The Glenda Witch of the North is a beloved character from L. Frank Baum's famous novel, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Glenda is portrayed as a powerful and wise witch who rules over the northern territory of Oz. She is often described as being beautiful, with golden hair and sparkling blue eyes. One of Glenda's most notable characteristics is her ability to use magic. She is known to be skilled in various forms of witchcraft, including casting spells and enchantments.
Glinda’s arrival on-screen blazed an iridescent trail for the aspirational witch characters that followed. It also opened the door for a new type of narrative featuring the witch as a protagonist, and not just as a villain or sparkly sidekick. Though the specific conflicts that these lead witches face vary from script to script, each must negotiate her relationship to the power she has—and whether her magic is seen as an asset or a threat is often a reflection of the sexual politics of her time. Veronica Lake’s Jennifer in I Married a Witch (1942) and Kim Novak’s Gillian Holroyd in Bell, Book and Candle (1958) are charming, glamorous women who use witchcraft to manipulate the men they fancy. But they have to relinquish their gifts in exchange for true love, prioritizing conjugal bliss over conjuration. Elizabeth Montgomery’s Samantha Stephens, of the 1960s show Bewitched, must constantly choose between her desire to be a “normal” housewife to please her husband and her own need to use her (super)natural abilities—a tension that many second-wave feminists would have recognized.
Such fictional covens reflect not only the diversity of TV audiences, but also the broad range of contemporary witchcraft practitioners who draw from non-European traditions. Though there had been two silent-film adaptations of the Oz story before MGM s The Wizard of Oz came out in August 1939, the typical moviegoer would have been most familiar with screen witches who were creepy old crones or black-frocked fairy-tale monstresses out to get wide-eyed ingenues.
She is known to be skilled in various forms of witchcraft, including casting spells and enchantments. Throughout the story, Glenda uses her magic to aid Dorothy and her friends on their journey to reach the Emerald City and ultimately return home. Beyond her magical abilities, Glenda is portrayed as a kind and compassionate character.
Billie Burke: Glinda
The Wicked Witch of the West : You stay out of this, Glinda! Or I'll fix you as well! Glinda : Oh-ho-ho-ho, rubbish! You have no power here! Now begone, before somebody drops a house on YOU. [Wicked Witch glances nervously at the sky]
Glinda : Only bad witches are ugly.Glinda : Are you a good witch, or a bad witch? Dorothy : Who me? I'm not a witch at all. I'm Dorothy Gale, from Kansas. Glinda : Oh. Well, is that the witch? [pointing to Toto] Dorothy : Who, Toto? Toto's my dog! Glinda : [laughs] Well, I'm a little muddled! The Munchkins called me because a new witch has just dropped a house on the Wicked Witch of the East. And there's the house, and here you are, and that's all that's left of the Wicked Witch of the East. [she points to a pair of legs sticking out from under the house; Dorothy gasps] Glinda : So, what the Munchkins want to know is, are you a good witch, or a bad witch? Dorothy : But, I've already told you, I'm not a witch at all! Witches are old, and ugly! [they hear giggles] Dorothy : What was that? Glinda : The Munchkins. They're laughing because, I *am* a Witch. I'm Glinda, the Witch of the North. Dorothy : You are? [she curtsies] Dorothy : Oh, I beg your pardon! But, I've never heard of a beautiful witch before.
Glinda : Now those magic slippers will take you home in two seconds. Dorothy : Toto too? Glinda : Toto too.
Glinda : Pooh, what a smell of sulfur.Dorothy : Oh will you help me? Can you help me? Glinda : You don't need to be helped any longer. You've always had the power to go back to Kansas. Dorothy : I have? The Scarecrow : Then why didn't you tell her before? Glinda : Because she wouldn't have believed me. She had to learn it for herself. The Tin Man : What have you learned, Dorothy? Dorothy : Well, I, I think that it, that it wasn't enough just to want to see Uncle Henry and Auntie Em. And it's that if I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own backyard. Because if it isn't there, I never really lost it to begin with. Is that right? Glinda : That's all it is.
Glinda : Then close your eyes and tap your heels together three times. And think to yourself, 'There's no place like home'.
It can be easy at first to dismiss the Good Witch as frivolous when compared with her nemesis. “Of the two Witches, good and bad, can there be anyone who’d choose to spend five minutes with Glinda?” Salman Rushdie once asked in The New Yorker, calling her “a silly pain in the neck.” It’s true that there’s a cartoonish high femininity to Glinda: her butterfly-bedazzled pageant gown, her honeyed singing. And then there’s the way her character affirms old-fashioned ideas about the value of beauty: “Only bad witches are ugly,” Glinda tells Dorothy upon their meeting. In Oz, prettiness and virtue are conflated, and Glinda is the fairest of them all.
She is often seen as a guiding figure for Dorothy, providing advice and support when needed. Glenda is also known for her leadership skills and is highly respected by the other witches in Oz. Another significant aspect of Glenda's character is her knowledge and understanding of the land of Oz. As the Witch of the North, Glenda is familiar with the various territories and inhabitants of Oz. She often uses her knowledge to help Dorothy and her friends navigate through the challenges they encounter along their journey. Glenda's role as the Witch of the North is crucial to the overall story of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Her presence and assistance contribute to Dorothy's eventual success in finding her way back home. Glenda symbolizes guidance, kindness, and wisdom, providing readers with a sense of hope and security throughout the novel. In conclusion, Glenda Witch of the North is a significant character in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." With her magical abilities, knowledge of Oz, and compassionate nature, she serves as a guiding figure for Dorothy and embodies qualities of wisdom and kindness. Glenda's role in the story adds depth and richness to the overall narrative, making her a beloved and memorable character in the world of children's literature..
Reviews for "The Battle of Glendq: A Clash of Witches for Control of the North"
- John - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "Glenda the Witch of the North," but I ended up being really disappointed. The story seemed to drag on and on, with very little happening to keep my interest. The characters felt one-dimensional and I couldn't really connect with any of them. Overall, I found the book to be boring and lacking in depth.
- Sarah - 3 stars - I had high hopes for "Glenda the Witch of the North," but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The plot felt predictable and lacked originality. The writing style was also not my cup of tea, as it seemed to be filled with unnecessary descriptions and dragged down the pace of the story. While some parts were intriguing, overall, I found the book to be mediocre and didn't leave a lasting impression.
- Michael - 2 stars - "Glenda the Witch of the North" was a disappointment for me. The world-building was lackluster and I couldn't fully immerse myself in the story. The characters felt flat and their motivations were unclear. Additionally, the pacing was uneven, with moments of excitement followed by long stretches of boredom. Overall, I found the book to be underwhelming and wouldn't recommend it to others.
- Emily - 1 star - I really struggled to get through "Glenda the Witch of the North." The writing style was confusing and hard to follow, leaving me feeling lost throughout the entire book. The plot lacked coherence and the characters felt like they were just going through the motions. It was a frustrating reading experience and I was left feeling unsatisfied. I would not recommend this book to anyone.