Wicked: The Life & Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

By: Gregory Maguire

Table of Contents

• The author• The book• Characters• Themes• The play “For the Witch, the sky was a huge boulder

pressing down on her. For Glinda it was much the same. But Glinda wheeled about, and cried out, ‘Oh, Elphie!’

The Witch did not turn. They never saw each other again.”

Gregory Maguire

• Children’s books• Leaping Beauty: And Other Animal Fairy Tales • The Hamlet Chronicles

• Adult novels

• Many of his adult novels are retellings of classic children's stories

• Wicked• Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister• Mirror, Mirror

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The book

• An unusual take on popular children’s literature and cinematic history.

• An insight into the making of a hate-figure.

• Introduces the parents of emerald-skinned Elphaba

• Describes her unconventional early family life.

• Tells of Elphaba’s college years at Shiz University and her political activism in the Emerald City.

• Explains her part in disputes between the Wizard and the varied peoples of Oz.

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Characters

• Elphaba• Glenda (Galinda)• Boq• Fiyero• The Wizard• Madame Morrible• Nessarose• Nanny

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Themes

• Good vs. Evil• Difference• Animal Rights• Wickedness

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Good vs. Evil

• Maguire’s re-writing of the Witch’s history makes many comments about the writing of histories and fictional narratives.

• How is it that the ‘good guys’ always seem to win and the ‘bad guys’ meet their downfalls?

• Do those who struggle against power win only when that power is destroyed?

• Should history be as black and white as good struggling against bad?

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Difference

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Animal Rights

Wickedness

• Are people born wicked?

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The Play

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