Wicked: For Good, the sequel to the adored movie adaptation of the award-winning musical Wicked, has certainly sparked curiosity on whether or not parallels can be drawn between this work of fiction and the real world.
For context, the beloved movie is centered around the backstory of the characters, specifically the witches, in the classic story The Wizard of Oz. The most prominent character, Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, is a clear representation of how someone can easily be used as a scapegoat for society to pin their problems on. More interestingly, the Wizard of Oz, a public figure that many look up to, is one of the main masterminds behind this deliberate misunderstanding, reflecting today’s issue that people in power often use their influence to deceive the people they represent and vilify their opposers.
Many people compare Madame Morrible and the Wizard’s anti-Witch propaganda to the propaganda seen in today’s society. Madison Swenson, ‘27, says that propaganda imposes “incorrect stereotypes” onto people, which is quite plainly the conflict seen in Wicked. The propaganda posted throughout Oz portrays her as an evil monster, incorrectly stereotyping her and resulting in the Ozians seeing her as a common enemy.
Furthermore, Itri Peterson, ‘28, argues that the political climate of our country always has a new “enemy of the week,” whether it’s the LGBTQ+ community or prominent religious figures. Many people today pin their own fears or issues onto groups of people they disagree with or feel attacked by, using them as “society’s scapegoat.” Without a doubt, this is a very prominent issue referenced in the movie, as the citizens of Oz use the Wicked Witch of the West to channel their anger and fear into something that they can demonize.
Another layer to these blunt and scandalous parallels is that Elphaba is originally antagonized solely for the color of her skin. This direct and obvious reflection of racism in our society today highlights how white supremacists both in history and modern culture use those who don’t look like them to keep themselves in power by handing their followers someone to slander on.
