Wicked – Die Hexen von Oz (Roman)
Vorlage:Portalpar Wicked (ISBN 0060987103), or Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, is a novel by Gregory Maguire. Based upon the writings of L. Frank Baum, it is a revisionist look at the land and characters of Oz, best known from Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Wicked, published in 1995 with illustrations by Douglas Smith, presents events, characters and situations from Baum's books and the film in new and surprising ways. The events described in the book rarely contradict anything from the movie, and some detailed events come directly from Baum's book. However, Wicked gives Oz and its inhabitants a new context, which often changes or inverts the meaning suggested by the original texts.
Unlike the popular 1939 movie and Baum's writings, this novel is not meant for children. It contains sexual scenes and language which catches some readers by surprise. Wicked, the hit Broadway musical based upon the novel, is also very different in tone from Maguire's book. While the musical is meant to be enjoyed by all ages, the book is clearly intended for adult readers.
The musical is a lavish production that originally starred Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth as Galinda, and Joel Grey as The Wizard.
A sequel to Wicked, entitled Son of a Witch, was published in fall of 2005.
Plot
The novel is a political, social, and ethical commentary on what good and evil really are. The story centers around Elphaba, the misunderstood green-skinned girl who grows up to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West. It tells of her time at Shiz University, as well as her journey to the Emerald City and The Vinkus, among other places in Oz. The book explains Elphaba's motives and examines her true personality. Many familiar characters from Oz are featured in Wicked, including the Wizard, Glinda (here originally called "Galinda" but later adopting the name Glinda), the Wicked Witch of the East (here called Nessarose), and Dorothy. Maguire also introduces several new characters including Fiyero, Madame Morrible, and Doctor Dillamond.
Characters
- Elphaba is the primary protagonist of the story, who eventually becomes known as the Wicked Witch of the West. She acquires this nickname more as a result of her sister's nickname (the Wicked Witch of the East, who was so named by her political opponents) than for any wicked deeds. Wicked adds details regarding the social and political climate of Oz which make Elphaba a more sympathetic character. She is driven into conflict with The Wizard out of concern for the welfare of sentient and linguistically adept Animals who are suffering under the discriminatory and increasingly genocidal policies of The Wizard. Dorothy unwittingly becomes embroiled in the conflict after her house kills Elphaba's sister and she is charged with the powerful ruby slippers, which Elphaba fears may cause immense harm if they fall into the hands of The Wizard.
- Nessarose is Elphaba's sister. She eventually inherits the position of Eminent Thropp, leader of the Unionist religion. Through this position, she coerces Munchkinland into seceding from Oz. As a political leader of Munchkinland, she has both supporters and detractors. Her unhappy subjects nickname her "the Wicked Witch of the East". Nessarose is also the apple of her father, Frexpar (Frex)'s eye, and his most favored child out of three.
- Galinda, later Glinda, is Elphaba's roommate at Shiz University. As she matures, she and Elphaba become close friends. It is implied as well that perhaps Galinda has feelings for Elphaba; indeed, she cares for her deeply, and Elphaba for her in return. However, the two are separated for fifteen years when Elphaba goes into hiding. Glinda is part of the high society in Gillikin, Oz's northern state.
- Fiyero is the prince of the Vinkus, Oz's western state. He meets Elphaba at Shiz, and later has an affair with her while she is involved in a resistance movement against the Wizard of Oz. This leads to his murder by the Gale Force, the Wizard's secret police.
- The Wizard is the dictator of Oz, and primary villain of the story. He originally came to Oz from America in a hot air balloon seeking the Grimmerie, but became sidetracked when he discovered he could orchestrate a coup in Oz. It is heavily implied that he fathered Elphaba while her mother was under the influence of the Magical Elixir, which may explain Elphaba's green skin, aversion to water, and ability to occasionally read parts of the Grimmerie, which originated in the Wizard's world. After Elphaba's death and Dorothy's return to the Emerald City, the Wizard hastily leaves Oz for America in another (or the same) hot air balloon, and plans his suicide. After taking the Magical Elixir herself, Elphaba sees visions of the future, in which the Wizard fails to drown himself in the ocean. This is consistent with Baum's books, in which the Wizard later returns to Oz, alive.
- Madame Morrible is the headmistress of Elphaba and Galinda's college (Crage Hall) in Shiz. She is suspected by Elphaba and her friends to be responsible for the murder of Dr. Dillamond. At one point, she proposes that Elphaba, Galinda, and Nessarose become future behind-the-scenes rulers in Oz, a proposal which they never willingly follow up on. Elphaba suspects that Madame Morrible has at least some magical powers and may have indeed controlled the fates of the three women. It is possible that she spies on Elphaba and sends messages to Liir through the Carp in the well at Elphaba's home in the Vinkus; the Carp dies at about the same time of Morrible. Morrible dies of natural causes minutes before Elphaba attempts to murder her.
- Dr. Dillamond is a talking Goat and professor at Crage Hall in Shiz. Assisted by Elphaba, Dr. Dillamond performs research on the differences between animals and Animals (intelligent animals). He suspiciously dies from a slit throat; Madame Morrible claims that this an accident, but her account is contradicted by Galinda’s Ama (chaperone) who claims she witnessed the event.
- Boq is a Munchkin who grew up with Elphaba, and reunites with her at Shiz University. At first he is only interested in talking to Elphaba in the hope that it will help his crush, Galinda, notice him. However, over time Boq and Elphaba become close friends and help Dr. Dillamond with his research.
- Dorothy Gale is an eight- or nine-year-old girl who lands in Oz in her house, which crushes Nessarose. She takes Nessarose's shoes under the advisement of Glinda. These shoes are seen by many as a symbol of power over Munchkinland. During her travels, many citizens of Oz are superstitious about her because of these shoes and her name. Her first name sounds like a reversal of the name of the "king" of her land (Theodore Roosevelt). The Gale Force fear her for her last name. The Wizard sends Dorothy to kill Elphaba, but Dorothy's intention is to ask her for forgiveness for killing Nessarose. Elphaba does not know whether to treat Dorothy with kindness or to fear her. Dorothy accidentally kills Elphaba by pouring water on her in an attempt to put out a fire on Elphaba's dress.
- Liir is a son of Fiyero who leaves the Emerald City with Elphaba for the Vinkus. It is heavily implied that Elphaba is his mother. She does indeed admit that there is a year of her life she does not remember, during which she could have borne Liir.
- Yackle is a mysterious crone who appears frequently in Elphaba's life and who Elphaba suspects may be exerting control over her fate and be Lurline, the mythical founder of Oz.
- The dwarf claims to be an immortal sent to Oz to prevent the Grimmerie from returning to Earth. With his Clock of the Time Dragon, he seems to Elphaba to either be able to control fate or predict it.
- Frexspar is Elphaba, Nessarose, and Shell's father and a devout Unionist priest. He was also in love with Turtle Heart, a Quadling glassblower who lodged with him and his wife, Melena, who also had an affair with the Quadling. Nessarose was his favorite child, and to her he gave the famous ruby slippers.
Objects
- The Grimmerie is a book of Magic that originated on Earth but was taken to Oz by a wizard to prevent it from being used for evil. It is sought by the Wizard of Oz and is the reason he traveled to Oz. It ends up in the possession of Elphaba.
- The Magical Elixir is a bottle of potion that Elphaba keeps with her throughout her life. It was presented to Elphaba's mother once who took it and had bizarre dreams. It may have been the Wizard who gave it to Elphaba's mother and fathered Elphaba at that time. Elphaba takes some of the Elixir late in life and has many prophetic dreams. Some are so disturbing to her that she rarely sleeps for the rest of her life. This may contribute to her loss of wits near the end of her life. This is the object Dorothy takes to the Wizard as proof of Elphaba's death.
- The Clock of the Time Dragon is a travelling show which contains many magicked tiktok puppets that act out prophetic scenes. It is the center of the pleasure faith religion and is accompanied by the dwarf. Elphaba is born inside the Time Dragon, and receives the revelation that the Wizard is her father from the Dragon.