12 Shocking Secrets: How Wicked Rewrote The Wizard Of Oz's Entire History

The enduring mystery of the Land of Oz has captivated audiences for over a century, but as of December 12, 2025, the full, complex truth is finally being told. The blockbuster musical Wicked, and its highly anticipated two-part film adaptation, is not just a prequel; it is a complete, revisionist history of L. Frank Baum’s classic tale, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This story dives deep into the life of Elphaba, the misunderstood young woman destined to become the Wicked Witch of the West, and her complicated relationship with Galinda (later Glinda), the Good Witch of the North. The narrative ingeniously weaves an intricate tapestry of events that explains—and often completely changes—everything you thought you knew about the Emerald City, the Wizard, and even Dorothy’s famous companions.

The core genius of Wicked, based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, lies in its ability to take the two-dimensional villain and heroine of the 1939 film and transform them into complex, morally ambiguous figures. The musical’s timeline begins long before Dorothy Gale's arrival, focusing on the political turmoil, animal rights issues, and deep-seated corruption within Oz. By the time the Kansas farmhouse lands in Munchkinland, the stage has been meticulously set for the tragic events that turn a bright, green-skinned activist into a reviled "wicked" outcast, forcing a complete re-evaluation of the classic story's heroes and villains.

The Complete Biography of Elphaba Thropp and Glinda Upland

To fully grasp the connection, one must first understand the central figures as they are presented in Wicked, not as the simple archetypes from the original tale. Their lives are the foundation upon which the entire prequel is built, and their character arcs directly lead to the events seen in The Wizard of Oz.

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• Elphaba Thropp (The Wicked Witch of the West): Her name is a subtle nod to the original author, L.F.B., standing for L. Frank Baum. She is born with green skin, a condition that immediately makes her an outcast and a source of shame for her family. She is highly intelligent, passionate, and possesses powerful, innate magical abilities. She enrolls at Shiz University, where she is initially paired as a roommate with Glinda. Her driving motivation is to fight for the rights of the Animals of Oz, who are losing their ability to speak due to a conspiratorial effort.
• Galinda Upland (Glinda the Good Witch): Initially portrayed as a superficial, popular, and privileged student at Shiz University. Her primary goal is social status and admiration. Her relationship with Elphaba forces her to confront her own vanity and privilege. She later drops the "a" from her name to honor Doctor Dillamond, a beloved Animal professor, signifying her growth and maturity. She is appointed the Good Witch of the North by the Wizard.
• The Wizard of Oz (Ozma): In Wicked, the "Great and Powerful" Wizard is revealed to be a humbug from Earth, just like in the original story, but his role is far more sinister. He is the corrupt dictator behind the oppression of the Animals and the political unrest in Oz. Elphaba initially seeks to join him, believing he can help her cause, only to discover his true nature.
• Fiyero Tigelaar: A handsome, carefree Winkie Prince who transfers to Shiz. He becomes the love interest for both Elphaba and Glinda, creating a complex romantic triangle. His fate is one of the most significant links to one of Dorothy's companions.
• Madame Morrible: The manipulative Headmistress of Shiz University who recognizes Elphaba’s raw power. She serves as the Wizard’s press secretary and propagandist, masterminding the smear campaign that turns Elphaba into the "Wicked" Witch.

The Shocking Origins of Dorothy's Companions

The most brilliant and perhaps most beloved connections between the two stories are the tragic backstories provided for the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. Wicked doesn't just mention them; it explains exactly who they were and how they were transformed into the figures Dorothy meets on the Yellow Brick Road. This revelation is a cornerstone of the musical’s emotional impact and topical authority.

The Man Who Becomes the Scarecrow

The Scarecrow, who longs for a brain, is arguably the most heartbreaking connection to Elphaba’s story. This companion is none other than Fiyero Tigelaar, Elphaba's true love. After Fiyero helps Elphaba escape the Wizard's guards, Madame Morrible uses her power to turn Fiyero into a sentient, immobile figure to prevent him from ever helping Elphaba again. Elphaba, believing he is dead, uses a spell to bring him back to life in a form that cannot be harmed, but which she cannot recognize. This transformation leaves him as a straw-stuffed figure, unable to speak or think clearly, waiting in a field—the very Scarecrow Dorothy finds.

This connection means that the Scarecrow’s journey for a brain is deeply personal and tragic, as he is literally a man stripped of his intellect and humanity by the forces Elphaba was fighting against. His eventual "re-braining" by the Wizard is a cruel irony, as the Wizard is the source of his suffering.

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The Man Who Becomes the Tin Man

The Tin Woodman, who seeks a heart, is revealed to be Boq, a Munchkin student at Shiz University who is infatuated with Glinda. Glinda, in a moment of thoughtlessness, encourages him to ask out Elphaba's sister, Nessarose, to keep him from bothering her. Nessarose, who is disabled and uses a wheelchair, is desperate for love and uses her own underdeveloped magical powers to enchant Boq's heart, forcing him to love her.

When Boq tries to confess his love for Glinda and reject Nessarose, Nessarose, fueled by jealousy and rage, attempts to cast a spell to shrink his heart. Elphaba intervenes to save him, but her spell goes awry. To save his life, Elphaba is forced to turn him into a man made of tin, protecting his life but leaving him without a beating heart. The Tin Man's lack of a heart is therefore a direct consequence of a magical accident involving both Elphaba and Nessarose, making him another victim of the political and personal turmoil in Oz.

The Man Who Becomes the Cowardly Lion

The Cowardly Lion, who yearns for courage, also has a direct, albeit more subtle, connection to Elphaba. Early in the musical, Doctor Dillamond, the Animal professor at Shiz, is taken away by the Wizard's guards as part of the anti-Animal campaign. Before his capture, Elphaba saves a small, frightened Lion cub from a cage during a cruel experiment designed to strip Animals of their speech. The cub, which Elphaba frees, is implied to be the very Cowardly Lion that later joins Dorothy's quest. His lack of courage stems from the trauma of being separated from his family and being subjected to the Wizard's horrific experiments.

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The True Story Behind the Ruby Slippers and Dorothy's Arrival

The most coveted magical items in Oz—the Ruby Slippers—are not merely a plot device for Dorothy's return; they are a tragic symbol of Elphaba's loss and the Wizard's oppression. The film adaptation, *Wicked: For Good*, set for release on November 21, 2025, promises to fully explore the emotional weight of these connections.

The Origin of the Ruby Slippers

In Wicked, the Ruby Slippers are revealed to be the enchanted shoes of Elphaba's sister, Nessarose Thropp, who is the Wicked Witch of the East. Nessarose, who is confined to a wheelchair, uses her father's magical shoes—which are silver in the original L. Frank Baum novel but ruby in the 1939 film—to allow her to walk. These are incredibly powerful magical artifacts, a fact that Madame Morrible and the Wizard are aware of.

When Dorothy's house is dropped into Oz by the tornado, it lands directly on Nessarose, killing her. Glinda, arriving on the scene, takes the shoes off Nessarose's feet and places them on Dorothy’s. This act is a deliberate move to protect the powerful magic from falling into the wrong hands—namely, the Wizard’s—and to prevent Elphaba from gaining possession of them. Elphaba’s intense hatred for Dorothy is therefore rooted in the fact that Dorothy not only killed her sister but is also wearing the last physical remnant of her family's tragic history.

The Final Confrontation and Elphaba's Legacy

The climax of Wicked directly leads into the beginning of The Wizard of Oz. Elphaba, after being branded a villain by the Wizard and Madame Morrible's propaganda, decides to embrace the role of the "Wicked Witch" to continue her fight against the corrupt regime. She uses her final moments to ensure Glinda is safe and to secure Fiyero's transformed body (the Scarecrow).

The story culminates with Elphaba's apparent death after being melted by the water Dorothy throws. However, the musical reveals that Elphaba faked her death, using a powerful spell to escape the castle and reunite with Fiyero (the now-sentient Scarecrow). They leave Oz together, ensuring that the legend of the Wicked Witch of the West lives on as a terrifying deterrent, keeping the Wizard and his forces in check.

Ultimately, Wicked serves as a powerful political and personal commentary, using the familiar framework of The Wizard of Oz to explore themes of prejudice, propaganda, and the nature of true wickedness. It is a story about how history is written by the victors, transforming a deeply compassionate activist (Elphaba) into a monstrous villain, while elevating a corrupt dictator (The Wizard) and a naive socialite (Glinda) to positions of power and goodness. It is a fresh, unique perspective that ensures the Land of Oz remains a timeless and endlessly fascinating universe.