Good vs Evil. Does either concept really exist in our world? Are people that black and white? Can a person harbour both good
and evil qualities? And what causes someone to be "evil"? Is it something they are born with or is it their surrondings and upbringing that bring evil into their souls?
Gregory Maguire's Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West explores the concept of good and evil by following the life story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West from classic
fairy tale The Wizard of Oz , written by L. Frank Baum. Set in the complex
world world of Oz with class divisions and discrimination against talking Animals, Elphaba is born deformed - green with horribly sharp teeth to her shock parents, a priest fighting the "evil" of a new religion and a high society girl who married poor to spite her parents. Growing up, Elphaba experiences abuse at the hands of her mother and emtional abandonment by her father who is more concerned with religion that his little green girl. Her sexual identity is in question. Despite her upbringing Elphaba heads off to university where she befriends the snobby Galinda, the future Glinda the good witch. Galinda is transformed from the snobby, ladder climbing socialite, to a girl with true friends and a sense of right and wrong through her friend Elphala. She grows up to be an activist for Animals rights and stands up to the Wizard of Oz whose regime is bringing political chaos to the divided land of Oz. Throughout her life, Elphaba is always living in the shadow of her crippled sister and the wonderful ruby slippers given to her by her father.
Many events shape the life of Elphaba turning her into the Wicked Witch of the West. But her side of the story is much deeper than the characature presented in the orginal story. Wicked is colourful and will shed new light and an adult prespective on a classic story we all grew up with.