Wicked: Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

A major conflict in this novel is the tension between destiny and free will. Is Elphaba destined to become the Wicked Witch of the West, or does she manifest her own solitary life? Use evidence from the novel to support your response.

In this novel, powerful women with endless potential are pitted against one another. What institutions of power control these dynamics, and what is Maguire’s commentary on gendered identity and politics?

Is Elphaba a terrorist in denial or a hero advocating for revolutionary change?

Maguire portrays contemporary social conflicts like racism, socioeconomic strife, and human rights through this magical world of Oz. What conflicts in Oz parallel your own world? What are Maguire’s criticisms or arguments about these conflicts?

Dorothy Gale plays a pivotal role in the plot at the end of the novel, but she is also a symbol for many conflicts. What conflicts does Dorothy symbolize, and how does Maguire use her character to emphasize his themes?

This novel juxtaposes science, religion, and sorcery, but it also examines them as related concepts. How does Maguire analyze the importance of each philosophy? By the end of the novel, which concept do you think is the most influential in determining the outcome of the story: science, religion, or sorcery?

Imagine you are Elphaba’s psychologist. What are the prevalent issues that Elphaba would bring up in therapy? What advice would you give her to live a healthier, more secure life?

Maguire adapted his story from the original book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its film adaptation. He relies on the reader’s preexisting knowledge of this iconic story to develop and distort his allusions to it. How does Maguire reinterpret The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and what does this revision reveal about the stories we grow up with?