The supposed "plot twists" were predictable, and the ending was unsatisfying. I honestly regret wasting my time on this book.
3. Sophia - 3 stars - While I didn't hate "Wizard of the Witch of the West", I also didn't think it lived up to the hype. The story had potential, but it lacked depth and complexity. The characters felt one-dimensional, and I couldn't fully invest in their journey. The pacing was also off, with certain parts dragging on while others felt rushed. Overall, it was an okay read, but nothing extraordinary.
4. Daniel - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Wizard of the Witch of the West", but it fell short for me. The writing was lackluster and the dialogue felt forced. The world-building was weak, and I struggled to picture the fantastical elements of the story. The plot itself was unoriginal and lacked surprises. I was left feeling disappointed and wouldn't recommend it to others.