Warning! Major spoilers for Wicked are down this Yellow Brick Road.
Goodness knows I had to see Wicked as an avid musical lover. I was literally running into the theater because I was so excited (and late!). As I sat down, the opening number in Munchkin Land started. But after a few minutes, I began to understand the layers of the story.
Underneath the magical world of Oz, there are political allegories like racial discrimination and antisemitism. These allegories are quite explicit. Elphaba is treated like an outcast and a horror due to her green skin. Furthermore, animals in Oz are becoming disenfranchised being forbidden to speak, work, or teach.
However, there’s more to learn from Wicked. The third allegory of the movie is the role of bystanders. By being compliant, bystanders let wickedness thrive. In the movie, Nessarose, Elphaba’s sister, idly watches her classmates torment and mock Elphaba’s skin color. Even when Elphaba accidentally uses magic to help Nessarose, Nessarose publicly shames her saying Elphaba “ruined her fresh start”. Nessarose’s passive behavior makes Elphaba feel more alone.
Despite becoming more selfless, Glinda ends the movie as a bystander. Glinda is initially a stereotypical popular girl. She is self-absorbed and only does acts of kindness to elevate her popularity, but through her friendship with Elphaba, she becomes more caring. However, when the Wizard reveals he’s imprisoning the animals, Elphaba starts her path toward rebellion. Instead of being a supportive friend, Glinda pleads with Elphaba to “just say you’re sorry. You can still be with the wizard.” in “Defying Gravity”. While Elphaba wants to fight for what’s right, Glinda stays submissive to the Wizard’s authority even though she knows his tyranny.
The result of Glinda’s decision is revealed in the opening number. At the end of the original Broadway show that Wicked is based on, after faking her own death, Elphaba escapes with Fiyero. In “No One Mourns the Wicked”, Glinda sings, “Goodness knows the Wicked’s lives are lonely. Goodness knows the Wicked dies alone. It just shows when you’re Wicked you’re left only on your own.” Since Elphaba ends her story with Fiyero, Glinda doesn’t refer to her. Instead, the “Wicked” she sings about is herself. Before she chose obedience and stood aside letting wickedness succeed, now, she’s alone as a consequence of her actions.
Wicked is not only an extravagant musical but also a warning against being a bystander. If you stand aside and let evil continue you become wicked. The only way to be good is to stand up for what is right and speak out against injustice. You too can defy gravity by realizing that your voice is power. Even if you feel helpless, you can bring the change you want to see.
