I will respectfully disagree that Glinda would have gotten on the broom. She is asked before the guards come, and she says no. It doesn’t make her evil, but it is showing her words don’t match her actions, she virtue signals (as when she changes her name), but doesn’t have actions to back it up.
I think the issue with Glinda is less that she doesn't have the actions to back up her words, but that her scope of concern is much more narrow than Elphaba's, thus she doesn't see the need for different actions. Elphaba cares about the animals and others on the margins, because her experience of being othered allows her to identify with them. Aside from herself, Glinda only really cares about Elphaba and what Elphie thinks of her, because it's the first taste of real relationship she's ever had. Glinda is deeply limited, but like you said, certainly isn't evil or villainous.
Well I can’t recall if she does that in the musical, I know they made it a bit more family friendly , but it’s also been forever since I saw it. (Then in the book she does kill the kid so maybe the musical she attempts to?) and you’re right she could totally be trying to get elphabas attn too. Haha I feel that as a bi girl!
Oh, I was referencing when she tries to kill Dorothy. Really the second half of the musical is seeing how even Elphaba’s good intentions aren’t enough to keep from causing harm to the people she cares about.
Hmm perhaps - she def also seems to care about what the masses as a whole think of her, I didn’t really get that she wanted Elphaba to approve of her , but maybe. I saw her changing her name so she could take some attn back from fiyero, when he was paying attention to elphaba. But it could be her first real relationship- especially as a lot of hers are superficial surely. And no I def didn’t see her as evil, but really with more to learn about her privilege in the world.
Oh, FOR SURE. I think Glinda is a great case-study in how privilege limits us so detrimentally. I just think a lot of people have missed the point of the entire Wicked franchise if they're jumping to villainize her. I heard someone say that everyone making Glinda the villain are going to have a rude awakening when they watch Elphaba literally try to kill a child. haha. The beauty and frustration of it is everyone has some good and some bad, and each comes out at different times.
Also, I read the books and they are so much more queer-coded than the musical or even the film, so when I see Glinda responding to Fiyero and Elphie having a connection, I tend to feel that Glinda is trying for Elphaba's attention at least as much if not more than Fiyero's. But I want everything to be gay. hahaha.
I’m sorry that happened to you, and I’m glad you were able to see through your story and find some healing through it! We get so trapped by the stories we tell about things, and when they involve other people, we rarely get the story right! This is exactly the kind of shift that I think this movie/musical can inspire in us if we let it!
I will respectfully disagree that Glinda would have gotten on the broom. She is asked before the guards come, and she says no. It doesn’t make her evil, but it is showing her words don’t match her actions, she virtue signals (as when she changes her name), but doesn’t have actions to back it up.
I think the issue with Glinda is less that she doesn't have the actions to back up her words, but that her scope of concern is much more narrow than Elphaba's, thus she doesn't see the need for different actions. Elphaba cares about the animals and others on the margins, because her experience of being othered allows her to identify with them. Aside from herself, Glinda only really cares about Elphaba and what Elphie thinks of her, because it's the first taste of real relationship she's ever had. Glinda is deeply limited, but like you said, certainly isn't evil or villainous.
Well I can’t recall if she does that in the musical, I know they made it a bit more family friendly , but it’s also been forever since I saw it. (Then in the book she does kill the kid so maybe the musical she attempts to?) and you’re right she could totally be trying to get elphabas attn too. Haha I feel that as a bi girl!
Oh, I was referencing when she tries to kill Dorothy. Really the second half of the musical is seeing how even Elphaba’s good intentions aren’t enough to keep from causing harm to the people she cares about.
True true . I had just spent time when I was supposed to be working earlier today reading wicked fandom wikis lol . This show has taken me over lol
I’m right there with you. It feels so good having something I’ve been obsessed with for decades finally having this massive cultural moment!
Hmm perhaps - she def also seems to care about what the masses as a whole think of her, I didn’t really get that she wanted Elphaba to approve of her , but maybe. I saw her changing her name so she could take some attn back from fiyero, when he was paying attention to elphaba. But it could be her first real relationship- especially as a lot of hers are superficial surely. And no I def didn’t see her as evil, but really with more to learn about her privilege in the world.
Oh, FOR SURE. I think Glinda is a great case-study in how privilege limits us so detrimentally. I just think a lot of people have missed the point of the entire Wicked franchise if they're jumping to villainize her. I heard someone say that everyone making Glinda the villain are going to have a rude awakening when they watch Elphaba literally try to kill a child. haha. The beauty and frustration of it is everyone has some good and some bad, and each comes out at different times.
Also, I read the books and they are so much more queer-coded than the musical or even the film, so when I see Glinda responding to Fiyero and Elphie having a connection, I tend to feel that Glinda is trying for Elphaba's attention at least as much if not more than Fiyero's. But I want everything to be gay. hahaha.
This was another wonderful essay, Abi. I'm not at all familiar with Wicked but still understand the dynamics involved. I like your interpretation.
I’m sorry that happened to you, and I’m glad you were able to see through your story and find some healing through it! We get so trapped by the stories we tell about things, and when they involve other people, we rarely get the story right! This is exactly the kind of shift that I think this movie/musical can inspire in us if we let it!