The Wicked Witch of the West is a prominent character in the popular novel titled "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," written by L. Frank Baum. This novel was published in the early 20th century and has since become a beloved children's story that has been adapted into various forms of media, including movies and stage productions. In the story, the Wicked Witch of the West is depicted as the main antagonist. She is described as a truly wicked and powerful witch who rules over the Winkie Country in the Land of Oz. She is known for her green skin, long nose, and evil cackling laugh, which cement her menacing presence.
Glinda is the daughter of the Ruby Sorceress, Gayelette, and Quelala, rulers of the North. She was born a princess, but she imagines for herself adventure and romance, just like in her large collection of books. She has fiery red hair, and a temper to match.
When her parents disappear, Glinda finds herself thrown into adventure, with the Wicked Witches chasing after her. With a name and a fame belonging to her mother, Glinda fights back against the witches to earn for herself the title of Glinda the Good, and secure a new home for herself in the South.
With a name and a fame belonging to her mother, Glinda fights back against the witches to earn for herself the title of Glinda the Good, and secure a new home for herself in the South. Her Kansas alter ego counterpart is the mean spirited town aristocrat named Almira Gulch who tries to put Dorothy Gale s pet dog named Toto down for attacking her when Dorothy and him were walking home from the Kansas school House.
She is known for her green skin, long nose, and evil cackling laugh, which cement her menacing presence. The Wicked Witch of the West first appears in the story when Dorothy and her companions, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion, arrive in the Winkie Country after their journey to the Emerald City. The Wicked Witch pursues them throughout their adventures, seeking vengeance against Dorothy for accidentally killing her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East, by dropping a house on her.
The Greatest Witch of All: Examining the Character and Cultural Impact of the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Wicked Witch of the West is perhaps the most famous incarnation of a witch on screen who also happens to be in one of the greatest films of all time. She may not have a cat, but she does have a fleet of winged monkeys. I can, of course, only be referring to the Wicked Witch of the West from the spectacularly glorious 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz. Originating from the timeless and much-loved book penned in 1900 by L. Frank Baum entitled The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, this depiction, embodied by an unrecognisable Margaret Hamilton, has served as universal shorthand for wickedness in popular culture for decades.
The Wicked Witch of the West is ranked at number 4 on the American Film Institute’s 50 best villains of all-time list, a startling achievement in that it also makes her the highest -ranking female villain ever to bewitch our screens! Her very title, in fact, denotes her importance, for she is not just a witch, but the Wicked Witch of the West, a name that with its heavy vowel sounds and alliteration carries an air of threat and menace. Unlike her adversary, Glinda, the Witch of the North, she is not humanized with a Christian name.
An original illustration of the Witch by W.W. Denslow in L Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Although the film is adored by audiences far and wide, viewers may not be aware that there are some rather significant differences between the witch we see on screen and Baum’s original creation. The most memorable feature of the witch in the film adaptation is her striking green skin; however, in the novel there is no mention of this. There are also some interesting elements of the witch included in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz that do not appear in the film, such as the replacement of a broom stick with an umbrella (with which she then taunts the loyal Toto). With the use of only one eye, moreover, she is to be seen in the novel’s illustrations with an eye patch.
What makes this particular witch especially terrifying, however, is that she exists not only in Dorothy’s imagined world of Oz, but (and again, unlike the novel) she is alive and operating to full wicked capacity in the real world as Miss Gulch. As a woman of higher social status than the Gale family, and therefore with more power at her fingertips, she commits one of the cruellest acts imaginable by taking away young Dorothy’s dog Toto. She does this with no cause or reason other than that she enjoys asserting control over the lives of those less powerful than herself.
In a filmed 1975 interview with presenter Fred Rogers, actress Margaret Hamilton, who brought the wickedness of the character to life, spoke about how she “always wanted to be a witch as a little girl.” Interestingly, she touches on one of the characteristics of the witch that makes them so fascinating, their status as outsiders. Margaret, who in contrast to the witch, is an incredibly charming and soft- spoken woman, discusses how she quickly identified two fundamental elements of her character; first, her enjoyment of everything she does whether it is deemed good or bad; and, second (and most relevant to the outsider point), her deep frustration at never getting what she desires. She also laments how frightened children became of her portrayal and expresses a great surprise and sadness at this. Given the dark and taunting nature of the Wicked Witch of the West, it is hard to imagine why the actress struggled to come to terms with children finding this terrifying. However, it is also testament to her loyalty to the character that she views her as more than just a cardboard cut-out representation of evil.
Margaret Hamilton as Miss Gulch in The Wizard of Oz
It will come as no surprise to learn that Margaret herself went through some challenging times whilst filming. The actress recounts how careful she was required to be during lunch times and breaks, as her hands and face were covered with green make up. In order to prevent any potential smudges or transferences onto her costume, she found herself depending upon an assistant to cut up her food and feed it to her in manageable pieces. Not all of her experiences were as light-hearted as this however, as she also found herself face to face with great danger on one particular occasion. When making her famous fire-filled exit after her first meeting with Dorothy and Glinda, the lift mechanism which she used fell out from underneath her and she was subsequently left with second and third degree burns on her hands and face, an event that must have been truly traumatic.
The witch’s association with fire is an interesting one and a recurring motif; over the course of the film, we see her arrive and depart via flames, throw a fireball at the Scarecrow, set her broomstick on fire–and flashes of fiery light appear when she attempts to remove the ruby slippers from Dorothy’s feet. This contrasts with her opposition to water, an element that eventually kills her and a point that is explored in more depth in the novel where she is represented as aquaphobic. Through this, there is an obvious link to the symbolism of anger, harm, hell, the devil and all things dark and evil.
Actress Margaret Hamilton
In terms of the best scene of the film, this is an impossible decision to make, as all moments that include the witch are utterly memorable. However, her introductory scene is captivating, not least because she enters and leaves in a ball of fire. Her interruption of the celebrations of Dorothy, Glinda, and the Munchkins by her sudden appearance through flames clutching her trusted broomstick is arguably a highlight of the film, as her arrival is as much of a shock and a surprise to us as it is to Dorothy. Her verbal sparring with good witch Glinda (who is a formidable match for the figure cloaked in blackness) and the much-quoted cackling line, “I’ll get you my pretty and your little dog too,” have been imitated and quoted ever since. She might still send a tingle of childhood-related fear down my spine but for her iconography, for Margaret Hamilton’s sublime and unforgettable performance, and of course for her delicious wickedness, I think we ought to say one big “All Hail” to the Wicked Witch of the West.
Rebecca McCallum is a horror enthusiast from the North West of England with a specific interest in writing think pieces that dissect and analyse the films of the genre, Rebecca is Assistant Editor @ghoulsmagazine and has contributed articles for @evolutionpod, @zobowithashotgun and @anatomyofascream. Find her on Twitter @PendlePumpkin.
With the popularity of the story, it's no surprise that it has received several major dramatized adaptions. The three most prominent for musical theatre fans are the 1939 MGM movie-musical "The Wizard of Oz," the 1975 "super soul musical" The Wiz and the 2003 musical prequel to Baum's novel, Wicked. Though Dorothy and her friends journey to the Emerald City seems to be a constant amongst all of the adaptations, many other details differ.
The Wicked Witch of the West employs different means to try to capture Dorothy and her friends and regain possession of her late sister's magical silver slippers. She sends her minions, the flying monkeys, to capture Dorothy and bring her to her castle. She also uses her magical powers to create hazards, such as a field of deadly poppies, to hinder their progress. Despite her best efforts, the Wicked Witch of the West is ultimately defeated by Dorothy. When Dorothy throws a bucket of water on her during a confrontation, the wicked witch melts away, leaving only her clothes behind. This is because the wicked witch is vulnerable to water due to a reaction between her body and the magic that made her wretchedly wicked. The character of the Wicked Witch of the West has become an iconic figure in popular culture, often representing the epitome of evil witches. She has been portrayed in various adaptations of "The Wizard of Oz," most notably in the 1939 film adaptation where she is famously played by Margaret Hamilton. Her green skin and black pointed hat have become synonymous with the image of a witch. Overall, the Wicked Witch of the West is an important character in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." She serves as a powerful and malevolent force that Dorothy must overcome on her journey. Her portrayal has left a lasting impact on literature and popular culture, ensuring her place as one of the most iconic witches in storytelling..
Reviews for "The Wicked Witch's Motivation: Uncovering the Root of Evil in the Wizard of Oz"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West in "Wizzard of oz witch". The character lacked depth and complexity, and the actress failed to bring any real menace or intimidation to the role. The dialogue felt forced and the performance was overall flat and unconvincing. I had high hopes for this production, but it fell short of my expectations.
2. Emily - 2 stars - I found the interpretation of the Wicked Witch of the West in "Wizzard of oz witch" to be quite underwhelming. The costume and makeup were impressive, but the actress's delivery and portrayal of the character left much to be desired. The witch came across as more comical than menacing, and I couldn't take her seriously. I was hoping for a more nuanced and intimidating performance, but unfortunately, it fell flat.
3. Robert - 3 stars - While I didn't dislike the portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West in "Wizzard of oz witch", I wasn't particularly impressed either. The performance lacked the intensity and presence that I expected from such an iconic character. The actress did an adequate job, but there was nothing that stood out or made the character truly memorable. Overall, it was a mediocre depiction that didn't live up to the hype.