In every society, there exists a certain dynamic between individuals. This dynamic often manifests itself in various ways, highlighting power imbalances and the ways in which individuals interact with one another. One such dynamic is the concept of a "hen pecked" individual, commonly associated with sexism or gender-based power imbalances. The term "hen pecked" refers to a person, typically a man, who is perceived to be subservient or dominated by their partner, typically a woman. It is important to note that this term is rooted in stereotypes and may not reflect the reality of every relationship. However, it does highlight how power imbalances can exist within intimate relationships.
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.
However, it does highlight how power imbalances can exist within intimate relationships. The concept of being "hen pecked" is often associated with the idea of a dominant and submissive dynamic within a relationship. This dynamic can be fueled by various factors, including societal expectations, cultural norms, and personal experiences.
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.
For example, traditional gender roles may dictate that men are expected to be assertive and dominant, while women are expected to be nurturing and submissive. When these expectations are challenged, it can lead to power struggles within the relationship. In a "hen pecked" relationship, the dominant partner may exert control through various means such as criticism, nagging, or constant monitoring. The submissive partner may feel powerless, trapped, and may have their self-esteem diminished over time. This power imbalance can negatively impact the well-being and mental health of the submissive partner. It is important to recognize that being "hen pecked" is not limited to gender-specific roles. Power imbalances can exist in any relationship, regardless of gender. It is also essential to note that relationships can be complex and dynamic, and it is not always easy to categorize them as solely "hen pecked" or not. Addressing power imbalances within relationships requires open and honest communication, empathy, and a willingness to challenge societal norms and expectations. Both partners should feel empowered to express their needs and desires without fear of judgment or retribution. Creating a supportive and egalitarian environment can foster healthier relationships and promote mutual respect and equality. In conclusion, being "hen pecked" signifies a power imbalance within a relationship, often involving a dominant partner and a submissive partner. This term highlights the ways in which power dynamics can manifest within intimate relationships, but it is important to acknowledge that relationships are multifaceted, and power imbalances can exist in any type of relationship. By promoting open communication, empathy, and challenging societal norms, we can work towards creating healthier and more egalitarian relationships..
Reviews for "The Inner Battle: Overcoming the Burden of Being a Hen Pecked Magician"
1. JohnDoe - 1 star
"Magoc one hen pecked was a huge disappointment for me. The story felt disjointed and the characters were poorly developed. I found it difficult to connect with any of them and the plotline seemed to be all over the place. Additionally, the writing style was quite clumsy and filled with grammatical errors. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a quality read."
2. Booklover456 - 2 stars
"Although I had high hopes for Magoc one hen pecked, I couldn't help but feel let down by the shallow and predictable storyline. The characters lacked depth and the dialogue felt forced. The author seemed to rely too heavily on clichés and stereotypes, making the entire reading experience quite underwhelming. I was hoping for a more imaginative and engaging fantasy novel, but unfortunately, this book did not deliver."
3. avidreader77 - 1 star
"Magoc one hen pecked was an absolute disaster in my opinion. The pacing was incredibly slow, making it difficult to maintain interest in the story. The world-building was weak and lacked detail, leaving me feeling disconnected from the setting. Moreover, the dialogue was awkwardly written, with unrealistic conversations that did not flow naturally. I struggled to finish this book and would not recommend it to others seeking a captivating fantasy read."
4. JaneSmith - 2 stars
"Although Magoc one hen pecked had an interesting premise, it fell short in execution. The character development was lacking, with the protagonists feeling one-dimensional and lacking depth. The plotline had potential, but it was poorly developed and lacked coherence. Additionally, the writing style was subpar, with awkward sentence structure and grammatical errors. While the concept was intriguing, the execution left much to be desired."