"The Wizard of Oz: Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead" The Wizard of Oz is a classic fantasy novel written by L. Frank Baum in 1900. It follows the adventures of a young girl named Dorothy Gale who is swept away by a tornado to the magical land of Oz. Throughout her journey, Dorothy encounters various characters, including the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion, as they all seek help from the great and powerful Wizard of Oz. One of the central plot points in the novel is the defeat of the Wicked Witch of the East. As Dorothy arrives in Oz, her farmhouse lands on top of the wicked witch, instantly killing her.
As Dorothy arrives in Oz, her farmhouse lands on top of the wicked witch, instantly killing her. This event is celebrated with the iconic song "Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead." The death of the Witch of the East is a turning point in Dorothy's adventure.
'How Annie Palmer became known as the White Witch of Rose Hall.' by Stacy Ann Gordon.
There is a story, a legend really, often told by the Jamaican people to their children and to anyone who will listen. A story of intrigue, murder, romance and even betrayal. This is the story of Annie Palmer, the infamous owner of the Rose Hall estate. The folklore of Annie Palmer has been told and retold countless times, but in this blog I seek to give a clear picture about this lady: who she was, her motivation and how she became known to Jamaicans as the White Witch of Rose Hall.
Annie Palmer was born Annie Mae Patterson, the daughter of an English mother and an Irish father1, who decided to move to Haiti (then called St. Domingue), during the peak of its economic prosperity (1754 to the 1780s).2 The Pattersons seeking economic gain, fled to the island during a time when there was political upheaval in Europe (The Seven Year's War, 1754-1763)3 but social and economic opulence in the colony.4 St. Domingue was known as the 'Pearl of the Antilles'.5 It was a prolific exporter of sugar, coffee, indigo and cotton, notably it was the largest exporter of raw and refined sugar to Europe.6 Its only competitive rival was Jamaica.7 Annie was just ten years old when she arrived in St. Domingue, but she was a precocious child and quickly settled into her new life in the French colony.8 There she became fascinated with all aspects of her new home and befriended her Haitian nanny, who taught her the art of Voodoo.9 You see Annie wanted control of her surroundings and she sought it. She was still young when her parents died and left her in a hostile environment. As Annie grew up St. Domingue experienced two slave rebellions (1791-1804).10 There was uncertainty and peril every where. The slaves at this time freely roamed the streets, and with their hearts filled with revenge, would not have a second thought about hurting or killing a white woman.11 It is possible that this may have been the origin of the disdain Annie felt for the slaves on the Rose Hall plantation. Her only guide was a mulatto woman who taught Annie how to become a master of all the dark arts including seduction.12 Annie was a very beautiful young woman with a delicate, petite frame;13 long flowing hair, penetrating brown eyes and creamy white skin.14 Her nanny who was alleged to be a Voodoo queen taught her how to use her beauty and wit to get what she wanted. We know that Annie was an avid pupil!
After her surrogate mother's death she came to Jamaica looking to make her fortune here.15 Jamaica, as a British colony, like St. Domingue, was the jewel in its colonial master's cap,16 and Annie also wanted to cash in on its wealth. No sooner had she arrived, she met John Palmer, the sole heir to the Rose Hall Estate.17 Completely smitten by her beauty and charm, he proposed marriage to her which she accepted. It would have been wonderful if Annie's story had ended here: as a fairy tale. For Annie was happy and for awhile it seemed she was getting all she ever wanted. She along with her husband, managed an estate with over two thousand slaves, a marvelous house worth Ł 30,000,18 and 7, 000 acres of prime sugar plantation land.19 She loved riding across the estate and viewing the operations of the plantation. At times she could be seen standing on her balcony monitoring the slaves and their daily chores.20 Yes, she was happy. for awhile. It was only a couple months after their wedding that Annie became bored with her husband, and the life of a little house wife. She sought other amusement, taking male slaves for romps in her bedroom. More and more her lust for the slave men grew until it could no longer be hidden: her husband caught her in the act of adultery and whipped her with a riding crop.21 Enraged by this embarrassment, Annie vowed she would take her revenge, and never again would any man have any control over her! At the right moment she slipped poison into his coffee and killed him then she moved swiftly to take over the operations of the estate.22
Now she was free! She could do whatever she wanted, with whomever pleased her. Annie married twice afterwards, but they could not satisfy her lecherous desires; she quickly killed them and inherited their wealth. It is said all three husbands' bodies were buried somewhere on the Rose Hall estate.23 Meanwhile her bed was never empty, for she often enticed many slaves to her bed. She was a jealous lover. If she felt her lovers looked at a slave girl they were severely punished, even killed. In fact, Annie could be heard shouting orders to her slaves from her balcony and would order the torture and death of any who crossed her.24 Obsessed with retaining power it is alleged that she performed rituals using the bones of babies she murdered.25 The rumours were that she often used her potions and magic charms to woo lovers to her bed and control the slaves.26 She ruled with fear; her control otherworldy, she was called the White Witch of Rose Hall.
It seemed as if nothing could stop her, but one day she went too far. She became infatuated with a young English
bookkeeper, who only had eyes for young girl named Millicent, the granddaughter of Takoo, the local obeahman.27
Jealous and unable to win him for herself, Annie put a curse on Millicent which caused her to painfully wither and die.28 Takoo wanted vengence, so he along with a group of slaves stormed the great house, attacked her in her bedroom and strangled her to death.29 She was quickly buried in a very deep grave and ritual performed to prevent her spirit from rising.30 The slaves however claimed it was not done correctly. For every night they could here the voice of Annie Palmer along the corridors, and her spirit walking the rooms of the great house.31 Thus begins the legend of Annie Palmer's ghost, who persons to this day claim to have seen roaming the property. It was claimed that her ghost is responsible for their sudden and mysterious deaths of the proprietors who immediately took over the property.32 Employees of the newly refurbished Rose Hall great house say they feel her presence and eyewitnesses claim she has been spotted riding her black horse across the estate.33
What do you think: Is Annie still seeking to be in control? Would you like to see her ghost too? Why not take the Rose Hall Haunted House Night Tour hosted by El Sol Vida. As part of their fun tour package you will get access to the great house and see where Annie stood on her balcony. You'll get to see the great house as it was when Annie was alive.
Go see for yourself, maybe you'll catch a glimpse of her!
Included in Tours
- All Admission Fees
- English Tour Guide at The Rose Hall Great House
- Hotel Pick up and Drop off (Montego Bay Hotels)
Excluded from Tours
- Meals and Drinks
- Gratuity (Optional)
- Pick up from Falmouth Hotels & The Grand Palladium Hotel (Available as an optional add on)
Additional Information
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- A Minimum of 2 Adults required per reservation.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Dress code is smart casual
It was a hot humid afternoon on a lazy Jamaican day. My Mom and I had arrived by cruise ship at Montego Bay earlier that morning.
It frees the Munchkins, the inhabitants of the East, from the witch's tyranny. It also sets in motion the quest to find the Wizard of Oz, as Dorothy hopes he has the power to send her back home to Kansas. The death of the witch is a significant moment of triumph for the main characters, giving them hope that they may be able to overcome the challenges they face on their journey. The significance of the Witch's death extends beyond the story. It represents the defeat of evil and the triumph of good. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion are all outsiders who have their own personal battles to conquer. With the Witch's demise, they are empowered to confront their fears and pursue their desires. The phrase "Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead" has become a popular cultural reference, often used to express a moment of celebration or relief when an obstacle or challenge has been overcome. It symbolizes the joy of victory and the hope that accompanies the downfall of a metaphorical wicked witch in one's own life. In conclusion, in The Wizard of Oz, the death of the Wicked Witch of the East is a pivotal event that propels the story forward and represents the triumph of good over evil. It is a moment of celebration and relief for the characters, as well as a symbol of hope and empowerment. The phrase "Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead" has become a popular expression, capturing the joy and triumph of overcoming obstacles in one's own life..
Reviews for "The Evolution of the Witch Character in Film: From The Wizard of Oz to Maleficent"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I really didn't enjoy "The Wizard of Oz: Ding Dong the Witch is Dead". The songs were catchy, but the plot felt disjointed and the acting was subpar. I found myself losing interest halfway through the movie and struggled to finish it. The visual effects also seemed outdated, which took away from the overall cinematic experience. Overall, I was disappointed and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 1/5 stars - "The Wizard of Oz: Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" was a complete letdown. The storyline was confusing and lacked substance. The characters were flat and the dialogue felt forced. The only redeeming quality was the music, which was enjoyable at times. However, the overall production fell short and failed to captivate my interest. I would advise others to skip this film and find something more engaging to watch.
3. Mark - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "The Wizard of Oz: Ding Dong the Witch is Dead", but unfortunately, it fell flat. The acting was mediocre and the plot felt rushed. The changes made to the classic story were unnecessary and took away from the charm of the original. The visual effects were also underwhelming and didn't bring anything new to the table. Overall, I was disappointed with this adaptation and would suggest revisiting the iconic 1939 version instead.