7 Shocking Revelations: How The Wicked Musical Ending Defies The Classic Wizard Of Oz Story

The ending of the Wicked musical is one of the most brilliant and emotionally complex conclusions in Broadway history, a masterclass in rewriting a classic fairy tale. While many assume the story ends with Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, simply melting, the reality is a powerful twist that completely redefines the character and her relationship with Glinda. As of December 12, 2025, with the release of the second film installment, Wicked: For Good, the conversation around the musical’s finale is more current and crucial than ever, especially regarding the subtle but significant differences between the stage production and the latest cinematic adaptation.

The core of the musical’s finale is not about death, but about sacrifice, reputation, and the enduring power of female friendship. It provides a definitive, tear-jerking answer to the question of what truly makes a person "wicked" or "good," ultimately revealing that the history everyone knows is a carefully constructed lie.

The Architects of Oz: A Look at the Wicked Musical's Key Creators

To truly understand the depth of the Wicked ending, one must first recognize the creative minds who transformed L. Frank Baum’s simple villain into a complex political figure. The musical is an adaptation of the 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which set the foundation for the entire revisionist story.

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• Gregory Maguire (Source Novel Author): Maguire’s dark, political, and complex novel served as the original blueprint, focusing on Elphaba’s life as a political activist in a corrupt Oz. The musical takes the characters and core premise but significantly brightens the tone and focuses more on the friendship between Elphaba and Glinda.
• Stephen Schwartz (Music and Lyrics): A legendary composer known for Pippin and Godspell, Schwartz penned the score, including iconic songs like "Defying Gravity" and the final duet, "For Good." His music gives Elphaba’s journey its emotional weight and soaring ambition.
• Winnie Holzman (Book Writer): Holzman is credited with writing the musical’s book (the script). She masterfully streamlined Maguire’s dense, complex narrative into a focused story centered on the friendship between the two witches, creating the witty dialogue and emotional beats that made the show a global phenomenon.

This trio of creators ensured the musical’s narrative—and specifically its ending—was a powerful commentary on prejudice, history, and propaganda, themes that remain incredibly relevant today.

The Ultimate Twist: Elphaba’s Fake Death and Escape

The most shocking revelation for anyone familiar only with The Wizard of Oz film is that the Wicked Witch of the West does not actually die when Dorothy throws a bucket of water on her. This moment, which occurs near the end of the musical’s Act II, is a meticulously planned deception orchestrated by Elphaba and Fiyero.

1. The Melting is a Calculated Illusion

The mob, led by the manipulative Madame Morrible, tracks Elphaba to the Wizard’s palace. Elphaba, having lost her sister Nessarose and her love Fiyero (who was tortured by the Wizard’s guards), decides the only way to truly defeat the corrupt regime is to become a martyr—or at least, to make the people *think* she is one.

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• The Setup: Elphaba instructs Glinda to lure Dorothy to the castle with the promise of returning the stolen Grimmerie (spell book).
• The Act: When Dorothy throws the water—a reaction to Elphaba’s sudden appearance—Elphaba appears to melt into the floor, leaving behind only her iconic pointed hat and the green elixir bottle. This spectacle convinces everyone, including Glinda, that the Wicked Witch is truly dead.
• The Truth: The water does not kill Elphaba; it merely drains away the space beneath a trap door she has prepared, allowing her to escape to safety. The whole event is a final, defiant act of "defying gravity" and the constraints placed upon her.

2. Fiyero’s Fate: The Scarecrow is a Love Story

The musical provides a heartbreaking but ultimately hopeful fate for Fiyero, Elphaba’s love interest. After Fiyero tries to save Elphaba from the Wizard’s guards, he is captured and tortured. Elphaba, in a desperate attempt to save him, uses a powerful spell from the Grimmerie.

• The Transformation: The spell transforms Fiyero into something that cannot be captured or hurt: a Scarecrow. This is the very Scarecrow that Dorothy later finds in the cornfield.
• The Reunion: After faking her death, Elphaba descends through the trap door and is reunited with Fiyero, who is now the Scarecrow. He is alive and well, though no longer in his human form, demonstrating that Elphaba’s magic, when used for good, is more powerful than the Wizard's propaganda.
• The Escape: The musical ends with Elphaba and Fiyero leaving Oz together, finally free from persecution, heading for "a land beyond Oz" where they can live without fear.

The Price of Goodness: Glinda’s Sacrifice and Final Role

While Elphaba gains her freedom, Glinda accepts a different, equally profound destiny. Her ending is less a happy one and more a heavy burden of responsibility.

3. Glinda’s Final Burden: The Good Witch of the North

Glinda chooses to remain in Oz, not just as the popular, bubbly personality she started as, but as a political force.

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• Exposing the Wizard: Glinda realizes the Wizard is a fraud and Madame Morrible is a manipulative conspirator responsible for the death of Nessarose (Elphaba’s sister).
• Accepting the Title: She accepts the title of Glinda the Good, realizing she must use her influence to protect the people and expose the corruption. She takes on the role of the benevolent ruler, keeping the truth about Elphaba hidden to maintain the peace and ensure Elphaba’s safety.
• The Final Song: The emotional climax of their separation is the song "For Good," where the two friends reflect on how they have changed each other’s lives permanently. This song is the true emotional ending of the show.

4. The Secret Sign: A Hopeful Future

In the final moments of the stage production, Glinda is left alone on the balcony of the Emerald City palace. As she looks out, a small, subtle sign of Elphaba’s survival is revealed, usually through a small, knowing smile or the movement of the Scarecrow’s hat.

This final scene confirms that Glinda is now carrying a secret that defines her "goodness": she is the only person in Oz who knows the Wicked Witch of the West is not dead, but free. Her role is to preserve the lie to save her friend.

The 2025 Film Finale: A Major Difference from the Broadway Musical

For fans of the original musical, the upcoming film adaptation, Wicked: For Good (2025), introduces a significant change to Glinda’s final scene, adding a new layer of complexity and speculation to the canon.

5. The Grimmerie’s New Role

In the Broadway musical, Glinda is left with the weight of her secret and her new political role. In the 2025 film, an additional element is introduced: the Grimmerie, the ancient spell book, opens for Glinda.

• Gaining Power: This moment implies that Glinda is not just a political figure, but is also gaining access to true magical powers, possibly setting her up to be a more active protector of Oz and a more formidable opponent to the Wizard’s legacy.
• A New Destiny: While the stage show focuses on Glinda’s emotional sacrifice, the film hints at a more powerful, active destiny for her as a magic-wielder, potentially bridging the gap between the musical’s plot and the original Wizard of Oz story where Glinda is a powerful sorceress.

6. The Meaning of "For Good"

The song "For Good" is the emotional core of the ending. It is a dual meaning: the two friends are saying goodbye "for good" (permanently), but they are also acknowledging that they have changed each other "for good" (positively and permanently). This theme of personal transformation is the ultimate takeaway from the entire musical.

7. The Political Allegory: Good vs. Wicked

Ultimately, the Wicked ending is a powerful political allegory. It shows that "wickedness" is often a label applied by those in power to silence dissent. Elphaba is deemed "wicked" because she fights for the rights of the Animals and challenges the corrupt Wizard. Glinda is deemed "good" because she is popular and eventually aligns herself with the established, albeit reformed, power structure. The musical’s ending reveals that the titles are meaningless; the true measure of a person is their actions and the sacrifices they make for those they love.

The musical’s final message is clear: the true story of Oz is not about a girl in ruby slippers, but about two friends who changed the world, one by escaping the narrative, and the other by controlling it, forever changing each other's lives for good.