The Wizard of Oz is a famous American novel and subsequent film adaptation that captures the imagination of both children and adults. One of the most memorable characters in the story is the Wicked Witch of the West, who is depicted as a terrifying and powerful villain. In the story, the Wicked Witch of the West rides a broomstick, which is often referred to as a "broom" or a "bik'e." This mode of transportation adds an element of mystique and danger to her character. The witch's ability to fly on her broomstick allows her to move quickly and appear in unexpected places, further fueling the fear that she instills in the characters and readers alike. The image of a witch riding a broomstick has long been associated with magic and sorcery.
The earliest era of structural biology made clear the necessity of molecular visualization for even small proteins, such as the 62-amino acid snake venom toxin shown here (PDB ID 3EBX). In this process, (a) atomic coordinates are visually rendered on a computer display as (b) lines, “sticks,” spheres, etc., thereby creating a representation of the protein’s 3D structure. Though useful for detailed, atomic-scale analyses, e.g., of enzyme mechanisms, such renditions are too visually cluttered and complicated (incomprehensible, essentially) to enable one to grasp a protein’s overall architecture and topology. For that purpose, (c) ribbon diagrams are a blessing: these diagrams are powerful abstractions of a single protein entity, but do they (d) mask other features and relationships.
The brilliantly conceived and executed Critical Assessment of Structure Prediction CASP , held since 1994 3 , has shown the significant progress in structure prediction over the years; but, all efforts fell far short of what was achieved by AF2 and its predecessor, AlphaFold 4 , and by other efforts, notably RoseTTAFold 5. In gazing at ribbon cartoons on a page, we abandon the physicochemical properties that underlie the structure; consider dynamics as only variations of the ribbon; and we think less about solvent, other interacting molecules, cellular location, evolution, and function.
The image of a witch riding a broomstick has long been associated with magic and sorcery. This image can be traced back to folklore and mythology, where witches were believed to use their broomsticks to travel to their covens or to perform spells and rituals. The broomstick therefore symbolizes the witch's supernatural abilities and serves as a representation of her power.
The ribbon and the curse – Cournilhoun, Massello
Today I’ll bring you into the high valley of Massello, in a place called Cournilhoun, a woody ridge near the Eidût hill country. It is said that once upon a time in this place lived some fairies (also called fantine) in a cot under a rock. They spent their days picking flowers and herbs, in perfect harmony with nature. Many people recounted of wonderful treasures which were scrupulously guarded in huge chests by the beautiful fairies.
A young man from Pradidiè, which stands in front to Cournilhoun, on the other side of the valley, was wondering if all the rumours about the fantine were truth or not. Finally, a night he took the decision to go and see where was their house. When he got to the cot he saw the lights from the windows, and, when he watched inside… What a wonder! He saw three beautiful girls around the firelight. Taking courage, he knocked at the door and then entered to meet them. He spent all the evening in company with them chatting and joking.
It seems that there are some small footsteps!
Coming back home he was feeling like he was flying… He couldn’t stop to think about the stunning eyes of one of them… He fell in love at the first sight! After that first encounter he began to visit her more and more, and she appeared to reciprocate his love, covering him by kindnesses. A day, the mother of the boy discovered the reason of his night escapes, and she wasn’t happy to discover that the love of his son was for a fantina! The fantine weren’t well–judged by the inhabitants of the valley, because of their magical powers. And so, she began to forbid him to go out at night, totally sure that sooner or later he would have abandoned that unreasonable crush.
But the love refuses to listen to reason, and so the boy succeeded in escaping on the sly to go and meet his girlfriend.
What a great outlook from here!
A night, desperate because of the difficult situation, he talked with the beautiful fairy, and she told him: «No problem! If your mother doesn’t want that we get married, I’ll convince her with magic. Tie this red ribbon around her neck and you’ll see that she’ll change her mind!»
The boy, overjoyed by the idea, took the ribbon and started to run breathlessy towards home, but near Ciancoutan, just below Pradidè, he had to stop to rest. Worried about what he should have told to the mother to excuse his night escape, he decided to try to tie the ribbon, with the intention of make a nice bow to show the gift at its best. So, he tied the tape around the trunk of a larch. But in an instant the flames flared up around the tree, which in a few minutes got charred! The boy, amazed by the fright and misty–eyed thinking about what he could have done to his mother, ran to home.
When the fairies, who observed the scene from their home, saw that their bad intent had been discovered, they flied off the handle! Furious with the young man who betrayed their confidence, they packed up their things and got on their chests full of trasures. Because the chests were magic, they used them to descend the valley passing over the river, destroying everything they crossed and pledging to never come back to that valley.
The Rio Rabbioso (Riou Rabioûr), the way from which, probably, the fantine descended the valley
They only spared the destiny of the bridge of Masselli, near Pomaretto village, because there was an old man passing by there, who said: «Beautiful fantine, low your heads and spare the bridge!». Because they weren’t indifferent to praises, they decided to not destroy that bridge, and followed their descent towards the valley floor to go away and never get back.
The bridge of Masselli
How to get there
From Pinerolo go to Villar Perosa, then follow the indications to Perrero, overstep it and follow on the Strada Provinciale 170 to Massello. Then go straight on for 1.5 Kms until your reach the Gros Passet hamlet. Here you’ll have to leave your car and go by feet taking a trail just above the hamlet which runs along Rio Rabbioso. You’ll find the Cournilhoun hamlet on your left.
Do you want to read the tale in Italian ?
Are there other examples where our thinking becomes “locked in”? Taxonomies and ontologies come to mind. The tree of life, while an evolutionary anchor point, is more accurately viewed as dynamic and changeable. If Woese and Fox [10] had not thought so, the discovery of Archaea would have been delayed.
In the Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West's broomstick is also closely tied to her demise. Dorothy, the story's protagonist, accidentally throws a bucket of water onto the witch, causing her to melt away. This scene is a turning point in the story, as it symbolizes the defeat of evil and the triumph of good over wickedness. Overall, the image of the Wicked Witch of the West on her broomstick is an iconic and recognizable symbol in popular culture. It represents the concept of a powerful and feared antagonist, as well as the potential for the forces of good to overcome evil. The broomstick adds an element of mystery and magic to the character of the witch, making her a captivating and unforgettable presence in the Wizard of Oz story..
Reviews for "The Symbolic Meaning of the Witch's Broom in The Wizard of Oz"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Wizard of Oz Witch on Bike". The plot was all over the place and the characters were poorly developed. It seemed like the filmmakers were trying to be quirky and unique, but it just came across as confusing and nonsensical. The special effects were also outdated and laughable. Overall, I found it to be a complete waste of time and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I cannot express enough how much I disliked "Wizard of Oz Witch on Bike". It felt like a cheap knock-off of the original Wizard of Oz, but with even worse acting and production quality. The storyline was confusing and the dialogue was cringe-worthy. The whole concept of a witch on a bike just seemed ridiculous and didn't add anything to the story. Save yourself the agony and skip this one.
3. Mike - 2 stars - "Wizard of Oz Witch on Bike" had potential, but it fell flat for me. The acting was subpar and the pacing was uneven. The use of a bicycle as a mode of transportation for the witch was a strange choice that didn't work for me. The film lacked the magic and charm of the original Wizard of Oz and felt like a low-budget, amateur production. Overall, I was disappointed and wouldn't recommend it to fans of the original.
4. Emily - 2.5 stars - While "Wizard of Oz Witch on Bike" had some interesting elements, it ultimately failed to capture the essence of the original. The storyline felt disjointed and the characters lacked depth. The special effects were underwhelming, especially considering the advancements in technology since the original film was released. I appreciate the attempt to bring a fresh twist to the story, but unfortunately, it fell short for me.