In Act One, we meet Elphaba and Galinda—two strangers who could not have less in common. When thrown together as roommates at Shiz University, the two must learn how to get along. Doctor Dillamond, one of Elphaba’s professors confides in Elphaba that the Animals of Oz are beginning to lose their powers of speech. A Winkie prince named Fiyero comes to Shiz and charms everyone on campus, including Galinda, who he invites to a dance at the Ozdust Ballroom. Boq, a munchkin, also invites Galinda, who in turn prompts him to invite Nessarose, Elphaba’s wheelchair-bound younger sister. Galinda later gives Elphaba a makeover out of sympathy for her. When Doctor Dillamond is arrested and Fiyero helps Elphaba to free the subject of an experiment (a lion …show more content…
cub), she discovers that she has romantic feelings toward Fiyero, even though she thinks she isn’t worthy of being loved. Galinda changes her name to Glinda, which goes unnoticed by Fiyero.
Upon learning that Elphaba has been granted an audience with the Wizard in the Emerald City, she invites Glinda along and the two enjoy some quality time with one another. But during her audience with the Wizard, she learns that the Wizard is the one who is causing the Animals to lose their powers. Elphaba then steals the Grimmerie (an ancient, powerful book of spells) and runs away with Glinda. Knowing that they are being pursued, the friends are forced to make a choice: stand firm for their cause and be persecuted, or give in and go free. Elphaba chooses to stand up for what she believes in, while Glinda chooses to leave Elphaba and stay with the Wizard as an Ozian public figure. This act of defiance has convinced all Ozians that Elphaba, who has good intentions, is …show more content…
wicked. The now “Wicked” Witch of the West has gone into hiding.
Glinda informs Fiyero that she doesn’t want to be found and tries to win his love, despite his growing disinterest. Elphaba returns to Munchkinland to seek refuge with her sister. Nessarose, who is now the Governor of Munchkinland, reprimands her sister for not using her powers to help her gain freedom from her wheelchair. In return, Elphaba empowers her sister to walk by enchanting her shoes and making them ruby slippers. Nessarose, for fear that Boq will leave her because of her disability, had decreed that the Munchkins are not allowed to leave Munchkinland. Having revealed this to Boq, Nessarose is sure that he will not leave her now that she can walk. Boq claims that Nessarose is just as evil as her sister, and insists that he be allowed to attempt to win Glinda’s heart. In the midst of her anger, Nessarose finds a spell in the Grimmerie that will make Boq fall in love with her, but instead backfires and makes him heartless. Elphaba attempts to save him, and turns him into a Tin Man so he could live without a heart. She then leaves, after another dispute with her sister. When Boq awakens, Nessarose (labeled the Wicked Witch of the East) blames her sister for his new being, and he runs away. Elphaba goes to the Wizard’s palace to free the rest of the winged monkeys she accidently created in Act One. The Wizard agrees to free them, and again attempts to convince Elphaba to join him. However, she discovers ( a
now speechless) Doctor Dillamond with the flying monkeys and turns down his offer. During an escape attempt, she runs into Fiyero, who runs away with her. Glinda sees them and feels betrayed, and then tells Madame Morrible that she can lure Elphaba into a trap by using Nessarose as bait. Morrible then creates the twister that brings Dorothy to Oz and kills Nessarose. Fiyero informs Elphaba that his family has an abandoned castle where they can live together in safety, but Elphaba senses that her sister is in danger and goes to her. Palace guards capture Elphaba, but Fiyero intervenes and is captured, allowing Elphaba to escape. His captors threaten to torture him until he reveals Elphaba’s location (his family’s castle) to them. Elphaba, in a desperate attempt to save him from the pains of torture from a distance, casts a spell that turns him into a Scarecrow. The Cowardly Lion (the lion cub that Elphaba and Fiyero had once set free) along with the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Dorothy, and Toto are sent to kill Dorothy. Elphaba, having captured Dorothy, refuses to release her until she gives up to ruby slippers- the only thing remaining of her sister. Glinda travels to warn Elphaba and convince her to release Dorothy, but she refuses. Elphaba gives Glinda the Grimmerie and they both forgive and thank each other before saying goodbye forever. Then, Glinda throws a bucket of water onto Elphaba, who melts away leaving behind only her black hat and a vial of green elixir. The Wizard happens to have an identical vial of green elixir, which Glinda points out, and they discover that he is Elphaba’s biological father. Glinda orders the Wizard to leave Oz and sends Madame Morrible to prison for the murder of Nessarose. At the castle, Fiyero goes to where Elphaba was melted and knocks on the floor, and reveals a trap door, from which comes Elphaba- who is very much alive. Elphaba states that she will never see Glinda again, while Glinda sadly tells all of Oz that the Witch of the West is dead. Fiyero and Elphaba set off to pursue a brighter future, leaving a distraught Glinda with the elated Ozians.
Although the movie doesn’t follow the cycle totally, it fails in comparison to Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which by far is the most unique of the three stories plot wise. While throughout the story you will see some aspects of the cycle, this is the life story of Elphaba, from her birth to her death. Because at the beginning of the story she is not alive and at the end of the story she dies, there is no status quo, or ordinary world at the beginning of the story to return to at the end. After the beginning of the story all of Oz is the special world that Elphaba has to explore, and even when Elphaba does return to her birthplace in Munchkinland near the end of the novel it is in no way the way she left it. A woman who lives there has a maid who is falling in love with a woodcutter, and the maid might quit her job to be with him. She comes to Elphaba's sister Nessarose, who is now the highest ranking official in Munchkinland, and asks for help, “‘I can give you two Sheep and a Cow,’ said the woman… ‘I might bewitch his axe and let it slip,’ said Nessarose thoughtfully, ‘just enough perhaps to cut off his arm.’” (Maguire 314) The woman asks her to hurt the woodcutter so severely that the maid will not be attracted to him anymore and she will continue working. Of course a cruel leader like Nessarose would never help a citizen out of
After this, all of the animals chosen to be strong and Aslan, the lion, went and talked in a private group. Digory was told to meet with them. Strawberry, the horse, could now speak and was named the leader of the winged horses. understand, so he took Digory over to the group. Digory was brought there to tell everyone how the evil queen got into the land of Narnia. He did and he was forgiven. After this event, Polly and the horse owner came to the group. The owner is somehow recognized by the lion but nobody knows how. His wife is soon brought from the normal world and they are made the king and queen of Narnia, the new land. After this, Digory is brought forward. “ Are you ready to undo the wrong that you have done to my sweet country of Narnia on the very day of its birth?” said Aslan. “Yes,” said Digory. Aslan started telling him how to complete his journey. He shows him the way he would go and the dangers he would face. Then Aslan did something quite amazing. He took Strawberry, the horse that was brought, and made him able to speak and gave him wings. He also renamed him Fledge. Fledge was supposed to take Digory on his journey. Right as this plan was made, Aslan saw the wife and Polly whispering. He went and asked them what they were whispering
In the book the Oresteia by Aeschylus gender plays an important role throughout the story as the themes of vengeance, and family ties are brought to light. Aeschylus’s portrayal of Clytemnestra and Electra shows the roles women upheld in Greek society as well as their wide variety of feelings when compared to men. These two women are at opposite ends of the spectrum showing the reader how one woman may run the house and everything in it, while one suffers silently.
In an archetypal sense, “The Princess and the Frog” have the same type of characters and other elements just as other fairy tales. For example, Dr Facilier’s many physical traits can be compared to that of Jafar in Disney’s ‘Aladdin’ such as being tall and skinny and dressed up in very linear black and red (Aladdin). Also Dr Facilier’s personality as that of a scheming broker with ‘friends on the other side’ can be compared to that of Ursula and Hades in Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ and ‘Hercules’ respectively (The Little Mermaid) (Hercules). The motif which includes the Quest in the movie, and characters like Louis, Ray and Mama Odie, learning and overcoming obstacles resulted in the transformation of both Tiana and Prince Naveen, both physically and mentally. One of the main uses of object archetypes in the movie can be Mama Odie’s blind glasses. These glasses shows that Mama Odie is blind. Analysing this with a critical eye, Mama Odie’s glasses are so such similar to that of the blindfold of ‘Lady Liberty’. The irony is that Mama Odie sees the truth and solution to everything. Archetypes can give strong and powerful meanings to mere objects like a feather to a giant
Alyss meets an orphan named Quigly Gaffer, who is, in Alyss’s eye, “the nicest in the band of homeless orphans and runaways of which he was a part” (Beddor 101). He gave Alyss and t...
There are only two female characters in the entire play Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare. These two women, Tamora and Lavinia, seem to be complete opposites. Tamora appears to give up her femininity in the name of revenge and power, while Lavinia’s femininity and value as a woman is taken from her. Tamora has power outside of men, but Lavinia only has power when men aid her. The play portrays Tamora as a sensual strong being, whereas Lavinia encompasses the more traditional virtuous, passive role that a woman would be expected to take. By creating this dichotomy between the two women, the play is able to explore female sexuality and power.
Wicked is the story of the two witches of Oz. Elphaba is looked upon as the “wicked” witch and Glinda is looked upon as the “good” witch. Elphaba was born with green skin and is a smart, strong-willed, and misunderstood girl. Meanwhile, her college roommate Glinda is beautiful, ambitious, and loved by all. Elphaba has extremely low self-esteem because everyone looks at her in a negative way. She thinks she isn’t special or important to the world at all. Elphaba goes to a school that makes her think even lower of herself because she was only sent there to look after her sister, the “favorite” child of her family. When the headmistress tells her that she is special and has a talent for sorcery, she feels like she has a gift. She realizes if she gets the opportunity to meet the Wizard someday, everyone will love her because he treats the people of Oz very poorly, even though they don’t see it. His main goal in life is to segregate the talking-animals of Oz from the rest of the society. Because Elphaba fits into the talking-animal category, she refuses to help the Wizard. This makes her look evil...
When Elphaba was born, she was expected to be a curse to her family. For example, her father, Frex said, "It's the devil," and "The devil is coming" (Maguire 10). He is very unhappy, cruel, and neglected her ever since birth because of her physical appearance. She gets the center of attention from everyone because of uncommon characteristics such as having green skin, allergenic to water, and having razor-sharp teeth. Even though she portrays a role being the Wicked Witch of the West, she can still be a caring and loving person. When she was a college student, she deeply cares about all animals in the land of Oz and is willing to endanger herself to save them. She saved a monkey from drowning in the w...
in Duncan's army, Banquo. After the fight, the Weird Sisters decide. to pay Macbeth and Banquo a visit and tell them that Macbeth will soon become the Thane of Cawdor, and then King. They also tell Banquo that his sons will become king. Therefore, the Weird Sisters hold.
The contrasted humor is clearly shown as Titania weaves flowers into the hair of Bottom’s donkey-like head. Titania is a beautiful and delicate creature, while Bottom is completely grotesque. Magic creates an unreal image of Bottom, which in turn creates a comical contrast between Bottom and Titania. As part of the already comical sub-plot, Bottom’s altering through magic adds even more humor to the overall play. Next, the misuse of magic causes conflict among the four Athenian lovers.
Within The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, C. S. Lewis creates a question in the reader's mind on whether or not the story was meant to symbolize a Christian allegory. Throughout the story, Lewis utilizes the use of symbolism through his characters, their actions, and the places they travel. All of the main characters in the novel symbolize something within the Holy Bible. The Pevensie children are evacuated from war-torn London and sent to live in the country with Professor Kirke, an eccentric old man. While playing hide and seek on a rainy day, Lucy, the youngest Pevensie, discovers a colossal wardrobe in an empty room. She decides to hide inside, but "she had, of course, left the door open, for she knew that it is a very silly thing to shut oneself into a wardrobe" (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Lewis, 7). She discovers that the wardrobe has no ending and it leads to a world full of snow and strange creatures. Lucy meets a faun, Mr. Tumnus, and she follows him back to his home. Mr. Tumnus confesses that he is a servant of the White Witch, Queen Jadis. He states, "I had orders from the White Witch that if I ever saw a Son of Adam or a Daughter of Eve in the wood, I was to catch them and hand them over to her" (Lewis, 21). This is when the reader sees the first sign of symbolism. Lucy is extremely trusting. She represents children and their absolute innocence. When she enters back into the real world, she starts yelling that she is back and she is alright. However, her siblings have no idea what she is talking about. After they hear her story, the three eldest Pevensie children f...
The fairy world then comes into contact with the world of the young lovers. Mischievous Puck causes further complications when he uses magic to anoint a young Athenian male’s eyes, who is in fact the wrong Athenian that Oberon assigned Puck. Puck misuses magic when he plays a silly prank on Bottom who is one of the Mechanicals, by giving Bottom a head of an ass. Strangely Titania falls in love with the creature that Puck has created. This results in Oberon becoming extreamly fu...
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a play of conflicted love. Thus semi-comedy displays the notion of, the spiritual and natural world working together. The play begins with a noble family discussing a planned marriage. Hermia is arranged to marry a man she does not love. In rebellion she and her lover (Lysander) flees to the woods so they can avoid Athenian law. Before leaving Hermia tells her sister about her plans to run away. In desire to gain revenge and find love herself Helena (Hermia’s sister) chases Hermia and her intended mate into the woods. The forest is where the spirits live, the fairy king, Oberon, is desperate to gain the affection of the fairy queen. He saw cupid shoot his love arrow, which landed on a flower. He is determined that,
The two primary uses of language are written word and spoken dialogue. In William Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, there are ample situations where each is very important. Throughout the play, Shakespeare gives the characters who have the ability to read a clear advantage over those who cannot. Aaron’s treachery is committed as a result of a letter that was superior to the begging of Titus. Titus manages to upset the power balance of Saturninus by simply shooting arrows with authoritative messages into the court in Rome. Lastly, the ravaged Lavinia manages to overcome her gruesome injuries to use written language to expose those truly responsible for her suffering. There are also moments in the life of William Shakespeare that tie into the behavior
In the play Agamemnon, Aeschylus depiction of gender roles are both typical and atypical of a standard male or female behavior in the culture and era because male characters in ancient Greece resemble the powerful nature of a warrior. They are seen as the head of the household where the male role is to go out and do hard labour to provide for the family and bring honor to the country, while females are to stay home to tend the kids and do house chores. This is most typical when looking at the gender role in Ancient Greece. Female characters are dependent to the status of the male characters. In the play, Clytemnestra hold great power because of her title as the queen of Greece and wife of Agamemnon. Although male characters are significant in the play, female characters such as Clytemnestra and Cassandra depicted by Aeschylus are complex for numerous reasons. First, Cassandra is a very different character, since she was given the ability to tell and predict the future. Her role in the play is symbolic because of her given ability and her constant struggle in the Trojan War. Cassandra went through rape, war, losing her family and abducted to a kingdom cursed by the Greek gods. Her persistent characteristic make her a powerful female character as equal and symbolic as other male characters in the play. However, the reader must understand that in ancient Greece, the cultural mythology of Greek gods and goddesses is primary to understanding the text. The gods hold the greatest power of all. Apollo is a popular god in Greek for his passion to give unnatural power to humanity. Cassandra was chosen by Apollo to inherit the ability of comprehending prophecies. When Apollo has fallen in love with Cassandra, but she refuses, he cursed her ...