The film adaptation of the original novel, is probably the best movie adaptation of a novel in the history of the world. I love the film, and reading the novel beyond the film was just another incentive for me. My favourite part of the film was when the ruby slippers vanished off of the Wicked Witch of the East, and appeared on Dorothy. Those shoes, were so gorgeous! (Can you tell I love shoes?) Anyway, I also loved the part of the film when the horse changed colours. At this moment in time, I am learning how to green screen and use certain film animation techniques, and changing the colour of something is very hard. I bet it is really simple when you know the technique, but I am not fully trained yet.
My least favourite part of the film is when the flying monkeys are all over, and flying through the air. I was young when I first saw the film, and since then I am still frightened. Reading the part of the novel when Elphaba was performing surgery on the monkeys to give them wings, creeped me out.
If this novel were made into a movie, I do not think i would go and watch it. I think that it would ruin the novel for me. I know that there is a musical, but that is much different than a movie. First of all, songs have been added, the scenes would have been dramatised, and there would be more main characters.
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Not another...
In this 8th last post, I am pondering reading the second novel in this series. Son of a witch (Maguire) is the continuation of the first novel. I have not read the back of the novel, or read any review of it online, but the first novel was really well written, that I think the second novel will be the same.
Judging by the cover, it seems as though Elphaba is back, but someone in in the crystal ball. This could be Liir, or it could be the Wizard. Who knows?
100 Blogs!
Hey everyone! So I decided that I really wanted to make this blog reach at least 100 blog updates so after this update I will have I my eight to go. I am really excited, and I think that once I am finished all of these updates, I will feel truly satisfied. Similar to Elphaba felt throughout the last few chapters of the novel. However, she ended up dead. I hope that I do not end up that way, but everyone does.
I have now completed blog 1 of 9. Here we go.
I have now completed blog 1 of 9. Here we go.
Monday, 7 November 2011
The End
This novel was such a great novel. I enjoyed reading beyond what the movie visually gave me. The storyline was a bit dry and plain at certain points, but they were there for a reason; to keep the reader at a continuous emotional level.
My favourite art of the novel was the beginning of the novel when Elphaba was just stating out at Shiz University. I really enjoyed reading about her and how she interacted with the other children her age.
I am curious as to how there is a series. I am guessing that maybe it will be discussing the Waterfall Goddess, and Elphaba’s family such as Liir. I was also hoping to read more about Liir. I did not like the way that Elphaba treated him throughout the part of the novel that he was in.
Another part of the novel that I really enjoyed, and please do not say that I am mean; is the part about how Manek died. I found it very ironic and appropriate. I did not like his character, and I really wanted him to leave.
I think I am going to read the next book in the series, just to see how the original and the second compare.
There are citations throughout the entire blog process, in case there are any links that would want to check out.
Thank you very much for reading. Happy reading everyone!
My favourite art of the novel was the beginning of the novel when Elphaba was just stating out at Shiz University. I really enjoyed reading about her and how she interacted with the other children her age.
I am curious as to how there is a series. I am guessing that maybe it will be discussing the Waterfall Goddess, and Elphaba’s family such as Liir. I was also hoping to read more about Liir. I did not like the way that Elphaba treated him throughout the part of the novel that he was in.
Another part of the novel that I really enjoyed, and please do not say that I am mean; is the part about how Manek died. I found it very ironic and appropriate. I did not like his character, and I really wanted him to leave.
I think I am going to read the next book in the series, just to see how the original and the second compare.
There are citations throughout the entire blog process, in case there are any links that would want to check out.
Thank you very much for reading. Happy reading everyone!
The Murder and Its Afterlife
Part one:
It has been years since the previous chapter has ended, and a tornado has hit Oz. everything is in disarray, and the people are going nuts. It seems as though the tornado is heavily related with religion. There are mentions of the Unnamed God, and dragons, but one thing is the same, they all believe that it is punishment. For what? It could be the emperor, or the greedy people in the Land of Oz. Who knows?
There are rumours about Nessa being dead. Well after a house fell on her head, one would think so. At this point in the novel, we have reached the beginning of the movie. Dorothy has just arrived in the land as well. Is her little dog with her too? As it turns out, yes he is, and he is very annoying.
Part two:
Elphaba has just received word that her sister has been killed. She had decided that she would not worry about her sister’s death and continue on with her, surgery of the wings for her monkeys. This is what she has dedicated her past few years to. What a great waste of time. She is though, using the work of Doctor Dillamond and some notes from the Grimmerie.
Elphaba, Nanny and Liir all live at Kiamo Ko, and it has been seven years since Sarima and the rest had disappeared. Nanny is very old, and is losing her hearing, which makes taking news such as Nessa dying, even harder. (At least for the reader.)
"Nanny," said Liir, "Nessie's dead." […]
"Nessie did what?" screeched Nanny, looking rheumily out at them.
"Did died dead," intoned Chistery.
"Did what?"
"Nessie DIED." said Liir.” (Maguire 335)
In this section of the chapter, the theme of grieving is present. At first there is the tornado, then Nessa dies, and now Nanny is on the verge of death as well. Luckily Liir is still healthy and did not disappear with the others. At the end of the chapter, Elphaba and Nanny are preparing for her funeral service. Elphie think sthat it would be appropriate to bring a page from the Grimmerie with her. She hopes that her father’s holy eyes will be able to see something.
Part three
Elphaba has arrived in the city and all the, Munchkinlanders are over-joyed that Nessa is dead. They are all having mini celebrations. Elphaba is curious about her brother, but he left town on political business. Frex finally comes into the picture, and Elphie asks him to see what he can read from the page from the
Grimmerie. He says that it is foreign to him.
Glinda then enters the picture. It has been along time since she was last in the story. Last time she was speaking with someone, was when she and Fiyero were out at the tea place.
They start up a conversation about the new-comer Dorothy. As it turns out, the film Glinda has better intentions than the one in this novel. Glinda has sent Dorothy to the Emerald City, because there are political problems happening, and with her there, there is a possibility that she will never be seen again. Elphaba believes that this is wrong, but she becomes even more upset when she finds out that Glinda gave Dorothy the ruby slippers.
Part four
This is one of the most important chapters in the book. The Wizard is finally introduced and he is a mean man. He is a chatterbox and he loves having power and control over people. He is introduced at Nessa’s funeral and demands to speak with Elphie. When they are speaking he demands the ruby slippers and the
Grimmerie. Only one of which Elphie has. He decides to blackmail her by showing her a prisoner. When Elphie gets a good look she realizes that it is Nor. The wizard also mentions that she is one of the remaining prisoners.
"Perhaps some underling who had no authority in the matter had an appetite for a bloodbath. It's so hard to get reliable help in the armed forces." (Maguire 351)
At this point the Wizard is being a jackass and just wants to have power and control of the situation, as well as not make a big deal about it.
The n he allows for insight as to why he is so interested in Elphie. As it turns out that nasty lady M. Morrible (Although other words would have worked better,) informed the Wizard that she may be up to something especially after she refused the offerings that she gave her.
The wizard informs her that she has a few days to prepare. Elphie leaves in a stupor. While she is leaving Glinda calls out to her. It is the last time they will ever see each other.
Part five
Boq is back! Elphie has met up with them while trying to catch up with Dorothy on the yellow-brick road. Boq is married to Milla and they have several children together. They are happy living a quiet life. The group of them speak about old times and the past. With the mentions to Doctor Dillamond and when they attended Shiz together, Boq brings up the topic of a painting he saw of a Witch holding a beast. (Similar to the one in the front cover?) Elphaba has a light bulb moment and leaves.
She has came up with the best plan for revenge. She is going to kill M. Morrible, and make her pay for what her life has turned out to be.
Part six
This chapter has the best example for revenge. Elphie is on a mission to kill M. Morrible. So she sets out to Shiz, which now is nothing more than a factory town. No longer the hustle and bustle of the Land.
When she arrives, she finds out that there is a new head master of the school. Elphie claims to be a former student of hers, and the new head, tells her that M. Morrible is very sick, and gives her the place of where she is.
When Elphaba arrives, she enters the Doddery, near where Doctor Dillamond had his funeral. M. was in a room by herself. The candle was recently lit when Elphie finds M.’s room. However M. Morrible has already passed away. So as any other insanely mad person, Elphaba beat M. Morrible with her broom. Then she realized that it was barely doing anything, so she picked up a trophy and smashed her skull. The ironic part of this is the trophy she picked up. It read;
"IN APPRECIATION OF EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE" (Maguire 365)
Part seven
Elphie feeling the need to brag, decides to go to Avaric’s house. He is rich, and has a high social status. At first he does not believe Elphaba and instead invites her for dinner. What a great way to start things off with.
At this dinner, it turns out that the other guests are rich, high social class people as well. They all have a heated conversation about the roots of evil. Elphaba knows that each and every one of them are wrong but, she does not voice her opinion until she is leaving. This leaves everyone dumbfounded.
Part eight
Another really important chapter. Remember at the beginning of the book, all the way back over 300 pages? Well the Clock of the Time Dragon is back. They are the travelling circus/cart. The dwarf tells Elphaba a story, but at this point she is a little bit drunk, from the dinner party.
As it turns out, Elphaba is from another dimension, where her and Yackle are working together as guardian angels. Elphie’s job is to guard the Grimmerie. The Dwarf says that he is also from the same place but Elphaba has special. He tells her that she is Aelphaba the Waterfall Goddess, reincarnated. Now she must watch the Grimmerie and that is her purpose in life.
He also tells her a story thought the puppets with the Wizard giving Melena the green elixir and them having sex. Does this mean that Elphaba is really the daughter of the Wizard?
Right before the dwarf leaves, he gives Elphie the piece of mirror that Turtle Heart made with her. Elphie made sure to put it in a safe spot on her.
Part nine
Short chapter. Elphie met up with Boq again. He thinks that she is insane with the while Dorothy scheme. He just wants her to relax, but she does not listen and just hops on her broom and flys away.
On the journey back to Kiamo Ko, which is truly Elphaba’s home, she meets up with a stranger that is travelling on the path. He informs her that he saw Dorothy. He also beats his Animal that he has with him, and Elphie says nothing. Odd…
Part ten
Another short chapter, but this one is half the length of the previous one.
Elphaba is trying to convince herself as to why she needs the ruby slippers so much. She is thinking about giving up and running away, but she is unsure whether this is a personal or political matter anymore. Right before she is about to give up, she spots Dorothy and the other travellers on the yellow-brick road. This is the same time as the prologue.
Part eleven
The rest of the chapters from here on out are all short chapters, ranging from a few to six pages.
This chapter is mainly a hallucination. Elphaba arrives back at Karma Ko, and speaks with Nanny. She tells her about everything that happened along her journey. Elphaba also begins to use the mirror that Turtle heart made, more. Elphaba has a vivid flash back to when she was a child, when she thinks that Dorothy reminds her of when she was young.
The flashback was of her childhood. Her father went to Quadling to ask for forgiveness about the death of Turtle.
Before bed, Elphie took the ancient bottle of the green elixir, and had a spoonful, hoping that it would help her determine what she is meant to do. This is the part where she has the hallucinations. She dreams about the other world, as well as the Wizard’s younger life and how he came to be. She is also able to view his attempted suicide. He ultimately failed, and now he is in Oz.
Part twelve
The news has arrived that Dorothy and her trop have met with the Wizard and they have been sent to kill the Witch. Liir mentioned that it is odd that the Gale Forcers would not do anything to stop Dorothy Gale. Coincidence that the names are the same?
Liir goes through what Dorothy and her trop want. They are the same as the demands in the movie. Although he asks Elphaba what she wants, and she does not feel like telling Liir so she begins to say solider but it comes out like: a soul… Liir answers that he wants a father. How sad, he has lived his entire life without a father, and practically a mother, and only now hw is asking for one.
Part thirteen
After making the mistake and saying she wanted a soul, Elphaba begins to think about religion. When she left her sister the last time they saw each other alive, her sister said that she would pray for Elphaba’s soul. Elphaba thinks a lot about religion and how it impacts her life, but in the end she is still confused about the entire thing.
Part fourteen.
With Elphaba playing with the idea of role change, she comes up with many ideas about who the travellers are that are with Dorothy.
First off she believes that the Lion, is the lion cub that she saved in Doctor Nikidik’s class. She also thinks that the Tin Man is the wood cutter that Nessa cast a spell onto. Finally she believes that the scarecrow is Fiyero in disguise. Such a crazy idea. She believes this so she sends out Killjoy, the dog, to go sniff to see if it really is him.
Part fifteen
The strangers are approaching, and Elphaba sends out the animals to escort the guests into the castle. However they takes this the wrong way and end up kill the bees, the crows and Killjoy.
Elphaba is able to get a good view of the scarecrow, and sees that he is only straw and cloth. She is very upset and disappointed.
She finally sends her flying monkeys to properly escort them.
Liir informs her that he will protect her, but he is not going to harm Dorothy. Is there a crush going on here?
Part sixteen
The most awkward dinner scene ever is about to take place. That is what happens in this chapter.
At the beginning, the monkeys bring the guest into the castle. But only Dorothy the lion and the dog are there. Dorothy is very reasonable with Nanny and Liir, and seems almost shocked when she finds out that Elphaba is really at the castle. When dinner takes place, Liir and Dorothy talk amongst themselves, Nanny tries to speak but since she if deafening, she is unable to understand what everyone is talking about.
Elphaba finally need to speak to Dorothy alone and takes her up to her private chambers, but not without a fight first. The lion and the dog are locked in the kitchen until the conversation is over.
Part seventeen
Elphaba is a crazy Witch. She is ranting about her life and how everything is not turning out he way it was planned. Is tired and exhausted, she is upset that Dorothy is going to attempt to kill her, and she begins to point the finger. She starts off with; Dorothy wanting to kill her, her working with the Wizard, her working with M. Morrible, and she is going to steal the Grimmerie. She is panicking so much that she sets her broom on fire.
She begins to chase Dorothy up the stairs, and on the way, knocks down Nanny. With her age and condition, she may have died. With Dorothy freaked out, she asks for forgiveness. Elphaba can relate but, she was never able to receive forgiveness from Sarima because she is dead.
This causes Elphie to accidentally set herself on fire. Thus the bucket of water is poured onto Elphaba to put out the fire, but instead she is dead. Dorothy succeeded. She has killed the Wicked Witch of the West.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
It has been years since the previous chapter has ended, and a tornado has hit Oz. everything is in disarray, and the people are going nuts. It seems as though the tornado is heavily related with religion. There are mentions of the Unnamed God, and dragons, but one thing is the same, they all believe that it is punishment. For what? It could be the emperor, or the greedy people in the Land of Oz. Who knows?
There are rumours about Nessa being dead. Well after a house fell on her head, one would think so. At this point in the novel, we have reached the beginning of the movie. Dorothy has just arrived in the land as well. Is her little dog with her too? As it turns out, yes he is, and he is very annoying.
Part two:
Elphaba has just received word that her sister has been killed. She had decided that she would not worry about her sister’s death and continue on with her, surgery of the wings for her monkeys. This is what she has dedicated her past few years to. What a great waste of time. She is though, using the work of Doctor Dillamond and some notes from the Grimmerie.
Elphaba, Nanny and Liir all live at Kiamo Ko, and it has been seven years since Sarima and the rest had disappeared. Nanny is very old, and is losing her hearing, which makes taking news such as Nessa dying, even harder. (At least for the reader.)
"Nanny," said Liir, "Nessie's dead." […]
"Nessie did what?" screeched Nanny, looking rheumily out at them.
"Did died dead," intoned Chistery.
"Did what?"
"Nessie DIED." said Liir.” (Maguire 335)
In this section of the chapter, the theme of grieving is present. At first there is the tornado, then Nessa dies, and now Nanny is on the verge of death as well. Luckily Liir is still healthy and did not disappear with the others. At the end of the chapter, Elphaba and Nanny are preparing for her funeral service. Elphie think sthat it would be appropriate to bring a page from the Grimmerie with her. She hopes that her father’s holy eyes will be able to see something.
Part three
Elphaba has arrived in the city and all the, Munchkinlanders are over-joyed that Nessa is dead. They are all having mini celebrations. Elphaba is curious about her brother, but he left town on political business. Frex finally comes into the picture, and Elphie asks him to see what he can read from the page from the
Grimmerie. He says that it is foreign to him.
Glinda then enters the picture. It has been along time since she was last in the story. Last time she was speaking with someone, was when she and Fiyero were out at the tea place.
They start up a conversation about the new-comer Dorothy. As it turns out, the film Glinda has better intentions than the one in this novel. Glinda has sent Dorothy to the Emerald City, because there are political problems happening, and with her there, there is a possibility that she will never be seen again. Elphaba believes that this is wrong, but she becomes even more upset when she finds out that Glinda gave Dorothy the ruby slippers.
Part four
This is one of the most important chapters in the book. The Wizard is finally introduced and he is a mean man. He is a chatterbox and he loves having power and control over people. He is introduced at Nessa’s funeral and demands to speak with Elphie. When they are speaking he demands the ruby slippers and the
Grimmerie. Only one of which Elphie has. He decides to blackmail her by showing her a prisoner. When Elphie gets a good look she realizes that it is Nor. The wizard also mentions that she is one of the remaining prisoners.
"Perhaps some underling who had no authority in the matter had an appetite for a bloodbath. It's so hard to get reliable help in the armed forces." (Maguire 351)
At this point the Wizard is being a jackass and just wants to have power and control of the situation, as well as not make a big deal about it.
The n he allows for insight as to why he is so interested in Elphie. As it turns out that nasty lady M. Morrible (Although other words would have worked better,) informed the Wizard that she may be up to something especially after she refused the offerings that she gave her.
The wizard informs her that she has a few days to prepare. Elphie leaves in a stupor. While she is leaving Glinda calls out to her. It is the last time they will ever see each other.
Part five
Boq is back! Elphie has met up with them while trying to catch up with Dorothy on the yellow-brick road. Boq is married to Milla and they have several children together. They are happy living a quiet life. The group of them speak about old times and the past. With the mentions to Doctor Dillamond and when they attended Shiz together, Boq brings up the topic of a painting he saw of a Witch holding a beast. (Similar to the one in the front cover?) Elphaba has a light bulb moment and leaves.
She has came up with the best plan for revenge. She is going to kill M. Morrible, and make her pay for what her life has turned out to be.
Part six
This chapter has the best example for revenge. Elphie is on a mission to kill M. Morrible. So she sets out to Shiz, which now is nothing more than a factory town. No longer the hustle and bustle of the Land.
When she arrives, she finds out that there is a new head master of the school. Elphie claims to be a former student of hers, and the new head, tells her that M. Morrible is very sick, and gives her the place of where she is.
When Elphaba arrives, she enters the Doddery, near where Doctor Dillamond had his funeral. M. was in a room by herself. The candle was recently lit when Elphie finds M.’s room. However M. Morrible has already passed away. So as any other insanely mad person, Elphaba beat M. Morrible with her broom. Then she realized that it was barely doing anything, so she picked up a trophy and smashed her skull. The ironic part of this is the trophy she picked up. It read;
"IN APPRECIATION OF EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE" (Maguire 365)
Part seven
Elphie feeling the need to brag, decides to go to Avaric’s house. He is rich, and has a high social status. At first he does not believe Elphaba and instead invites her for dinner. What a great way to start things off with.
At this dinner, it turns out that the other guests are rich, high social class people as well. They all have a heated conversation about the roots of evil. Elphaba knows that each and every one of them are wrong but, she does not voice her opinion until she is leaving. This leaves everyone dumbfounded.
Part eight
Another really important chapter. Remember at the beginning of the book, all the way back over 300 pages? Well the Clock of the Time Dragon is back. They are the travelling circus/cart. The dwarf tells Elphaba a story, but at this point she is a little bit drunk, from the dinner party.
As it turns out, Elphaba is from another dimension, where her and Yackle are working together as guardian angels. Elphie’s job is to guard the Grimmerie. The Dwarf says that he is also from the same place but Elphaba has special. He tells her that she is Aelphaba the Waterfall Goddess, reincarnated. Now she must watch the Grimmerie and that is her purpose in life.
He also tells her a story thought the puppets with the Wizard giving Melena the green elixir and them having sex. Does this mean that Elphaba is really the daughter of the Wizard?
Right before the dwarf leaves, he gives Elphie the piece of mirror that Turtle Heart made with her. Elphie made sure to put it in a safe spot on her.
Part nine
Short chapter. Elphie met up with Boq again. He thinks that she is insane with the while Dorothy scheme. He just wants her to relax, but she does not listen and just hops on her broom and flys away.
On the journey back to Kiamo Ko, which is truly Elphaba’s home, she meets up with a stranger that is travelling on the path. He informs her that he saw Dorothy. He also beats his Animal that he has with him, and Elphie says nothing. Odd…
Part ten
Another short chapter, but this one is half the length of the previous one.
Elphaba is trying to convince herself as to why she needs the ruby slippers so much. She is thinking about giving up and running away, but she is unsure whether this is a personal or political matter anymore. Right before she is about to give up, she spots Dorothy and the other travellers on the yellow-brick road. This is the same time as the prologue.
Part eleven
The rest of the chapters from here on out are all short chapters, ranging from a few to six pages.
This chapter is mainly a hallucination. Elphaba arrives back at Karma Ko, and speaks with Nanny. She tells her about everything that happened along her journey. Elphaba also begins to use the mirror that Turtle heart made, more. Elphaba has a vivid flash back to when she was a child, when she thinks that Dorothy reminds her of when she was young.
The flashback was of her childhood. Her father went to Quadling to ask for forgiveness about the death of Turtle.
Before bed, Elphie took the ancient bottle of the green elixir, and had a spoonful, hoping that it would help her determine what she is meant to do. This is the part where she has the hallucinations. She dreams about the other world, as well as the Wizard’s younger life and how he came to be. She is also able to view his attempted suicide. He ultimately failed, and now he is in Oz.
Part twelve
The news has arrived that Dorothy and her trop have met with the Wizard and they have been sent to kill the Witch. Liir mentioned that it is odd that the Gale Forcers would not do anything to stop Dorothy Gale. Coincidence that the names are the same?
Liir goes through what Dorothy and her trop want. They are the same as the demands in the movie. Although he asks Elphaba what she wants, and she does not feel like telling Liir so she begins to say solider but it comes out like: a soul… Liir answers that he wants a father. How sad, he has lived his entire life without a father, and practically a mother, and only now hw is asking for one.
Part thirteen
After making the mistake and saying she wanted a soul, Elphaba begins to think about religion. When she left her sister the last time they saw each other alive, her sister said that she would pray for Elphaba’s soul. Elphaba thinks a lot about religion and how it impacts her life, but in the end she is still confused about the entire thing.
Part fourteen.
With Elphaba playing with the idea of role change, she comes up with many ideas about who the travellers are that are with Dorothy.
First off she believes that the Lion, is the lion cub that she saved in Doctor Nikidik’s class. She also thinks that the Tin Man is the wood cutter that Nessa cast a spell onto. Finally she believes that the scarecrow is Fiyero in disguise. Such a crazy idea. She believes this so she sends out Killjoy, the dog, to go sniff to see if it really is him.
Part fifteen
The strangers are approaching, and Elphaba sends out the animals to escort the guests into the castle. However they takes this the wrong way and end up kill the bees, the crows and Killjoy.
Elphaba is able to get a good view of the scarecrow, and sees that he is only straw and cloth. She is very upset and disappointed.
She finally sends her flying monkeys to properly escort them.
Liir informs her that he will protect her, but he is not going to harm Dorothy. Is there a crush going on here?
Part sixteen
The most awkward dinner scene ever is about to take place. That is what happens in this chapter.
At the beginning, the monkeys bring the guest into the castle. But only Dorothy the lion and the dog are there. Dorothy is very reasonable with Nanny and Liir, and seems almost shocked when she finds out that Elphaba is really at the castle. When dinner takes place, Liir and Dorothy talk amongst themselves, Nanny tries to speak but since she if deafening, she is unable to understand what everyone is talking about.
Elphaba finally need to speak to Dorothy alone and takes her up to her private chambers, but not without a fight first. The lion and the dog are locked in the kitchen until the conversation is over.
Part seventeen
Elphaba is a crazy Witch. She is ranting about her life and how everything is not turning out he way it was planned. Is tired and exhausted, she is upset that Dorothy is going to attempt to kill her, and she begins to point the finger. She starts off with; Dorothy wanting to kill her, her working with the Wizard, her working with M. Morrible, and she is going to steal the Grimmerie. She is panicking so much that she sets her broom on fire.
She begins to chase Dorothy up the stairs, and on the way, knocks down Nanny. With her age and condition, she may have died. With Dorothy freaked out, she asks for forgiveness. Elphaba can relate but, she was never able to receive forgiveness from Sarima because she is dead.
This causes Elphie to accidentally set herself on fire. Thus the bucket of water is poured onto Elphaba to put out the fire, but instead she is dead. Dorothy succeeded. She has killed the Wicked Witch of the West.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
Last one!
Only one part of the novel left to go. Now as I had stated in my previous blog, this will be combined into one large blog, rather than many separate blogs. This allows for easier reading and is much more efficient than reading many short little chapter explanations.
For this last part to the book, I am really looking forward ot seeing how Elphaba has changed sine the beginning of the book. When I saw this I mean other than in age I would like to see how her personality has changed. Another part that I am looking forward to reading about is the relationship between Elphaba and the word Wicked. I want to know why she is referred to as; The Wicked Witch of the West. The novel has not mentioned anything, or at least hinted towards it. Throughout the novel she has been kind and very political but never crude and ü ber mean.
Here is another question on how the novel and my opinion has changed since the beginning of the novel:
I don’t trust… because…
My original was: The situation should not be trusted because, eventually it will change. Something is going to happen that will make the Witch a Wicked soul.
Now my opinion has changed, and I do not think that Nessarose is to be trusted. She is turning into a monster. She is treating the Animals with disrespect and not giving them their rights. She is the one to keep an eye out for. Let us face it, in the movie, there is a reason why the Wicked Witch wanted the ruby slippers.
For this last part to the book, I am really looking forward ot seeing how Elphaba has changed sine the beginning of the book. When I saw this I mean other than in age I would like to see how her personality has changed. Another part that I am looking forward to reading about is the relationship between Elphaba and the word Wicked. I want to know why she is referred to as; The Wicked Witch of the West. The novel has not mentioned anything, or at least hinted towards it. Throughout the novel she has been kind and very political but never crude and ü ber mean.
Here is another question on how the novel and my opinion has changed since the beginning of the novel:
I don’t trust… because…
My original was: The situation should not be trusted because, eventually it will change. Something is going to happen that will make the Witch a Wicked soul.
Now my opinion has changed, and I do not think that Nessarose is to be trusted. She is turning into a monster. She is treating the Animals with disrespect and not giving them their rights. She is the one to keep an eye out for. Let us face it, in the movie, there is a reason why the Wicked Witch wanted the ruby slippers.
Uprisings Part 6&7
In these two chapters small but large changes of roles happen. At the beginning of part six, Frex tires to take control over Elphaba and fails. Elphaba, being older and a little bit wiser is able to point out his flaws. He becomes perturbed at her when she says that she refuses to stay to help Nessa fix the mistakes she has made.
"I won't be lectured to by my daughter."
"Well, I won't be lectured by you about my everlasting duties to Nessa."(Maguire 319)
A strange pin is placed on peoples clothing. Frex explains that this is a straw man’s pin that is a pagan symbol. Frex and Elphaba then begin to discuss the past and the people they knew as she was growing up. They speak of Turtle Heart, and how he kept the family together. When their conversation ends, Elphaba is frustrated because she feels that her father love her sister and Turtle more than he loved her.
The theme of this chapter so far seems to be remembering details about the past. Elphie then goes to see her sister. She is hoping that she will help her by telling her that M. Morrible did cast a spell on them and they were sent off on a mission. Nessa denies all of the allegations.
"She tried to seduce us into a secret service for an unknown master. I'm not inventing this, Nessie."
"She knew how to get to you, obviously, by appealing to your sense of conspiracy. I don't remember such alluring nonsense." (Maguire 323)
While trying to change the subject to the treatment of the Animals, Nessa decides that sh wants to mock Elphaba by referring to a phantom soul. Meaning that Elphaba has no soul, and that is she tried just a little bit, she may feel a little something.
At this point in the chapter, Elphaba has had enough and she ends up leaving. She flew on her broom back to Kiamo Ko. On the way there, Elphaba thinks about her life, and about her political standpoint. She also thinks about the people in her life that have influenced it. For example, she thinks of M. Morrible and how she cast that spell upon her. Maybe if she had not, her life would be different? She also thinks about Yackle, the lady who gave Melena the potion that allegedly turned Elphaba green, and the remedy to keep Nessa normal as well as given Elphaba the broom. All of the people that Elphaba has met throughout her journey in this novel so far, has influenced her life in some way or another.
When Elphaba arrives home and she finds out that Sarima and her family are gone. Nanny is still there but does not know where they went. As it turns out the Gale forcers took Sarima and her family into “protection.” However, the sisters put up a fight but in the end they were taken as well. Liir is also missing, but it is unclear whether or not he is with the family or by himself somewhere.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
"I won't be lectured to by my daughter."
"Well, I won't be lectured by you about my everlasting duties to Nessa."(Maguire 319)
A strange pin is placed on peoples clothing. Frex explains that this is a straw man’s pin that is a pagan symbol. Frex and Elphaba then begin to discuss the past and the people they knew as she was growing up. They speak of Turtle Heart, and how he kept the family together. When their conversation ends, Elphaba is frustrated because she feels that her father love her sister and Turtle more than he loved her.
The theme of this chapter so far seems to be remembering details about the past. Elphie then goes to see her sister. She is hoping that she will help her by telling her that M. Morrible did cast a spell on them and they were sent off on a mission. Nessa denies all of the allegations.
"She tried to seduce us into a secret service for an unknown master. I'm not inventing this, Nessie."
"She knew how to get to you, obviously, by appealing to your sense of conspiracy. I don't remember such alluring nonsense." (Maguire 323)
While trying to change the subject to the treatment of the Animals, Nessa decides that sh wants to mock Elphaba by referring to a phantom soul. Meaning that Elphaba has no soul, and that is she tried just a little bit, she may feel a little something.
At this point in the chapter, Elphaba has had enough and she ends up leaving. She flew on her broom back to Kiamo Ko. On the way there, Elphaba thinks about her life, and about her political standpoint. She also thinks about the people in her life that have influenced it. For example, she thinks of M. Morrible and how she cast that spell upon her. Maybe if she had not, her life would be different? She also thinks about Yackle, the lady who gave Melena the potion that allegedly turned Elphaba green, and the remedy to keep Nessa normal as well as given Elphaba the broom. All of the people that Elphaba has met throughout her journey in this novel so far, has influenced her life in some way or another.
When Elphaba arrives home and she finds out that Sarima and her family are gone. Nanny is still there but does not know where they went. As it turns out the Gale forcers took Sarima and her family into “protection.” However, the sisters put up a fight but in the end they were taken as well. Liir is also missing, but it is unclear whether or not he is with the family or by himself somewhere.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
Almost There, We Can Make it!
Only a few chapters are left in the book! To save space on my blog her is how I am going to lay out these next few chapters:
Uprisings Part 6&7: 1 blog post
The Murder and Its Afterlife: 1 blog post
The only reason as to why I am doing this is because I have received some complaints that I have too many blogs. So? Sue me! I don’t care! But this format is a lot simpler and there will be less prediction blogs.
For the last little bit of this chapter, I think that Elphaba might try to over throw her sister. Or she could just leave and continue dwelling with Sarima and her family. I think that she will gain some sort of power in this next little bit of this chapter.
I am also hoping that Liir will take a larger role in the end of this novel, however I am aware that there are a second and a third novel in this series, so, there is a possibility that we have seen the last of him, and he is probably feature in the novel Son of a Witch (Maguire)
Uprisings Part 6&7: 1 blog post
The Murder and Its Afterlife: 1 blog post
The only reason as to why I am doing this is because I have received some complaints that I have too many blogs. So? Sue me! I don’t care! But this format is a lot simpler and there will be less prediction blogs.
For the last little bit of this chapter, I think that Elphaba might try to over throw her sister. Or she could just leave and continue dwelling with Sarima and her family. I think that she will gain some sort of power in this next little bit of this chapter.
I am also hoping that Liir will take a larger role in the end of this novel, however I am aware that there are a second and a third novel in this series, so, there is a possibility that we have seen the last of him, and he is probably feature in the novel Son of a Witch (Maguire)
Uprisings Part 4&5
To save space on the homepage of this blog, sections four and five will be together.
Elphaba is home. She spent many days and nights travelling by broom to see her sister and her father. She flew at night and slept during the day. This was to avoid being seen by people. When she arrived, her father was surprised to see her, and Elphaba was a little bit shocked as to how happy she was to see him.
Frex informed Elphaba about her sister and how she overthrew the Emperor to make Munchkinland an independent state. Apparently Nessa had allowed her emotions to get the best of her and she was beginning to do very hurtful things that will get her and other people in trouble. Elphaba feels as though she is not responsible for what her sister does or has done. Frex is a little upset over this. But ultimately he feels that the shoes are what is causing the problem. He thinks that she has gained the confidence to be independent and now she is able to do things by herself, whereas before, she needed the assistance form someone else.
Elphaba goes off to find Nessa. This is a pointless part of the chapter because all they do is bicker at each other. Nessa reveals that she is still upset that Elphaba left her at Shiz.
The next section of this chapter just elaborates on what the previous chapter had stated. The same problems are continuing, and Nessa definitely has control over her people. During the midst of this section, an old women comes to speak with Nessa bout a servant of hers that wants to quit to get married. As a result of this, Nessa offers her a trade. The lady’s Animals; a sheep and a cow for a spell to keep the two apart. Elphaba is in disbelief when her sister is able to perform this spell. She had no idea that her sister was also a witch. (Does she have a magic broom too?)
Elphaba then goes to check on the Animals, and they truly give her a sense of what is going on with her sister as a ruler. The Animals are not getting any of their rights. This brings Elphaba back to Doctor Dillamond. He was and Animal rights activist. He wanted to have his rights. At the end of the chapter, the Animals joke about how they will be killed and served to some of the powerful people in the land.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
Elphaba is home. She spent many days and nights travelling by broom to see her sister and her father. She flew at night and slept during the day. This was to avoid being seen by people. When she arrived, her father was surprised to see her, and Elphaba was a little bit shocked as to how happy she was to see him.
Frex informed Elphaba about her sister and how she overthrew the Emperor to make Munchkinland an independent state. Apparently Nessa had allowed her emotions to get the best of her and she was beginning to do very hurtful things that will get her and other people in trouble. Elphaba feels as though she is not responsible for what her sister does or has done. Frex is a little upset over this. But ultimately he feels that the shoes are what is causing the problem. He thinks that she has gained the confidence to be independent and now she is able to do things by herself, whereas before, she needed the assistance form someone else.
Elphaba goes off to find Nessa. This is a pointless part of the chapter because all they do is bicker at each other. Nessa reveals that she is still upset that Elphaba left her at Shiz.
The next section of this chapter just elaborates on what the previous chapter had stated. The same problems are continuing, and Nessa definitely has control over her people. During the midst of this section, an old women comes to speak with Nessa bout a servant of hers that wants to quit to get married. As a result of this, Nessa offers her a trade. The lady’s Animals; a sheep and a cow for a spell to keep the two apart. Elphaba is in disbelief when her sister is able to perform this spell. She had no idea that her sister was also a witch. (Does she have a magic broom too?)
Elphaba then goes to check on the Animals, and they truly give her a sense of what is going on with her sister as a ruler. The Animals are not getting any of their rights. This brings Elphaba back to Doctor Dillamond. He was and Animal rights activist. He wanted to have his rights. At the end of the chapter, the Animals joke about how they will be killed and served to some of the powerful people in the land.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
Uprisings Part 3
The small but important theme in this chapter, and one that could be related throughout the novel is control. At the beginning of this chapter, Nor is in control of the men’s dormitory. She is helping ot clean it and she is also helping to take care of the men on the Gale Force. She speaks about how she brings them food, and how the one soldier ejoys it when she feeds him. He also licks her fingers when this happens. Not only that but he tries to convince her to sit on his lap so he can feed her. Luckily she says no, because she thinks that she is in control, but the reality is, if she sat down, there are many things that, that man could have done to her.
When Nor is cleaning the men’s room one day, she uses Elphaba’s broom. When she was fooling around in the room, the broom came to her as if by magic. It was incredible. Nor begins to fly it, but is stopped by Elphaba, who took control of the situation and took her broom back. Again like always she scolded Nor for touching her belongings.
Later on, when Elphaba is alone, she tries the broom out for herself, and finds that it is magic! She decides to fly throughout the night.
"She felt like a night angel" (Maguire 304)
Suddenly the pace of the chapter changes. An Arjiki trader came along and delivered the news that Nessarose had: “Orchestrated a revolt, and that Munchkinland-or most of it anyway-had seceded from Oz, and set itself up as an independent state.” (Maguire 304) Elphaba make the decision to go and pay a lovely visit to her sister in Colwen Grounds where her powerful sister now dwells. She is taking her broom there, and is leaving in the middle of the night. This way, she will be back faster.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
When Nor is cleaning the men’s room one day, she uses Elphaba’s broom. When she was fooling around in the room, the broom came to her as if by magic. It was incredible. Nor begins to fly it, but is stopped by Elphaba, who took control of the situation and took her broom back. Again like always she scolded Nor for touching her belongings.
Later on, when Elphaba is alone, she tries the broom out for herself, and finds that it is magic! She decides to fly throughout the night.
"She felt like a night angel" (Maguire 304)
Suddenly the pace of the chapter changes. An Arjiki trader came along and delivered the news that Nessarose had: “Orchestrated a revolt, and that Munchkinland-or most of it anyway-had seceded from Oz, and set itself up as an independent state.” (Maguire 304) Elphaba make the decision to go and pay a lovely visit to her sister in Colwen Grounds where her powerful sister now dwells. She is taking her broom there, and is leaving in the middle of the night. This way, she will be back faster.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
Before Life Changes Forever…
As hinted to in the title, life is going to change. Well, let us hope that it does not change to quickly. I think that every book needs to have at least one chapter where the main character is not in distress. Such as a Shakespeare play. All of the scary/violent scenes, lead to a happy scene where the audience is able to relax, before viewing more horrific scenes.
So far we know Elphaba is a witch. She knows that too. She is also a mother, but she is very persistent about not showing him love. She is very involved in politics, so much so, that she has dedicated her life to the topic. However she has recently been taking a break from that. I am looking forward to seeing how she is going to act based on her personal growth in the previous chapter.
In some of the earlier prediction blogs, I answered some questions. Right now I am going to answer some of the previous questions that I answered, but as the plot has changed, I want to see if some of my answers changed.
Who is your favourite character and why?
When I first answered this question I answered Boq. I liked him because his problems were relatable and I felt bad for his harassment. Now my favourite character is Liir. I also feel for his character when he is being bullied as well as his relationship with his mother, and the non-existent relationship with his father. I also felt so bad when he was left in the fishing well for that long and almost died. I do not feel bad for what happened to Manek. He deserved it. It is strange how his name phonetically sounds like manic. As in the mental state. It is clear that he and the mental state have similarities. Example; they both feel strength, and feel that they are better than everyone. Manek’s mood would also change very quickly and he would have the girl equation of a PMS.
So far we know Elphaba is a witch. She knows that too. She is also a mother, but she is very persistent about not showing him love. She is very involved in politics, so much so, that she has dedicated her life to the topic. However she has recently been taking a break from that. I am looking forward to seeing how she is going to act based on her personal growth in the previous chapter.
In some of the earlier prediction blogs, I answered some questions. Right now I am going to answer some of the previous questions that I answered, but as the plot has changed, I want to see if some of my answers changed.
Who is your favourite character and why?
When I first answered this question I answered Boq. I liked him because his problems were relatable and I felt bad for his harassment. Now my favourite character is Liir. I also feel for his character when he is being bullied as well as his relationship with his mother, and the non-existent relationship with his father. I also felt so bad when he was left in the fishing well for that long and almost died. I do not feel bad for what happened to Manek. He deserved it. It is strange how his name phonetically sounds like manic. As in the mental state. It is clear that he and the mental state have similarities. Example; they both feel strength, and feel that they are better than everyone. Manek’s mood would also change very quickly and he would have the girl equation of a PMS.
Uprisings Part 1
The theme throughout this section of the chapter is growth. There were many times when a character or emotion grew. The first instance being; the loss of Manek. The entire family were in a grieving state. They felt that the loss of Manek was to allow Liir to continue living. Another point in the section where there is a growth, is when Nor invites the Gale forcers into the castle. It took her a lot of courage to invite them in, and once they are in, she defends her decision to invite them, against Auntie Guest.
Elphaba went through a growth in this chapter as well. Her love and protection for her family grew. At first she told the Gale Forcers to leave everyone alone and to go away, but she also grows closer with Nanny, who tells her many stories about Melena.
The Gale Forcers cause conflict in this chapter because they seem as though they are trustworthy, but Elphaba does not seem to trust them. Liir On the other hand grows very fond of them.
The last form of growth in this chapter is again about Elphaba. She feels stronger about her sister and helping people than she has ever had before. (Her heart grew three sizes that day.) Elphaba is questioning her role in her sisters’ life. As well as the decision about how Nessarose became Eminent Thropp
In the musical version, there is a song dedicated to personal growth. It is called Defying Gravity.
Here are the lyrics:
GALINDA
(Spoken)
Why couldn't you have stayed calm, for once! Instead of flying off the handle!
(Sung)
I hope you're happy
I hope you're happy now
I hope you're happy how you've
Hurt your cause forever
I hope you think you're clever
ELPHABA
I hope you're happy
I hope you're happy too
I hope you're proud how you would
Grovel in submission
To feed your own ambition
GALINDA & ELPHABA
So though I can't imagine how
I hope you're happy
Right now
GALINDA
(Spoken)
Elphie, listen to me. Just say you're sorry!
(Sung)
You can still be with the Wizard
What you've worked and waited for
You can have all you ever wanted -
ELPHABA
(Spoken)
I know
(Sung)
But I don't want it - No!
I can't want it anymore
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by
The rules of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes
And leap...
It's time to try defying gravity
I think I'll try defying gravity
And you can't pull me down
GALINDA
Can't I make you understand
You're having delusions of grandeur?
ELPHABA
I'm through accepting limits
'Cause someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try I'll never know
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love I guess I've lost
Well if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost
I'd sooner buy defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity
And you can't pull me down!
(Spoken)
Galinda, come with me. Think of what we could do together!
(Sung)
Unlimited
Together we're unlimited
Together we'll be the greatest team
There's ever been - Glinda!
Dreams the way we planned 'em
GALINDA
If we work in tandem
GALINDA & ELPHABA
There's no fight we cannot win
Just you and I, defying gravity
With you and I defying gravity
ELPHABA
They'll never bring us down!
(Spoken)
Well, are you coming?
(GLINDA decides to stay behind.)
GALINDA
I hope you're happy
I hope your happy now that your choosing this -
ELPHABA
(Spoken)
You too
(Sung)
I hope it brings you bliss
GALINDA & ELPHABA
I really hope you get it
And you don't live to regret it
I hope you're happy in the end
I hope you're happy my friend
ELPHABA
So if you care to find me
Look to the Western sky!
As someone told me lately
Everyone deserves the chance to fly
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who ground me
Take a message back from me!
Tell them how I am defying gravity
I'm flying high, defying gravity
And soon I'll match them in renown
And nobody in all of Oz
No Wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down!!
GALINDA
I hope you're happy
CITIZENS OF OZ
Look at her
She's wicked
Get her!!
ELPHABA
Bring me down!
CITIZENS OF OZ
No one mourns the wicked
So we got to bring her -
ELPHABA
Ahhhh!
CITIZENS OF OZ
--Down!
(The version that is on the television show Glee is much better!)
The main verse of the song has to do with Elphaba growing and forgetting what othe people think and continue with what she believes is right.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
Elphaba went through a growth in this chapter as well. Her love and protection for her family grew. At first she told the Gale Forcers to leave everyone alone and to go away, but she also grows closer with Nanny, who tells her many stories about Melena.
The Gale Forcers cause conflict in this chapter because they seem as though they are trustworthy, but Elphaba does not seem to trust them. Liir On the other hand grows very fond of them.
The last form of growth in this chapter is again about Elphaba. She feels stronger about her sister and helping people than she has ever had before. (Her heart grew three sizes that day.) Elphaba is questioning her role in her sisters’ life. As well as the decision about how Nessarose became Eminent Thropp
In the musical version, there is a song dedicated to personal growth. It is called Defying Gravity.
Here are the lyrics:
GALINDA
(Spoken)
Why couldn't you have stayed calm, for once! Instead of flying off the handle!
(Sung)
I hope you're happy
I hope you're happy now
I hope you're happy how you've
Hurt your cause forever
I hope you think you're clever
ELPHABA
I hope you're happy
I hope you're happy too
I hope you're proud how you would
Grovel in submission
To feed your own ambition
GALINDA & ELPHABA
So though I can't imagine how
I hope you're happy
Right now
GALINDA
(Spoken)
Elphie, listen to me. Just say you're sorry!
(Sung)
You can still be with the Wizard
What you've worked and waited for
You can have all you ever wanted -
ELPHABA
(Spoken)
I know
(Sung)
But I don't want it - No!
I can't want it anymore
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by
The rules of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes
And leap...
It's time to try defying gravity
I think I'll try defying gravity
And you can't pull me down
GALINDA
Can't I make you understand
You're having delusions of grandeur?
ELPHABA
I'm through accepting limits
'Cause someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try I'll never know
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love I guess I've lost
Well if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost
I'd sooner buy defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity
And you can't pull me down!
(Spoken)
Galinda, come with me. Think of what we could do together!
(Sung)
Unlimited
Together we're unlimited
Together we'll be the greatest team
There's ever been - Glinda!
Dreams the way we planned 'em
GALINDA
If we work in tandem
GALINDA & ELPHABA
There's no fight we cannot win
Just you and I, defying gravity
With you and I defying gravity
ELPHABA
They'll never bring us down!
(Spoken)
Well, are you coming?
(GLINDA decides to stay behind.)
GALINDA
I hope you're happy
I hope your happy now that your choosing this -
ELPHABA
(Spoken)
You too
(Sung)
I hope it brings you bliss
GALINDA & ELPHABA
I really hope you get it
And you don't live to regret it
I hope you're happy in the end
I hope you're happy my friend
ELPHABA
So if you care to find me
Look to the Western sky!
As someone told me lately
Everyone deserves the chance to fly
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who ground me
Take a message back from me!
Tell them how I am defying gravity
I'm flying high, defying gravity
And soon I'll match them in renown
And nobody in all of Oz
No Wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down!!
GALINDA
I hope you're happy
CITIZENS OF OZ
Look at her
She's wicked
Get her!!
ELPHABA
Bring me down!
CITIZENS OF OZ
No one mourns the wicked
So we got to bring her -
ELPHABA
Ahhhh!
CITIZENS OF OZ
--Down!
(The version that is on the television show Glee is much better!)
The main verse of the song has to do with Elphaba growing and forgetting what othe people think and continue with what she believes is right.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
How could she not remember?
How can a person not remember giving birth to a child? She obviously knew she was pregnant, so how come she does not remember giving birth? Normally a birth of a child is a happy time not a sad time. Although there are many case where new mothers have Postpartum Depression (Zieve.) This is where the mother does not want anything to do with the child. Most of the mothers seek help, but there are many known cases where the mothers have killed their child.
This next section of the chapter could have the theme of revenge. I an assuming that Elphaba is going to try to kill the Wizard. Due to her newfound connection to politics, there is a sure possibility that she will be involved with them.
Zieve, David. "Postpartum depression." PubMed Health . A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia., September 4, 2010. Web. 7 Nov 2011. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004481/>.
This next section of the chapter could have the theme of revenge. I an assuming that Elphaba is going to try to kill the Wizard. Due to her newfound connection to politics, there is a sure possibility that she will be involved with them.
Zieve, David. "Postpartum depression." PubMed Health . A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia., September 4, 2010. Web. 7 Nov 2011. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004481/>.
Uprisings Part 1
At the beginning of this chapter, Nanny is having a conversation with Elphaba that is very similar to the one that she had, way back in part one with Melena. She is questioning Elphaba’s decision about a witch rumour. Then as if the entire book was at the beginning again, the conversation changed to politics. Up to this point in the book, politics has played a large role in making Elphaba who she is. The town she grew up in shunned her, M. Morrible has sent her on a mission that involves politics, her parents were really into politics, and now her sister and brother are involved with politics. Nessarose is now Eminent Thropp and ruler of Munchkinland.
Nanny also informs Elphaba that Glinda has cast a spell upon Nessarose’s shoes to help her stand strait. (Could these be the magical red ruby slippers?) Now Nanny does not need to be with her all the time. Which is what is allowing her to be with Elphaba at this point of the novel.
As the chapter progresses, Elphaba is thinking about the spell that M. Morrible had cast upon her, and then sent her to the Emerald City. This leads Elphaba to rethinking her political standpoint, and she decides to try to take down the Wizard again.
Elphaba gives the reader some insight as to why she does not know that Liir is her son. She of course knows that he is her son, but she does not remember giving birth to him. At the time when she was to dilever, she was in a coma, and believes that she was still in a comma when she gave birth, and that is why she cannot remember giving birth to him. (If she cannot remember giving birth, then who picked the name?)
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
Nanny also informs Elphaba that Glinda has cast a spell upon Nessarose’s shoes to help her stand strait. (Could these be the magical red ruby slippers?) Now Nanny does not need to be with her all the time. Which is what is allowing her to be with Elphaba at this point of the novel.
As the chapter progresses, Elphaba is thinking about the spell that M. Morrible had cast upon her, and then sent her to the Emerald City. This leads Elphaba to rethinking her political standpoint, and she decides to try to take down the Wizard again.
Elphaba gives the reader some insight as to why she does not know that Liir is her son. She of course knows that he is her son, but she does not remember giving birth to him. At the time when she was to dilever, she was in a coma, and believes that she was still in a comma when she gave birth, and that is why she cannot remember giving birth to him. (If she cannot remember giving birth, then who picked the name?)
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Only One Chapter Left of In the Vinkus
Now that we can all sleep sound tonight knowing that Liir is fine, and that he is going to live - at least for a little bit longer, it is time to make a prediction about next chapter.
With a cloth wrapped tightly around head, and a table set out in front with a argyle print and a crystal ball placed directly in the middle. Tapping long fingernails together
I see Elphaba going through a large change. Presumably a parental change. After the way she treated her son she needs to clean up her act otherwise FACS is going to take him away. There also is going to be a shift in time. Most likely a few years in the future. There are also going to be new characters that are introduced into Elphaba’s life. They will not play a large role, but will have an influence on her behaviour.
Exit psychic
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
With a cloth wrapped tightly around head, and a table set out in front with a argyle print and a crystal ball placed directly in the middle. Tapping long fingernails together
I see Elphaba going through a large change. Presumably a parental change. After the way she treated her son she needs to clean up her act otherwise FACS is going to take him away. There also is going to be a shift in time. Most likely a few years in the future. There are also going to be new characters that are introduced into Elphaba’s life. They will not play a large role, but will have an influence on her behaviour.
Exit psychic
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
The Jasper Gates of Kiamo Ko Part 10
The theme of this final section of the chapter if magic. There were many magical instances that happen within the chapter. First off the sisters begin to speak of Elphaba’s name. They believe that is has something to do with Saint Aelphaba of the Waterfall. They begin to tell her story. To make it short, she ate grapes, went behind the water fall, and woke up a century later. Then she did it again. When she went into town, all the boys gawked at her.
Nor and Irji bust in just at the best part, but their news is way more important the origin of a name. They have found Liir, and he is still at the bottom of the well. Poor Liir. They also think that he is dead. As it turns out Chistery was the one to find him. Good monkey.
Manek one of the people there make some interesting and fully false accusations about Liir wanting to go into the well. (What a punk brat kid!) When they get him out of the well, the sisters want Elphaba to use spells to awake him. However in a time of crisis, just as everyone else, Elphaba panics. (This is also known as the fight or flight tactic.) Elphaba does not use spells, so Nanny convinces her to do CPR, which is a blessing, because Liir awakens. A disappointing part of this chapter is when everyone finds out that Liir has no fixed place to sleep. (In Canada, that is the definition of homeless.)
After this confrontation, Elphaba begins to think about the life choices that she has made. She tough about lies and about death, which is one of the themes for this chapter, and she thought about something that Sarima told her; hot anger and cold anger.
“Warm and cold anger working together to make a fury, a fury worthy enough to use as a weapon against the old things that still needed fighting” (Maguire 286)
She also thinks about how warm and cold making an icicle, which could be used as a weapon. As it turns out, the specific icicle that she was fixated on, had dropped right that moment and drove right through Manek’s head killing him instantly.
“Liir survived, but Manek did not.” (Maguire 286)
The theme in this section of the novel is death. It is prevalent during the entire book, but mostly in this chapter. First off, Elphaba’s mother had died, as well as Ama clutch, Doctor Dillamond, Tibbett, and Fiyero. Now in this chapter, the sisters are speaking of an everlasting goddess, that has not died, meanwhile Liir is on his death bed. He has almost drowned and luckily is saved at the last minute. This chapter also mentions in the last paragraph of the book - and the paragraph is only five lines long, speak out about how Elphaba used magic, without knowing, to send an icicle to kill Manek. It had worked and now he is dead.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
Nor and Irji bust in just at the best part, but their news is way more important the origin of a name. They have found Liir, and he is still at the bottom of the well. Poor Liir. They also think that he is dead. As it turns out Chistery was the one to find him. Good monkey.
Manek one of the people there make some interesting and fully false accusations about Liir wanting to go into the well. (What a punk brat kid!) When they get him out of the well, the sisters want Elphaba to use spells to awake him. However in a time of crisis, just as everyone else, Elphaba panics. (This is also known as the fight or flight tactic.) Elphaba does not use spells, so Nanny convinces her to do CPR, which is a blessing, because Liir awakens. A disappointing part of this chapter is when everyone finds out that Liir has no fixed place to sleep. (In Canada, that is the definition of homeless.)
After this confrontation, Elphaba begins to think about the life choices that she has made. She tough about lies and about death, which is one of the themes for this chapter, and she thought about something that Sarima told her; hot anger and cold anger.
“Warm and cold anger working together to make a fury, a fury worthy enough to use as a weapon against the old things that still needed fighting” (Maguire 286)
She also thinks about how warm and cold making an icicle, which could be used as a weapon. As it turns out, the specific icicle that she was fixated on, had dropped right that moment and drove right through Manek’s head killing him instantly.
“Liir survived, but Manek did not.” (Maguire 286)
The theme in this section of the novel is death. It is prevalent during the entire book, but mostly in this chapter. First off, Elphaba’s mother had died, as well as Ama clutch, Doctor Dillamond, Tibbett, and Fiyero. Now in this chapter, the sisters are speaking of an everlasting goddess, that has not died, meanwhile Liir is on his death bed. He has almost drowned and luckily is saved at the last minute. This chapter also mentions in the last paragraph of the book - and the paragraph is only five lines long, speak out about how Elphaba used magic, without knowing, to send an icicle to kill Manek. It had worked and now he is dead.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
Improv Status
The final section of this chapter is most likely very important to this section of the book. It indicates that a change is coming and a possible time/setting change as well.
In this next section of the book I am looking forward to exploring how the relationship between Elphaba and Nanny have changed. Elphie is no longer a child, in fact she has her own child, so there will be a shift in their relationship.
I am also really curious as to what happened to Liir. The last that we heard of him, he was stuck in a well. Is he still there? I really hope not. He could have drowned or died of starvation. If he is still down there, one thing is for sure, his fingers will look like raisins.
Instead of answering a question or multiple, I thought that I would relate this status role change to a real life example. After-school I partake in a drama club called; Commotion. The purpose of this is to improve our way into creating a show that is a piece of art. We enact many different activities and the outcome of many , we sponsor, meaning we choose our favourite, and the ones we would like to see in the final show, and relate our show from there. In one of the activities, we had to choose a pose and another person would begin an improve scene. I was chosen as the person who would begin the scene. With my partner on the ground I felt as though I should have high status and chose the role of a police officer who just shot a criminal. My partner acted very well and was able to make me wan to help his get to his feet as I demanded, and once he was standing, stole my imaginary gun from my hands, and shot me. Now the role of the status is within the gun itself. The person with the gun was able to control the people without it. Just like in the novel, where people who have power are able to control everyone else.
I just thought that it is an interesting topic, and the instructors, always bring up that example of power and status roles/shifts.
In this next section of the book I am looking forward to exploring how the relationship between Elphaba and Nanny have changed. Elphie is no longer a child, in fact she has her own child, so there will be a shift in their relationship.
I am also really curious as to what happened to Liir. The last that we heard of him, he was stuck in a well. Is he still there? I really hope not. He could have drowned or died of starvation. If he is still down there, one thing is for sure, his fingers will look like raisins.
Instead of answering a question or multiple, I thought that I would relate this status role change to a real life example. After-school I partake in a drama club called; Commotion. The purpose of this is to improve our way into creating a show that is a piece of art. We enact many different activities and the outcome of many , we sponsor, meaning we choose our favourite, and the ones we would like to see in the final show, and relate our show from there. In one of the activities, we had to choose a pose and another person would begin an improve scene. I was chosen as the person who would begin the scene. With my partner on the ground I felt as though I should have high status and chose the role of a police officer who just shot a criminal. My partner acted very well and was able to make me wan to help his get to his feet as I demanded, and once he was standing, stole my imaginary gun from my hands, and shot me. Now the role of the status is within the gun itself. The person with the gun was able to control the people without it. Just like in the novel, where people who have power are able to control everyone else.
I just thought that it is an interesting topic, and the instructors, always bring up that example of power and status roles/shifts.
The Jasper Gates of Kiamo Ko Parts 5-9
What was once lost has now been found. Another one of those sayings is; one man’s junk is another’s treasure. Elphaba found a book in the closet of the castle. It has purple pages and silver ink. Hmm… Sounds interesting. She believes that it is an encyclopaedia of magic and the spirit world. Sarima said that she did not even want the book in the first place, some man came up to the castle and told her that it was from another world and was not safe there, so she agreed to hide it. Since she had and still does not have any interest in it she allows Elphaba to read it as much as she wants.
The interesting part about this book is; the words move around the page. It is very similar to the first Harry Potter (Rowling) movie, in how the staircases move around. Is this to confuse people? Maybe?
In part six, the entire emotions of the novel change. The children are playing a friendly game of hide and seek, while trying to find Manek. They eventually find him spying on Elphaba trying to teach Chistery how to speak. Is she trying to make him into and Animal? Could the book have changed her mind about this magic information? She tries to teach him how to say spirit. After he mutters something along the lines of spit, she is very happy and impressed with him. She also mentions Doctor Dillamond and his work.
After this circus show, the entire clan goes ice skating on a nearby pond. Sarima brings up the topic of Elphaba’s magical broom. Which is ironic because Elphaba was just teaching Chistery some magical words. Elphaba refers to her broom as if it were not magical.
"I got it from an elderly maunt named Mother Yackle...."
"The old maunt said that the broom would be my link to my destiny," said Elphie. "I assume she meant that my destiny was domestic. Not magic." (Maguire 271)
Nor wants to hear the story of the Witch and the foxes again, and once Sarima is finished, Elphaba gets very defensive about the afterlife and evil. So much so that sweet Sarima mocks her by saying; “I pity the community of the afterlife when they’re asked to welcome you in. What a sour apple you always are.” (Maguire 272)
In chapter seven, - which is only a page and a half long, reveals much about the children and Elphaba’s true intentions. The children tell Liir that Elphaba is his mother. Mean little brats, that should be something that when she is ready, she should tell him herself. Liir though is confused at the thought of her as his mother. He is not the brightest of the bunch, which makes the reader wonder whether or not Elphaba did a well enough job raising him.
The children also break into Elphaba’s room and try to encourage Chistery to tell them some secrets. However their plan is foiled when he only spoke simple words that do not make sense together.
"Watch Witch," said Chistery, playing with his fingers. "Which wretch which?" (Maguire 273)
In the end Elphaba enters her room to see the children in there and kicks them out.
Throughout the novel so far the characters have been playing a lot of hide and seek, first Elphaba’s parents did not want anyone to see her, so they hid her, Elphaba stayed by herself and very quiet while she was in the Emerald City, Fiyero and Elphaba had to hide their relationship from everyone and would only get together in places where they were alone. Now the children are playing many games of hide and seek. This is also how the chapter starts off. Manek, the little punk kid that he is, encourages gullible Liir to hide in the fishing well. What a great half-brother. To make matter even worse, he leaves him all by himself in the well.
Meanwhile Elphaba lectures Sarima on her parenting skills. Sarima starts off the conversation with: “The sweet little vandals,” (Maguire 276) If that is not a contradictory… She also rebuttals back by saying that Elphaba is not also the best mother. Catfight! Luckily before anything violent happens, a sister interrupts them. New guests will be arriving tomorrow. At supper, Liir is nowhere to be found and Manek, again the little punk, does not speak up.
Chapter nine; the last chapter of this super long chapter blog, is a short chapter as well. The new guests have arrived, and guess who is with them? Nanny! (Did you think that she would ever come back?) She unknowingly spills that Elphaba’s name really is Elphaba rather than Auntie Guest. She informs them that she was only able to track down where Elphaba was because Crop, (remember him) had heard that Elphaba had served on Tibbett’s bedside while he died. She also informs everyone that the Wizard has crowned himself Emperor . (Does that sound like anyone very famous in history around 1804? Drawing a blank? The name is Napoleon, and he crowned himself Emperor.) Elphaba, being as political as she is, voiced her opinion, and surely will throughout the rest of the novel.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
The interesting part about this book is; the words move around the page. It is very similar to the first Harry Potter (Rowling) movie, in how the staircases move around. Is this to confuse people? Maybe?
In part six, the entire emotions of the novel change. The children are playing a friendly game of hide and seek, while trying to find Manek. They eventually find him spying on Elphaba trying to teach Chistery how to speak. Is she trying to make him into and Animal? Could the book have changed her mind about this magic information? She tries to teach him how to say spirit. After he mutters something along the lines of spit, she is very happy and impressed with him. She also mentions Doctor Dillamond and his work.
After this circus show, the entire clan goes ice skating on a nearby pond. Sarima brings up the topic of Elphaba’s magical broom. Which is ironic because Elphaba was just teaching Chistery some magical words. Elphaba refers to her broom as if it were not magical.
"I got it from an elderly maunt named Mother Yackle...."
"The old maunt said that the broom would be my link to my destiny," said Elphie. "I assume she meant that my destiny was domestic. Not magic." (Maguire 271)
Nor wants to hear the story of the Witch and the foxes again, and once Sarima is finished, Elphaba gets very defensive about the afterlife and evil. So much so that sweet Sarima mocks her by saying; “I pity the community of the afterlife when they’re asked to welcome you in. What a sour apple you always are.” (Maguire 272)
In chapter seven, - which is only a page and a half long, reveals much about the children and Elphaba’s true intentions. The children tell Liir that Elphaba is his mother. Mean little brats, that should be something that when she is ready, she should tell him herself. Liir though is confused at the thought of her as his mother. He is not the brightest of the bunch, which makes the reader wonder whether or not Elphaba did a well enough job raising him.
The children also break into Elphaba’s room and try to encourage Chistery to tell them some secrets. However their plan is foiled when he only spoke simple words that do not make sense together.
"Watch Witch," said Chistery, playing with his fingers. "Which wretch which?" (Maguire 273)
In the end Elphaba enters her room to see the children in there and kicks them out.
Throughout the novel so far the characters have been playing a lot of hide and seek, first Elphaba’s parents did not want anyone to see her, so they hid her, Elphaba stayed by herself and very quiet while she was in the Emerald City, Fiyero and Elphaba had to hide their relationship from everyone and would only get together in places where they were alone. Now the children are playing many games of hide and seek. This is also how the chapter starts off. Manek, the little punk kid that he is, encourages gullible Liir to hide in the fishing well. What a great half-brother. To make matter even worse, he leaves him all by himself in the well.
Meanwhile Elphaba lectures Sarima on her parenting skills. Sarima starts off the conversation with: “The sweet little vandals,” (Maguire 276) If that is not a contradictory… She also rebuttals back by saying that Elphaba is not also the best mother. Catfight! Luckily before anything violent happens, a sister interrupts them. New guests will be arriving tomorrow. At supper, Liir is nowhere to be found and Manek, again the little punk, does not speak up.
Chapter nine; the last chapter of this super long chapter blog, is a short chapter as well. The new guests have arrived, and guess who is with them? Nanny! (Did you think that she would ever come back?) She unknowingly spills that Elphaba’s name really is Elphaba rather than Auntie Guest. She informs them that she was only able to track down where Elphaba was because Crop, (remember him) had heard that Elphaba had served on Tibbett’s bedside while he died. She also informs everyone that the Wizard has crowned himself Emperor . (Does that sound like anyone very famous in history around 1804? Drawing a blank? The name is Napoleon, and he crowned himself Emperor.) Elphaba, being as political as she is, voiced her opinion, and surely will throughout the rest of the novel.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
All Together Now!
The next four chapters are going to be compiled into one large blog. This is only to save time, and they are really short chapter, therefore, the blogs about them would be short and the predictions even shorter. This part of the book is altogether only twenty-six pages long, allowing for only five and a half pages each chapter. (Yes I did math for an English project.) I am going to do a separate blog for the last section because it is longer and it most likely will have the most information.
Here is another question from my class:
I don’t like…
I do not like have Elphie is such a pushover. She does not speak her mind, and allows people to talk right over her. I really hope that she gains some form of confidence and talks back to them. That would make her character even more enjoyable.
I think that in these next sections of the chapter, Elphie will find confidence in herself, or fall into a deep depression, deeper than the one that she currently is in. Those could be the reasons as to why everyone refers to her as the Wicked Witch of the West.
Here is another question from my class:
I don’t like…
I do not like have Elphie is such a pushover. She does not speak her mind, and allows people to talk right over her. I really hope that she gains some form of confidence and talks back to them. That would make her character even more enjoyable.
I think that in these next sections of the chapter, Elphie will find confidence in herself, or fall into a deep depression, deeper than the one that she currently is in. Those could be the reasons as to why everyone refers to her as the Wicked Witch of the West.
The Jasper Gates of Kiamo Ko Part 4
Bless me Father, for I have sinned, should have been the title of this chapter. In this case, it is sister rather than Father. Elphaba has decided to confess her sins/her potential reasoning behind Fiyero’s death. The sisters however, shoot her down by, not allowing her to speak her mind. They are not much help.
With them continuing on about the rumours about Fiyero being involved with political issues, and when he wrote home, he rarely mentioned Elphaba, but he mostly mentioned Glinda. Leading the sister to believe that they were having an affair. It does make sense. They also believe that Glinda’s husband could have been the one to murder him, once he found out about the affair.
The theme of rumours is prevalent throughout the entire novel. The first example being the talk around town about Elphaba’s skin colour. As the book progresses, the rumours become more personal and hurt the feelings of the people they were intended to hurt. Another example is; the lives of former classmates. When Fiyero was telling Elphaba about their former classmates, she questions them. They could be false or true, however the author indicates that they are true, by elaborating on relationships of the characters. (Glinda and Fiyero’s meeting.)
Some rumours that are prevalent in today’s society are easy accessible and are can be found anywhere. With the technology that there is today, a rumour; for instance, Justin Bieber is the father of a girl he has never met, baby. With the internet and celebrity gossip websites, people all around the globe, are able to see what is happening within a few seconds.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
With them continuing on about the rumours about Fiyero being involved with political issues, and when he wrote home, he rarely mentioned Elphaba, but he mostly mentioned Glinda. Leading the sister to believe that they were having an affair. It does make sense. They also believe that Glinda’s husband could have been the one to murder him, once he found out about the affair.
The theme of rumours is prevalent throughout the entire novel. The first example being the talk around town about Elphaba’s skin colour. As the book progresses, the rumours become more personal and hurt the feelings of the people they were intended to hurt. Another example is; the lives of former classmates. When Fiyero was telling Elphaba about their former classmates, she questions them. They could be false or true, however the author indicates that they are true, by elaborating on relationships of the characters. (Glinda and Fiyero’s meeting.)
Some rumours that are prevalent in today’s society are easy accessible and are can be found anywhere. With the technology that there is today, a rumour; for instance, Justin Bieber is the father of a girl he has never met, baby. With the internet and celebrity gossip websites, people all around the globe, are able to see what is happening within a few seconds.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
Gershwin Theatre
Throughout the novel so far I have found that there are many different reasons as to why this storyline would make for a great musical.
1. There is a sound group of main characters, with high and intense emotions.
2. Along with the emotions are; the relatable instances that happen throughout the entire novel
3. Who wouldn’t want to put amazing lyrics with a great novel and call it a musical?
4. Finally, who would not want to see a classic film be adapted into a musical version, that explains the rise of the Wicked Witch of the West.
All great examples. I have not seen the musical so I do not know how they compare. But just as every book-movie comparison is, the book is always better! Some examples are; Harry Potter (Rowling), Twilight (Meyer) and Anne of Green Gables (Montgomery.) All of these examples are true because I have read the novels and seen the film adaptation. This is hard to do because, the imagination is so much stronger than what is laid out in front of our eyes during a movie. An example of this would be to Google image search the main character from Twilight (Meyer); Edward Cullen, there are many pictures that depict many people’s ideas of what he would look like, rather than the actor that was cast to play the role in the film.
On a personal level, I really love this novel, although there are some boring parts, the content is really good and I am enjoying how the character Elphaba is being played out. I love the original movie, and I love this book. I hope to be able to see the musical one day. I have been really close to seeing it, however, my brother and sister did not want to. I was so close. I even got a picture outside of the theatre it is played at:
I am enjoying this novel so far, and I am interested in reading further into this novel.
2. Along with the emotions are; the relatable instances that happen throughout the entire novel
3. Who wouldn’t want to put amazing lyrics with a great novel and call it a musical?
4. Finally, who would not want to see a classic film be adapted into a musical version, that explains the rise of the Wicked Witch of the West.
All great examples. I have not seen the musical so I do not know how they compare. But just as every book-movie comparison is, the book is always better! Some examples are; Harry Potter (Rowling), Twilight (Meyer) and Anne of Green Gables (Montgomery.) All of these examples are true because I have read the novels and seen the film adaptation. This is hard to do because, the imagination is so much stronger than what is laid out in front of our eyes during a movie. An example of this would be to Google image search the main character from Twilight (Meyer); Edward Cullen, there are many pictures that depict many people’s ideas of what he would look like, rather than the actor that was cast to play the role in the film.
On a personal level, I really love this novel, although there are some boring parts, the content is really good and I am enjoying how the character Elphaba is being played out. I love the original movie, and I love this book. I hope to be able to see the musical one day. I have been really close to seeing it, however, my brother and sister did not want to. I was so close. I even got a picture outside of the theatre it is played at:
I am enjoying this novel so far, and I am interested in reading further into this novel.
The Jasper Gates of Kiamo Ko Part 3
This chapter is short but it does have a good amount of useful information. At first Elphaba gets her own room at Kiamo Ko. It is in a tower, with round stone walls. Hmm… Interesting… Anyway, moving on, it is now winter in the Land of Oz, an everyone knows what that means! It is Lurlinemas time. (Remember this is the Oz’s version of Christmas) The children are in good spirits, seeing that it is holiday time. The boys go off to cut down some trees, while Nor and Liir, stay behind and paint. They found the paper in Elphaba’s room. Liir does not know how to paint so, he leaves.
Then there is a conflict in the scene. Chistery, the monkey is loose in the kitchen! He is let loose when Nor went into Elphaba’s room to get paper. Elphaba is in a bad vicious mood when she sees how the people in the kitchen are treating her animal. (Animal Lover?) Nor, the brave little girl she is, takes responsibility for her actions and apologizes to Elphaba. She feels even worse after Elphaba scolds her about entering her room.
This holiday is relatively close to the human holiday Christmas, however there is no mention of a “Santa.” There are fairies instead. Their names are;
Lurline and Preenella. This is similar to the poem Twas the Night Before Christmas (Clarke Moore) The lines; “While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads” (Clarke Moore) This line does not mention any fairy, but it does reference dancing, which is what fairies tend to do.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
Clarke Moore, Clement. Ed. Twas the Night before Christmas. Print. <http://www.carols.org.uk/twas_the_night_before_christmas.htm>.
Gale Force?
This next chapter, by the looks of it is short, and most likely one of hose filler chapters. I am hoping to read about a conflict soon between either the children or the adults. I am hoping that the secret between Elphaba and Fiyero is revealed. It would be interesting to see how not only will Sarima but the community will react. If it were to happen, then maybe that could be one o the reasons as too why the novel is named Wicked (Maguire).
Here are more of he questions that have been asked in class:
I had to look up… and I found…
I had to look up what gale force was, to come up with the answer that they were strong winds. I knew what they were of course, but I wanted a more accurate idea of what they were and certain classifications about them. I also looked up some information about Dorothy in order ot make the connection with the book and the movie.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
"Weather Terms." Bad Deck Weather. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct 2011. <http://www.baddeckweather.com/weather-terms/>.
Here are more of he questions that have been asked in class:
I had to look up… and I found…
I had to look up what gale force was, to come up with the answer that they were strong winds. I knew what they were of course, but I wanted a more accurate idea of what they were and certain classifications about them. I also looked up some information about Dorothy in order ot make the connection with the book and the movie.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
"Weather Terms." Bad Deck Weather. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct 2011. <http://www.baddeckweather.com/weather-terms/>.
The Jasper Gates of Kiamo Ko Part 2
This section of this chapter had a main theme. This being: secrets. There were many of them within this chapter and ultimately throughout the entire book. The largest being; Elphaba’s true intentions of her purpose of being in the Emerald City. Obviously this is no secret to the reader because it is mentioned throughout her life, but it is a secret to the characters in the novel.
In this chapter alone, there are many secrets. The main secret being, Liir is Elphaba and Fiyero’s son. This makes him, Samira, Nor, Manek and Irji’s half-brother, and son. What? What do you mean he’s my brother? By the way that Elphaba is treating him though, is almost as if she never wanted him. She treats him with little respect. She does not even tell him who his father is let alone that he is dead! What a horrible mother. This story is very similar to the plot line of the television show The Lying Game in the sense that the children are not told who their parents are. The situations are different, being that the main characters in the television show are adopted and not given information about their birth mother, and Liir, has not even bothered asking or putting in the effort to finding any answers about his past and where he came from.
Another example of a secret is; the broom. There is a mention of the magic broom, and Liir denies to tell the other boys about it because it is a secret.
“I can’t tell it’s a secret”
“Is it still a secret if we push you off the tower?” (Maguire 251)
It is obvious that someone has told Liir not to tell anyone about the magic broom. Is it possible that Elphaba cast a spell onto Liir?
"The Lying Game (TV Series 2011) - IMDb." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Alloy Entertainment. Web. 06 Nov. 2011. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798274/>.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
In this chapter alone, there are many secrets. The main secret being, Liir is Elphaba and Fiyero’s son. This makes him, Samira, Nor, Manek and Irji’s half-brother, and son. What? What do you mean he’s my brother? By the way that Elphaba is treating him though, is almost as if she never wanted him. She treats him with little respect. She does not even tell him who his father is let alone that he is dead! What a horrible mother. This story is very similar to the plot line of the television show The Lying Game in the sense that the children are not told who their parents are. The situations are different, being that the main characters in the television show are adopted and not given information about their birth mother, and Liir, has not even bothered asking or putting in the effort to finding any answers about his past and where he came from.
Another example of a secret is; the broom. There is a mention of the magic broom, and Liir denies to tell the other boys about it because it is a secret.
“I can’t tell it’s a secret”
“Is it still a secret if we push you off the tower?” (Maguire 251)
It is obvious that someone has told Liir not to tell anyone about the magic broom. Is it possible that Elphaba cast a spell onto Liir?
"The Lying Game (TV Series 2011) - IMDb." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Alloy Entertainment. Web. 06 Nov. 2011. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798274/>.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
No Good Deed
This last chapter was well written, and the introduction of the characters were well placed in the novel. If Elphaba were the narrator of this chapter, she would seem as though she were either mean or quick to judge her lover’s partner. The character of Sarima seemed to speak out of spite, and as though she had a plan to hurt her friend and family’s feelings in the future. There could be a possible cat fight between Sarima and Elphaba because of the husband/lover conflict.
In this next chapter, there could be a possible death or birth. Not in a literal sense, but a spiritual sense, meaning that some for of hope that Elphaba had could be destroyed or worse. She could feel as though Sarima had verbally pushed her over by claiming the higher authority.
Here is a song from the musical adaptation of the novel:
This song is attempting to explain the horrific death of Fiyero and how Elphaba is dealing with it. She feels that whoever has done this should pay.
Here are the lyrics to the song No Good Dead:
ELPHABA:
(spoken) Fiyero!
(sung) Eleka nahmen nahmen
Ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen
Eleka nahmen nahmen
Ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen
Let his flesh not be torn
Let his blood leave no stain
When they beat him
Let him feel no pain
Let his bones never break
And however they try
To destroy him
Let him never die:
Let him never die:
Eleka nahmen nahmen
Ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen
Eleka nahmen nahmen
Ah tum ah tum eleka: eleka:
What good is this chanting?
I don't even know what I'm reading!
I don't even know what trick I ought to try
Fiyero, where are you?
Already dead of bleeding.
One more disaster I can add to my
Generous supply?
No good deed goes unpunished
No act of charity goes unresented
No good deed goes unpunished
That's my new creed
My road of good intentions
Led where such roads always lead
No good deed
Goes unpunished!
Nessa:
Doctor Dillamond:
Fiyero:
Fiyero!!
One question haunts and hurts
Too much, too much to mention:
Was I really seeking good
Or just seeking attention?
Is that all good deeds are
When looked at with an ice-cold eye?
If that's all good deeds are
Maybe that's the reason why
No good deed goes unpunished
All helpful urges should be circumvented
No good deed goes unpunished
Sure, I meant well -
Well, look at what well-meant did:
All right, enough - so be it
So be it, then:
Let all Oz be agreed
I'm wicked through and through
Since I can not succeed
Fiyero, saving you
I promise no good deed
Will I attempt to do again
Ever again
No good deed
Will I do again!
"Idina Menzel Lyrics, No Good Deed Lyrics." SoundTrack Lyrics Source #1. Any Movie, Musical, TV, Cartoon! Web. 06 Nov. 2011. <http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/wicked/nogooddeed.htm>.
In this next chapter, there could be a possible death or birth. Not in a literal sense, but a spiritual sense, meaning that some for of hope that Elphaba had could be destroyed or worse. She could feel as though Sarima had verbally pushed her over by claiming the higher authority.
Here is a song from the musical adaptation of the novel:
This song is attempting to explain the horrific death of Fiyero and how Elphaba is dealing with it. She feels that whoever has done this should pay.
Here are the lyrics to the song No Good Dead:
ELPHABA:
(spoken) Fiyero!
(sung) Eleka nahmen nahmen
Ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen
Eleka nahmen nahmen
Ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen
Let his flesh not be torn
Let his blood leave no stain
When they beat him
Let him feel no pain
Let his bones never break
And however they try
To destroy him
Let him never die:
Let him never die:
Eleka nahmen nahmen
Ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen
Eleka nahmen nahmen
Ah tum ah tum eleka: eleka:
What good is this chanting?
I don't even know what I'm reading!
I don't even know what trick I ought to try
Fiyero, where are you?
Already dead of bleeding.
One more disaster I can add to my
Generous supply?
No good deed goes unpunished
No act of charity goes unresented
No good deed goes unpunished
That's my new creed
My road of good intentions
Led where such roads always lead
No good deed
Goes unpunished!
Nessa:
Doctor Dillamond:
Fiyero:
Fiyero!!
One question haunts and hurts
Too much, too much to mention:
Was I really seeking good
Or just seeking attention?
Is that all good deeds are
When looked at with an ice-cold eye?
If that's all good deeds are
Maybe that's the reason why
No good deed goes unpunished
All helpful urges should be circumvented
No good deed goes unpunished
Sure, I meant well -
Well, look at what well-meant did:
All right, enough - so be it
So be it, then:
Let all Oz be agreed
I'm wicked through and through
Since I can not succeed
Fiyero, saving you
I promise no good deed
Will I attempt to do again
Ever again
No good deed
Will I do again!
"Idina Menzel Lyrics, No Good Deed Lyrics." SoundTrack Lyrics Source #1. Any Movie, Musical, TV, Cartoon! Web. 06 Nov. 2011. <http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/wicked/nogooddeed.htm>.
The Jasper Gates of Kiamo Ko Part 1
Characters:
Sarima: The late wife of Sir Fiyero and Princess of the Arjikis
Elphaba: The travelling groups leader
Six: The unnamed sister of Sarima
Nor: The daughter of Sarima
Within the dwellings of the Princess of the Arjikis, the Princess herself, and her younger sister are curious about the newcomers.
Six: We have house guests coming for supper tonight. Am I to kill the hen?
Sarima: Who is it this time a boring old hag?
Six: No a women!
Sarima: “Now that’s uncalled for,” (Maguire 244) Tell four to catch some fish for this evening.
The references to the numbers of the siblings are; to not mess up the marriage process. The eldest sister is the first to get married, only then may a younger sister take a true name and begin meeting potential lovers. Think; Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice.
Sarima: Tell me, what does she look like?
Six: Thirty and green.
Sarima: Wow. I am interested in seeing this creature… oh I mean meeting this person.
Exit Six
Sarima: “I enjoy welcoming a traveler into the private chambers of Kiamo Ko.” (Maguire 245) However, before they are to visit for dinner, I must put my little ones to bed. Irji -twelve, and Manek - eleven are adventurers but if the ventured too far, some clan would harm them. My daughter on the other hand, Nor, is nine, was childish in many ways. Want to be read a story before being put to bed. Due to the circumstances of a guest newly arrived and dinner is being waited upon, there was no time.
Enter Nor. Tucked in bed. Waiting for a story.
Nor: There was a boy Mum. He said his name was Liir. A queer name. Manek threw a stone at him to see if it would bounce further because he was fat. He said his mother was the green lady, and Irji said he was a bastard. Then he said he didn’t care. Manek made him pull down his pants to check.
Sarima: Well what did you see?
Nor: The normal thing, but it was smaller than Irji and Maneks’. I want to hear the story of the Witch and the fox babies.
Sarima: The Witch captured three fox babies in preparation for her casserole. She put them in cages and went to collect fire from thee sun. When she re-entered the cave the fox babies sang a lullaby and she fell asleep. When the fire fell to the ground it melted the cage doors and the foxes escaped. They howled and the moon came down to cover the entrance to the cave. "Did she ever come out" asked Nor, doing her line from an almost hypnagogic state.
"Not yet," said Sarima, kissing and biting her daughter on the wrist, which made them both giggle, and then lights out.” (Maguire 247)
Exit Nor. Enter Elphaba, waiting to see the Princess.
Sarima: Welcome
Elphaba: Thank you. I am a friend of the late Fiyero. We attended Shiz together.
Sarima: I have heard many good things about you and you other classmates.
Elphaba: I think I am the reason your husband is dead.
Sarima: Aren’t we all?
Elphaba: I must tell you. I need to get it off my chest. Only then may I continue living.
Sarima: No. you were friends with Fiyero, and he talked highly of you. Didn’t you not say that you did not believe in a soul? Then why the need to get it off your chest. Since you have made it clear that you do not want people to know who you are, we will all refer to you as Auntie Guest.
Elphaba is silent during the meal.
There are many references during this chapter. The first is noted within the stage directions. The giving numbers to the younger sisters is only done when there are many girls within a family and there are only so many men to go around. The older sisters are the ones to have the option first and the younger sisters must wait until the older ones get married.
The second reference is to the evil witch. Is this a foreshadowing? Quite possibly. Also, the animals in this story could be an outcome of; Elphaba’s ruling over her animals.
The final reference in this chapter is; Auntie Guest. This is not a direct reference, but it is strange how the Princess gives the name to Elphaba because a character in the movie; Auntie Em, is a kind gentle soul who is the guardian of Dorothy.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
The Wizard of Oz. Dir. Victor Fleming. Perf. Garland, Judy. 1939. Film. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138/>.
Sarima: The late wife of Sir Fiyero and Princess of the Arjikis
Elphaba: The travelling groups leader
Six: The unnamed sister of Sarima
Nor: The daughter of Sarima
Within the dwellings of the Princess of the Arjikis, the Princess herself, and her younger sister are curious about the newcomers.
Six: We have house guests coming for supper tonight. Am I to kill the hen?
Sarima: Who is it this time a boring old hag?
Six: No a women!
Sarima: “Now that’s uncalled for,” (Maguire 244) Tell four to catch some fish for this evening.
The references to the numbers of the siblings are; to not mess up the marriage process. The eldest sister is the first to get married, only then may a younger sister take a true name and begin meeting potential lovers. Think; Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice.
Sarima: Tell me, what does she look like?
Six: Thirty and green.
Sarima: Wow. I am interested in seeing this creature… oh I mean meeting this person.
Exit Six
Sarima: “I enjoy welcoming a traveler into the private chambers of Kiamo Ko.” (Maguire 245) However, before they are to visit for dinner, I must put my little ones to bed. Irji -twelve, and Manek - eleven are adventurers but if the ventured too far, some clan would harm them. My daughter on the other hand, Nor, is nine, was childish in many ways. Want to be read a story before being put to bed. Due to the circumstances of a guest newly arrived and dinner is being waited upon, there was no time.
Enter Nor. Tucked in bed. Waiting for a story.
Nor: There was a boy Mum. He said his name was Liir. A queer name. Manek threw a stone at him to see if it would bounce further because he was fat. He said his mother was the green lady, and Irji said he was a bastard. Then he said he didn’t care. Manek made him pull down his pants to check.
Sarima: Well what did you see?
Nor: The normal thing, but it was smaller than Irji and Maneks’. I want to hear the story of the Witch and the fox babies.
Sarima: The Witch captured three fox babies in preparation for her casserole. She put them in cages and went to collect fire from thee sun. When she re-entered the cave the fox babies sang a lullaby and she fell asleep. When the fire fell to the ground it melted the cage doors and the foxes escaped. They howled and the moon came down to cover the entrance to the cave. "Did she ever come out" asked Nor, doing her line from an almost hypnagogic state.
"Not yet," said Sarima, kissing and biting her daughter on the wrist, which made them both giggle, and then lights out.” (Maguire 247)
Exit Nor. Enter Elphaba, waiting to see the Princess.
Sarima: Welcome
Elphaba: Thank you. I am a friend of the late Fiyero. We attended Shiz together.
Sarima: I have heard many good things about you and you other classmates.
Elphaba: I think I am the reason your husband is dead.
Sarima: Aren’t we all?
Elphaba: I must tell you. I need to get it off my chest. Only then may I continue living.
Sarima: No. you were friends with Fiyero, and he talked highly of you. Didn’t you not say that you did not believe in a soul? Then why the need to get it off your chest. Since you have made it clear that you do not want people to know who you are, we will all refer to you as Auntie Guest.
Elphaba is silent during the meal.
There are many references during this chapter. The first is noted within the stage directions. The giving numbers to the younger sisters is only done when there are many girls within a family and there are only so many men to go around. The older sisters are the ones to have the option first and the younger sisters must wait until the older ones get married.
The second reference is to the evil witch. Is this a foreshadowing? Quite possibly. Also, the animals in this story could be an outcome of; Elphaba’s ruling over her animals.
The final reference in this chapter is; Auntie Guest. This is not a direct reference, but it is strange how the Princess gives the name to Elphaba because a character in the movie; Auntie Em, is a kind gentle soul who is the guardian of Dorothy.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
The Wizard of Oz. Dir. Victor Fleming. Perf. Garland, Judy. 1939. Film. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138/>.
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
The Wicked Witch is Alive!
“There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.” (The Wizard of Oz)
Is Elphaba home? She is now in the territory of her secret lover, but the circumstances are different. When she had last seen Fiyero, it was seven years age, and he was last mentioned in the book as being beat up by the Gale Forcers. Could their relationship have changed based on that factor rather than the drastic time change? Or how is their relationship going to be perused, presuming that they still have some form of relationship, now that Fiyero’s wife is in the picture? When they were last together, his wife was far away and the only change that she was going to find out about the relationship was if someone had found out and told her. Other wise she would not have known.
One last question from English Class:
What is you favourite character…because…
My favourite character is Boq because I loved her perseverance throughout his rejection with Glinda. He was so strong and did not give up on what he wanted. Although the times change and he lost his crush on her, he was still able to have a functioning friendship with her. He was also so helpful with Elphie, and everyone he encountered. He was also willing to put in the time and the effort to help find the murderer of Doctor Dillamond. For those reasons, that is why he my favourite.
I also think that him being a Munchkinland would make him shorter than the rest of the characters, so it is easy to think of him a smaller brother. (No pun intended) I enjoy visualizing what his character would be doing in the descriptive sections of the book. Not only the sections he was in but the tougher situations that other characters are in. such as, travelling to the Vinkus. If it were not for the Caravan, they would be walking everywhere, and seeing how Boq would be walking slower than everyone else and him falling behind would make him want to walk faster and persevere.
The Wizard of Oz. Dir. Victor Fleming. Perf. Garland, Judy. 1939. Film. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138/>.
Is Elphaba home? She is now in the territory of her secret lover, but the circumstances are different. When she had last seen Fiyero, it was seven years age, and he was last mentioned in the book as being beat up by the Gale Forcers. Could their relationship have changed based on that factor rather than the drastic time change? Or how is their relationship going to be perused, presuming that they still have some form of relationship, now that Fiyero’s wife is in the picture? When they were last together, his wife was far away and the only change that she was going to find out about the relationship was if someone had found out and told her. Other wise she would not have known.
One last question from English Class:
What is you favourite character…because…
My favourite character is Boq because I loved her perseverance throughout his rejection with Glinda. He was so strong and did not give up on what he wanted. Although the times change and he lost his crush on her, he was still able to have a functioning friendship with her. He was also so helpful with Elphie, and everyone he encountered. He was also willing to put in the time and the effort to help find the murderer of Doctor Dillamond. For those reasons, that is why he my favourite.
I also think that him being a Munchkinland would make him shorter than the rest of the characters, so it is easy to think of him a smaller brother. (No pun intended) I enjoy visualizing what his character would be doing in the descriptive sections of the book. Not only the sections he was in but the tougher situations that other characters are in. such as, travelling to the Vinkus. If it were not for the Caravan, they would be walking everywhere, and seeing how Boq would be walking slower than everyone else and him falling behind would make him want to walk faster and persevere.
The Wizard of Oz. Dir. Victor Fleming. Perf. Garland, Judy. 1939. Film. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138/>.
The Voyage Out Part 4
The group has begun moving on with their journey. In the previous chapter, before Nastoya, asked the four main people from the group why they were travelling. Igo’s answer was; “A place to die where I can rest, and my spirit go abroad,” The beginning of this chapter reveals that he has found his resting place. He was buried in a sandy mound.
In the novel Le Compte De Monte-Cristo (The French version, novel study.) the captain of the ship dies while at sea. The shipmates give him a proper at sea burial. The tie a heavy piece of metal to him to weigh him down and place his body into the water. Igo’s burial do not indicate much other than he was buried in a sandy mound. This could mean that he was close to water as well. Water signifying emotions, a rebirth, and a representation of death.
The group is continuing to make its way to the Vinkus, and they have just reached the Great Kells. Does that sound familiar? It should. Remember Fiyero? This is the tribe he is the Prince of. On the way there, something catches Elphie’s eye in the water. She decides to rescue it. Coincidentally it is a monkey. (Finally!) This she names him Chistery based off of the noise he makes.
Liir has picked on Elphie for having so many animals. She has crows for Nastoya, a monkey, bees, and the cooks dog. Hopefully the
Kiamo Ko people will let her and the travelling group she is in, stay for a while.
In the novel Le Compte De Monte-Cristo (The French version, novel study.) the captain of the ship dies while at sea. The shipmates give him a proper at sea burial. The tie a heavy piece of metal to him to weigh him down and place his body into the water. Igo’s burial do not indicate much other than he was buried in a sandy mound. This could mean that he was close to water as well. Water signifying emotions, a rebirth, and a representation of death.
The group is continuing to make its way to the Vinkus, and they have just reached the Great Kells. Does that sound familiar? It should. Remember Fiyero? This is the tribe he is the Prince of. On the way there, something catches Elphie’s eye in the water. She decides to rescue it. Coincidentally it is a monkey. (Finally!) This she names him Chistery based off of the noise he makes.
Liir has picked on Elphie for having so many animals. She has crows for Nastoya, a monkey, bees, and the cooks dog. Hopefully the
Kiamo Ko people will let her and the travelling group she is in, stay for a while.
Next Time...
That last chapter was so much better. It made sense and kept me awake while reading it. J I am just kidding.
The story progressed at a well pace and the plotline that I was looking for has been somewhat revealed. In this chapter, because it is the last section before a new chapter begins, there will be a shocking piece of information revealed.
Here is another question from English class:
At first I thought but now I think ….
At first I thought that the story was going to be narrated by Elphaba, but now after over ¾ of this book, I am just realising that the beginning of the story in other people’s perceptions allowed the reader to form a better opinion of Elphaba, before the story begins to be narrated by her. If the entire story had only been narrated by her, I think that my opinion would be very different than what I think of her right now. She could have seemed more evil, rather than an experienced and knowledgeable student that is exploring the Land of Oz for the first time, everyday of her life. She is learning with everything she does. She also fixes her mistakes and tries to make them better in the future. Such as the relationship with Fiyero. She corrected herself in the intimate and argumentative, conversations they had.
This next chapter is going to be good. (It is also a short one too)
The story progressed at a well pace and the plotline that I was looking for has been somewhat revealed. In this chapter, because it is the last section before a new chapter begins, there will be a shocking piece of information revealed.
Here is another question from English class:
At first I thought but now I think ….
At first I thought that the story was going to be narrated by Elphaba, but now after over ¾ of this book, I am just realising that the beginning of the story in other people’s perceptions allowed the reader to form a better opinion of Elphaba, before the story begins to be narrated by her. If the entire story had only been narrated by her, I think that my opinion would be very different than what I think of her right now. She could have seemed more evil, rather than an experienced and knowledgeable student that is exploring the Land of Oz for the first time, everyday of her life. She is learning with everything she does. She also fixes her mistakes and tries to make them better in the future. Such as the relationship with Fiyero. She corrected herself in the intimate and argumentative, conversations they had.
This next chapter is going to be good. (It is also a short one too)
The Voyage Out Part 3
This chapter starts off on a good note. The group meets a new tribe; Scrow. (Sounds like scarecrow, only shortened.) There are only a few of them, and they take Elphie, the rafiqi, Igo, and Pinchweed to meet the Princess. Princess Nastoya, is not your average princess, she is “filthiest, least-educated princess anyone had ever seen,” (Maguire 235) Unlike the Disney princesses that the media has stereotype as being young women, that are perfect in every way possible. Such as; they a petite, their makeup is not too overdone, but they do have some on, their skin is flawless, they always wear elaborate outfits - normally dresses, and they speak with intelligence. This princess has no of that. This is because this is not a princess, she is an elephant. Somehow a spell has been cast upon her, and she informs Elphie that she too is under a spell. Nastoya helps Elphie by giving her three crows, and telling her that she is now a witch in hiding. (Finally a interlude into the title of this book!)
Elphaba takes this rather hard, claiming she does not want to be a witch. Nastoya also tells Elphie that she has been using magic all along. Refering to the incidence with the cook.
“Something told those bees to kill the cook,” (Maguire 239) It is funny how something so strange can happen when there is magic involved. Another line that is crucial to the rest of the novels and connects well with the first part of the novel as well is;
“Remember this: Nothing is written in the stars. Not these stars, nor any others. No one controls your destiny.” (Maguire 239)
This quote is important because it is explaining to Elphie, that no one can control her. No one other than her has the power to change her future. She needs to set out her future for herself. It is not up to other people to tell her what to do with her life. This line is also referring to M. Morrible, and how she cast the spell upon Elphie.
Elphaba takes this rather hard, claiming she does not want to be a witch. Nastoya also tells Elphie that she has been using magic all along. Refering to the incidence with the cook.
“Something told those bees to kill the cook,” (Maguire 239) It is funny how something so strange can happen when there is magic involved. Another line that is crucial to the rest of the novels and connects well with the first part of the novel as well is;
“Remember this: Nothing is written in the stars. Not these stars, nor any others. No one controls your destiny.” (Maguire 239)
This quote is important because it is explaining to Elphie, that no one can control her. No one other than her has the power to change her future. She needs to set out her future for herself. It is not up to other people to tell her what to do with her life. This line is also referring to M. Morrible, and how she cast the spell upon Elphie.
Hakuna Matata...
This last chapter was a bore. It was not very interesting, and it had no real porpouse other than to tell the reader that there are still new characters and Elphie’s character is still growing and maturing, even though it has been seven years since she was in her ‘discovering sexuality’ stage. Hopefully this next chapter will ignite so positive energy within me. I have no more interest for those ‘filler’ chapters. Otherwise known as fluff.
To make this section a little bit easier and to have a bit of fun, here is a picture of the Lion King’s song Hakuna Matata.
And another:
How about one last picture. Just for Fun!!!
Tiemann, Brian. "Image Archive." Lion King Archive. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Nov 2011. <http://www.lionking.org/imgarchive/?character hi timon>.
To make this section a little bit easier and to have a bit of fun, here is a picture of the Lion King’s song Hakuna Matata.
And another:
How about one last picture. Just for Fun!!!
Tiemann, Brian. "Image Archive." Lion King Archive. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Nov 2011. <http://www.lionking.org/imgarchive/?character hi timon>.
The Voyage Out Part 2
The journey has only just begun. They group has just entered into a dark forest to continue advancing on their journey. Does this sound familiar? The forest in the film? Could there be new friends that Elphie is going to meet in here?
Strange this begin to happen as the group moves in the forest. The cook has disappeared. This is similar to the novel Life of Pi (Martel) because; in this novel there is a cook mention, and he too dies. Of course in this novel, there was a case of cannibalism. Whereas in Wicked (Maguire) the cook just disappeared during the middle of the night. It is interesting to see how the novels take the same occupation, portray it as the same role, but change the context of their involvement with the main characters. His dog; killjoy (ironic name for a pet) has taken a liking to another one of the travelers Liir.
As predicted, there is a new group introduced. This small civilization is called the Yunamata. (the name sounds similar to the famous song from the film the Lion King. Hakuna Matata) They are a tribe that reminds Elphie a little bit of the Quadlings.
The travelers quickly assume that Elphie’s bees are the reason the cook disappeared. How crazy is that? Bees causing disappearances? What has their world come to?
“Oh I forgot the size of the human imagination,’ Elphie said meanly. ‘How very large it is after all.” (Maguire 234)
This quote is important to this chapter because it signifies that Elphie thinks that she is superior to the others she is with. This is also a great example of how sarcastic and depressing the time is. Who becomes so bored that they begin accusing bees for doing something so strange?
Strange this begin to happen as the group moves in the forest. The cook has disappeared. This is similar to the novel Life of Pi (Martel) because; in this novel there is a cook mention, and he too dies. Of course in this novel, there was a case of cannibalism. Whereas in Wicked (Maguire) the cook just disappeared during the middle of the night. It is interesting to see how the novels take the same occupation, portray it as the same role, but change the context of their involvement with the main characters. His dog; killjoy (ironic name for a pet) has taken a liking to another one of the travelers Liir.
As predicted, there is a new group introduced. This small civilization is called the Yunamata. (the name sounds similar to the famous song from the film the Lion King. Hakuna Matata) They are a tribe that reminds Elphie a little bit of the Quadlings.
The travelers quickly assume that Elphie’s bees are the reason the cook disappeared. How crazy is that? Bees causing disappearances? What has their world come to?
“Oh I forgot the size of the human imagination,’ Elphie said meanly. ‘How very large it is after all.” (Maguire 234)
This quote is important to this chapter because it signifies that Elphie thinks that she is superior to the others she is with. This is also a great example of how sarcastic and depressing the time is. Who becomes so bored that they begin accusing bees for doing something so strange?
Elphaba is the Witch
A short chapter means a long detailed one is soon to follow. I am looking forward to reading more of Elphie’s travels and her adventures along the way. Although I really hope that soon the book will get to the main point it is trying to get across. I realize that the novel has gone into depth about many details about Elphaba, but the plotline that I am interested in reading about. I want the story to evolve Elphaba’s character. I want to see why this novel is called Wicked The life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Maguire). I want the story to tell me more about why Elphaba is the wicked Witch of the West.
The Voyage Out
Another seven years have past. A new character has been introduced. Her name is Sister Bursar. She is a nun and has been finishing with last minute packing for an upcoming trip. She introduces the reader to a new sister that has spent many years in solitary life and in nursing. Her name is Sister Saint Aelphaba. Sound familiar? It is spelt very similar to another name that has been mention throughout the novel so far. Aelphaba is headed on an adventure to the Vinkus, with an unnamed young boy. Aelphaba does not know his name. Maybe she is lying…?
Elphie as she is later given the nickname, keeps to herself during the journey to the Vinkus. She spends most of her time thinking and writing in her journal. She begins to think about the time when Tibbett entered to Home for the Incurables. He ended up dying there, while she lost her job because of her ‘mistakes.’ Could this mean her personal connections and friendship to a male?
Elphie has begun travelling with another group in a caravan. In this fancy caravan, there is a cook with a dog. Hmm… Passive job, with a dog. Sound familiar? Elphie does not get along with the cook. She does in fact become friends with an odd group. This would be bees. Yes that is correct, bees. The other travellers in the caravan are not pleased with her new friends.
“Can this be true?’ asked Igo, with interest.” (Maguire 231)
This quote stood out because, Igo is hinting that there is uncertainty. He is unsure of something. Considering that this is the end of the section of the chapter, there could be an interesting plot twist ahead. Also this characters name is Igo, which is similar to ego, which means: the “I” or self of any person; a person as thinking, feeling, and willing, and distinguishing itself from the selves of others and from objects of its thought. (Dictionary.com) Does his name help explain how he distinguishes himself from others? The chapter ends off with an interesting conversation on the Kumbric Witches.
"ego." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 02 Nov. 2011. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ego>.
Elphie as she is later given the nickname, keeps to herself during the journey to the Vinkus. She spends most of her time thinking and writing in her journal. She begins to think about the time when Tibbett entered to Home for the Incurables. He ended up dying there, while she lost her job because of her ‘mistakes.’ Could this mean her personal connections and friendship to a male?
Elphie has begun travelling with another group in a caravan. In this fancy caravan, there is a cook with a dog. Hmm… Passive job, with a dog. Sound familiar? Elphie does not get along with the cook. She does in fact become friends with an odd group. This would be bees. Yes that is correct, bees. The other travellers in the caravan are not pleased with her new friends.
“Can this be true?’ asked Igo, with interest.” (Maguire 231)
This quote stood out because, Igo is hinting that there is uncertainty. He is unsure of something. Considering that this is the end of the section of the chapter, there could be an interesting plot twist ahead. Also this characters name is Igo, which is similar to ego, which means: the “I” or self of any person; a person as thinking, feeling, and willing, and distinguishing itself from the selves of others and from objects of its thought. (Dictionary.com) Does his name help explain how he distinguishes himself from others? The chapter ends off with an interesting conversation on the Kumbric Witches.
"ego." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 02 Nov. 2011. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ego>.
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
What about Elphie?
Finally! That part of the novel felt as though it was dragging out forever. There were many details that did not need to be included. It was very informative, there was a lot of information that was presented to the reader, and there were only a few new characters in this section. Does that mean that they are the main focus of the novel? (meaning are they the only main characters?) It is strange how the novel is all about Elphaba, but no part of the novel so far has feature her as the main character. So far she is a sidekick, assisting every other character discover who they are or who they want to be.
Here are some more of the questions that were asked in English class (New and old ones):
My favourite quotation so far is…
So far my favourite quotation is; “You think all this is new to me,’ she said, sighing. ‘You think I am such a virgin.’ ‘You didn’t bleed the first time,’ he observed. ‘So what’s to think about?’ ‘I know what you think,’ she said. ‘But how experienced are you, Lord Sir Fiyero, Arjiki Prince of Kiamo Ko, Mightiest Stalker of the Thousand Year Grasslands, Chiefest Chieftain in the Greta Kells?’ ‘I am putty in your hands,’ he said, truthfully. ‘I married a child bride and to preserve my power I haven’t been unfaithful. Until now. You are not like her,’ he said. ‘You don’t feel like her, it doesn’t feel the same. You’re more secret.’ ‘I don’t exist,’ she said ‘so you’re still not being unfaithful, either.’ ‘Let’s not be unfaithful right now then,’ he said, ‘I cant wait,’ running his hands along her ribs, down the tight plane of her stomach. She always brought his hands to her thin, expressive breasts; she would not be touched below the waist by hands. They moved together, blue diamonds on a green field.” (Maguire 192) This is a long quote, but I feel as though it proves the point of the novel so far. The entire theme is finding a sense of belonging, and through that, findign themselves. The character go through many experiences and with each one, they are able to learn from their mistakes and move forward. (Although some characters are falling into old habits. Shall we say Glinda?)
In the next part of the novel, I am hoping to see a chapter or two in the perspective of Elphaba. I think that it would be so much easier to understand her, as well as give some more insight into her mind, and what it is she is really doing with the secret rebellion.
Here are some more of the questions that were asked in English class (New and old ones):
My favourite quotation so far is…
So far my favourite quotation is; “You think all this is new to me,’ she said, sighing. ‘You think I am such a virgin.’ ‘You didn’t bleed the first time,’ he observed. ‘So what’s to think about?’ ‘I know what you think,’ she said. ‘But how experienced are you, Lord Sir Fiyero, Arjiki Prince of Kiamo Ko, Mightiest Stalker of the Thousand Year Grasslands, Chiefest Chieftain in the Greta Kells?’ ‘I am putty in your hands,’ he said, truthfully. ‘I married a child bride and to preserve my power I haven’t been unfaithful. Until now. You are not like her,’ he said. ‘You don’t feel like her, it doesn’t feel the same. You’re more secret.’ ‘I don’t exist,’ she said ‘so you’re still not being unfaithful, either.’ ‘Let’s not be unfaithful right now then,’ he said, ‘I cant wait,’ running his hands along her ribs, down the tight plane of her stomach. She always brought his hands to her thin, expressive breasts; she would not be touched below the waist by hands. They moved together, blue diamonds on a green field.” (Maguire 192) This is a long quote, but I feel as though it proves the point of the novel so far. The entire theme is finding a sense of belonging, and through that, findign themselves. The character go through many experiences and with each one, they are able to learn from their mistakes and move forward. (Although some characters are falling into old habits. Shall we say Glinda?)
In the next part of the novel, I am hoping to see a chapter or two in the perspective of Elphaba. I think that it would be so much easier to understand her, as well as give some more insight into her mind, and what it is she is really doing with the secret rebellion.
Monday, 31 October 2011
City of Emeralds
This chapter is spread over forty-two pages, and is separated into section by three small decorative dots. This chapter will not be broken up into sections based on these. It will be a continuous blog.
This chapter starts off five years after Elphaba left Glinda to stay in the City of Emerald. Fiyero is the narrator/main character of this chapter. He has traveled to the city on business. Upon entering a church in search of a poster of Glinda, he comes across an older Elphaba. She denies that she is who he thinks she is. This is due to the spell that was cast upon her by M. Morrible. She is to deny anything that she is learning about.
As this chapter progresses, the reader finds out that Fiyero and Elphie have formed a relationship. Fiyero has also revealed that he is married and has children. Elphaba on the other hand has no close family or friends. At least that is what she is indicating, by the lack of personal information that she is sharing. The two meet several times, in private; the spell is the motivation behind this. After their fourth meeting their relationship turns into a love affair.
“You think all this is new to me,’ she said, sighing. ‘You think I am such a virgin.’ ‘You didn’t bleed the first time,’ he observed. ‘So what’s to think about?’ ‘I know what you think,’ she said. ‘But how experienced are you, Lord Sir Fiyero, Arjiki Prince of Kiamo Ko, Mightiest Stalker of the Thousand Year Grasslands, Chiefest Chieftain in the Greta Kells?’ ‘I am putty in your hands,’ he said, truthfully. ‘I married a child bride and to preserve my power I haven’t been unfaithful. Until now. You are not like her,’ he said. ‘You don’t feel like her, it doesn’t feel the same. You’re more secret.’ ‘I don’t exist,’ she said ‘so you’re still not being unfaithful, either.’ ‘Let’s not be unfaithful right now then,’ he said, ‘I cant wait,’ running his hands along her ribs, down the tight plane of her stomach. She always brought his hands to her thin, expressive breasts; she would not be touched below the waist by hands. They moved together, blue diamonds on a green field.” (Maguire 192)
This long quote from the novel is important because; there is many ways that this piece can be broken down. First off; the dialogue. They are discussing how they are being unfaithful to his wife, and she is being unfaithful to the job she is supposed to be doing. In the end they are ‘unfaithful’ again.
There is a metaphor in this piece; the line; “I am putty in you hands,” (Maguire 192) is referencing the gum-like textured solid that is able to move and form new shaped. Completely defenceless to anything that comes at it. This also means that she has power in this relationship. Her being the person that moulds the putty.
A rhetorical question is asked in this quote as well. “So what’s to think about?” (Maguire 192) This is answered, however, the answer turns into another question. Therefore, the answer that the character that was asking, did not receive one. Although there was a sense of knowledge behind the question before Fiyero asked it.
An alliteration and allusion are used in the same sentence. “But how experienced are you, Lord Sir Fiyero, Arjiki Prince of Kiamo Ko, Mightiest Stalker of the Thousand Year Grasslands, Chiefest Chieftain in the Greta Kells?” (Maguire 192) The usage of the letter ‘K’ shows that Elphie is knowledgeable about his social standing. This shows that she is paying attention when he speaks but also to his and potentially other peoples social standing. The allusion in this quote references that Fiyero is a stalker, and this is could lead to him being a secret spy as well. The mention of a chief alludes to a high status that makes Fiyero seem important. It also hints at other chiefs that were not as great as others.
The last line of the quote: “They moved together, blue diamonds on a green field.” has a great example of imagery. The blue diamonds are Fiyero’s marks that are on his skin, and the green field, well, that is referring to Elphaba and the colour of her skin. But how does this quote make sense? How can blue diamonds move on a green field? The author could be referencing baseball. There is a diamond while playing baseball and normally the players play on a green outfield.
Another interesting quotation from this section of the book, happens to be on the same page as the quotation above.
“The wind tore the leaves from the trees. The Gale Force continued to frog-march Animals and collaborations out of their town.” (Maguire 192)
This quote has a great use of a hyperbole. The saying; “the winds tore the leaves from the trees.”, is referring to the strong winds that ‘tear’ the leaves from the trees. This also alludes to the season of fall. Another interesting tidbit of information about this quote is; the Gale Force is the secret police, and this is an interesting connection to the original book, in the sense that Dorothy’s last name is Gale. Which is ironic because the term gale force refers to the strength of the wind ("Bad Deck Weather"). In relation to the movie, Dorothy is in danger when there are gale force winds, and that is when the audience meets the evil witch. Could this be leading to the change in Elphaba’s behaviour?
For the next couple pages the relationship between Elphaba and Fiyero progress. They are still having an affair and they are beginning to reveal little specs of information about themselves. Elphaba is continuing working on her assignment, and Fiyero has not foreseen and time in which he will be leaving to go back to his family.
A fascinating line in the next section of this chapter is; “Love is wicked distraction.” (Maguire 197) This is a example of symbolism. The term ‘wicked’ has many examples that it can be connected to. First off being the title of the novel. Another being, the character from the movie as well as it is written on the cover of this novel is referring to Elphaba as being wicked. As stated in the earlier example of a quotation, this could be the turning point on the novel for Elphaba.
The honeymoon stage is now over and it is time to move on the tough life choices. Elphaba and Fiyero have begun fighting over religious views and, the topic of evil. Fiyero believes that he is a good person and not evil, while Elphie believes that her evil has to do with her remarks/epigrams. The couple continue fighting until Fiyero gives up and leaves for a day. Hmm… Interesting… A faulty start to a relationship can end it sooner than expected.
The holiday season is near! The Land of Oz does not celebrate Christmas, however they do celebrate Lurlinemas (their version of Christmas.) The couple are constantly fighting over important subjects such as evil and the soul. In the end Elphaba ends up apologizing and they make up. Fiyero is next located at the local café. Equivalent to a star bucks. The author references ‘cherry chocolate frappe’ (Maguire 201) It turns out that Fiyero was in the right place at the right time because he was able to see a line up of the mistreated races among the species by a Gale Forcer. Then a Bear cub who did not join the line-up, was beat by the Gale Forcer. This shows the violence and the severity of the economical and political crisis times. It also is very similar to the way that the Jewish people were treated during Adolf Hitler’s rule of Germany. As well as all the other races that were discriminated against during this harsh time. After viewing this horrific event, Fiyero tries to understand Elphie in a better sense, and with this he is able to determine some of her mood swings, and when she is going to say something.
Elphie’s has made plans on leaving for a couple of weeks to complete a ’job.’ One that she cannot say what it is, as the chapter progresses, she reveals that her objective is to be a pawn in the task of killing the wizard. Hmm… In the Film, the Wizard seems nice, and yet Elphaba is the one killed…?
Glinda is back! While Elphie is away, Fiyero had ran into her at a local shop while Lurlinemas shopping. (He purchased twelve scarves. Six for each leading lady he had in his life.) They; including Crope who was with Glinda at the time, went to a parlour for some tea. Glinda seems to be in better spirits then when she left at the end of the previous part of the novel. She speaks so much that the boys can hardly get a word in edgewise. As the conversation cam to a close she invited him to another ‘date,’ however he declines. Her final words to him were about Elphaba. “If you should see her,’ said Glinda lightly, ‘tell her I miss her still.” Hopefully Fiyero will tell Elphie about this meeting because she was wondering about Glinda. Maybe she feels guilty about dumping her so many years ago?
As an agreement between the secretive couple, they both are being extra precautious while in large crowds. This could have something to do with the actions that Elphaba and her organization are involved in. Skipping ahead, Fiyero has stalked Elphaba to on of her secretive events that she is supposed to be working at. As it turns out, she has been hired to assassinate M. Morrible. Karma is a bitch. Luckily for M. Morrible, Elphie loses her clear shot, and does not go through with the deed. Fiyero tries to catch up with Elphie but loses her, at the last minute as well. He returns to her apartment, however she is not there, and unlucky for him but some Gale Forcers are. Fiyero is hit by a club, and he blacks out.
The last section of this part of the novel takes a strange twist. Similar to a Shakespeare play, when a brutal scene ends, a happy scene, or a scene that changes the pace and allows the audience and reader to relax. This last section involves a nun and a battered Elphaba. Her wrists had been slit. The nun takes her and helps her. She cleans Elphie up and brings her to a bed where she goes to sleep. The nun begins to pray for her. An interesting line mentioned in this section that could be foreshadowing is; “a figure crouched like a monkey” (Maguire 220) Is this a interlude to the film, where the Witch has flying monkeys? Hopefully the plotline will lead there.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
"Weather Terms." Bad Deck Weather. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct 2011. <http://www.baddeckweather.com/weather-terms/>.
This chapter starts off five years after Elphaba left Glinda to stay in the City of Emerald. Fiyero is the narrator/main character of this chapter. He has traveled to the city on business. Upon entering a church in search of a poster of Glinda, he comes across an older Elphaba. She denies that she is who he thinks she is. This is due to the spell that was cast upon her by M. Morrible. She is to deny anything that she is learning about.
As this chapter progresses, the reader finds out that Fiyero and Elphie have formed a relationship. Fiyero has also revealed that he is married and has children. Elphaba on the other hand has no close family or friends. At least that is what she is indicating, by the lack of personal information that she is sharing. The two meet several times, in private; the spell is the motivation behind this. After their fourth meeting their relationship turns into a love affair.
“You think all this is new to me,’ she said, sighing. ‘You think I am such a virgin.’ ‘You didn’t bleed the first time,’ he observed. ‘So what’s to think about?’ ‘I know what you think,’ she said. ‘But how experienced are you, Lord Sir Fiyero, Arjiki Prince of Kiamo Ko, Mightiest Stalker of the Thousand Year Grasslands, Chiefest Chieftain in the Greta Kells?’ ‘I am putty in your hands,’ he said, truthfully. ‘I married a child bride and to preserve my power I haven’t been unfaithful. Until now. You are not like her,’ he said. ‘You don’t feel like her, it doesn’t feel the same. You’re more secret.’ ‘I don’t exist,’ she said ‘so you’re still not being unfaithful, either.’ ‘Let’s not be unfaithful right now then,’ he said, ‘I cant wait,’ running his hands along her ribs, down the tight plane of her stomach. She always brought his hands to her thin, expressive breasts; she would not be touched below the waist by hands. They moved together, blue diamonds on a green field.” (Maguire 192)
This long quote from the novel is important because; there is many ways that this piece can be broken down. First off; the dialogue. They are discussing how they are being unfaithful to his wife, and she is being unfaithful to the job she is supposed to be doing. In the end they are ‘unfaithful’ again.
There is a metaphor in this piece; the line; “I am putty in you hands,” (Maguire 192) is referencing the gum-like textured solid that is able to move and form new shaped. Completely defenceless to anything that comes at it. This also means that she has power in this relationship. Her being the person that moulds the putty.
A rhetorical question is asked in this quote as well. “So what’s to think about?” (Maguire 192) This is answered, however, the answer turns into another question. Therefore, the answer that the character that was asking, did not receive one. Although there was a sense of knowledge behind the question before Fiyero asked it.
An alliteration and allusion are used in the same sentence. “But how experienced are you, Lord Sir Fiyero, Arjiki Prince of Kiamo Ko, Mightiest Stalker of the Thousand Year Grasslands, Chiefest Chieftain in the Greta Kells?” (Maguire 192) The usage of the letter ‘K’ shows that Elphie is knowledgeable about his social standing. This shows that she is paying attention when he speaks but also to his and potentially other peoples social standing. The allusion in this quote references that Fiyero is a stalker, and this is could lead to him being a secret spy as well. The mention of a chief alludes to a high status that makes Fiyero seem important. It also hints at other chiefs that were not as great as others.
The last line of the quote: “They moved together, blue diamonds on a green field.” has a great example of imagery. The blue diamonds are Fiyero’s marks that are on his skin, and the green field, well, that is referring to Elphaba and the colour of her skin. But how does this quote make sense? How can blue diamonds move on a green field? The author could be referencing baseball. There is a diamond while playing baseball and normally the players play on a green outfield.
Another interesting quotation from this section of the book, happens to be on the same page as the quotation above.
“The wind tore the leaves from the trees. The Gale Force continued to frog-march Animals and collaborations out of their town.” (Maguire 192)
This quote has a great use of a hyperbole. The saying; “the winds tore the leaves from the trees.”, is referring to the strong winds that ‘tear’ the leaves from the trees. This also alludes to the season of fall. Another interesting tidbit of information about this quote is; the Gale Force is the secret police, and this is an interesting connection to the original book, in the sense that Dorothy’s last name is Gale. Which is ironic because the term gale force refers to the strength of the wind ("Bad Deck Weather"). In relation to the movie, Dorothy is in danger when there are gale force winds, and that is when the audience meets the evil witch. Could this be leading to the change in Elphaba’s behaviour?
For the next couple pages the relationship between Elphaba and Fiyero progress. They are still having an affair and they are beginning to reveal little specs of information about themselves. Elphaba is continuing working on her assignment, and Fiyero has not foreseen and time in which he will be leaving to go back to his family.
A fascinating line in the next section of this chapter is; “Love is wicked distraction.” (Maguire 197) This is a example of symbolism. The term ‘wicked’ has many examples that it can be connected to. First off being the title of the novel. Another being, the character from the movie as well as it is written on the cover of this novel is referring to Elphaba as being wicked. As stated in the earlier example of a quotation, this could be the turning point on the novel for Elphaba.
The honeymoon stage is now over and it is time to move on the tough life choices. Elphaba and Fiyero have begun fighting over religious views and, the topic of evil. Fiyero believes that he is a good person and not evil, while Elphie believes that her evil has to do with her remarks/epigrams. The couple continue fighting until Fiyero gives up and leaves for a day. Hmm… Interesting… A faulty start to a relationship can end it sooner than expected.
The holiday season is near! The Land of Oz does not celebrate Christmas, however they do celebrate Lurlinemas (their version of Christmas.) The couple are constantly fighting over important subjects such as evil and the soul. In the end Elphaba ends up apologizing and they make up. Fiyero is next located at the local café. Equivalent to a star bucks. The author references ‘cherry chocolate frappe’ (Maguire 201) It turns out that Fiyero was in the right place at the right time because he was able to see a line up of the mistreated races among the species by a Gale Forcer. Then a Bear cub who did not join the line-up, was beat by the Gale Forcer. This shows the violence and the severity of the economical and political crisis times. It also is very similar to the way that the Jewish people were treated during Adolf Hitler’s rule of Germany. As well as all the other races that were discriminated against during this harsh time. After viewing this horrific event, Fiyero tries to understand Elphie in a better sense, and with this he is able to determine some of her mood swings, and when she is going to say something.
Elphie’s has made plans on leaving for a couple of weeks to complete a ’job.’ One that she cannot say what it is, as the chapter progresses, she reveals that her objective is to be a pawn in the task of killing the wizard. Hmm… In the Film, the Wizard seems nice, and yet Elphaba is the one killed…?
Glinda is back! While Elphie is away, Fiyero had ran into her at a local shop while Lurlinemas shopping. (He purchased twelve scarves. Six for each leading lady he had in his life.) They; including Crope who was with Glinda at the time, went to a parlour for some tea. Glinda seems to be in better spirits then when she left at the end of the previous part of the novel. She speaks so much that the boys can hardly get a word in edgewise. As the conversation cam to a close she invited him to another ‘date,’ however he declines. Her final words to him were about Elphaba. “If you should see her,’ said Glinda lightly, ‘tell her I miss her still.” Hopefully Fiyero will tell Elphie about this meeting because she was wondering about Glinda. Maybe she feels guilty about dumping her so many years ago?
As an agreement between the secretive couple, they both are being extra precautious while in large crowds. This could have something to do with the actions that Elphaba and her organization are involved in. Skipping ahead, Fiyero has stalked Elphaba to on of her secretive events that she is supposed to be working at. As it turns out, she has been hired to assassinate M. Morrible. Karma is a bitch. Luckily for M. Morrible, Elphie loses her clear shot, and does not go through with the deed. Fiyero tries to catch up with Elphie but loses her, at the last minute as well. He returns to her apartment, however she is not there, and unlucky for him but some Gale Forcers are. Fiyero is hit by a club, and he blacks out.
The last section of this part of the novel takes a strange twist. Similar to a Shakespeare play, when a brutal scene ends, a happy scene, or a scene that changes the pace and allows the audience and reader to relax. This last section involves a nun and a battered Elphaba. Her wrists had been slit. The nun takes her and helps her. She cleans Elphie up and brings her to a bed where she goes to sleep. The nun begins to pray for her. An interesting line mentioned in this section that could be foreshadowing is; “a figure crouched like a monkey” (Maguire 220) Is this a interlude to the film, where the Witch has flying monkeys? Hopefully the plotline will lead there.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked . New York City: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 406. Print. <http://books.google.com/books/feeds/volumes?q=wicked>.
"Weather Terms." Bad Deck Weather. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct 2011. <http://www.baddeckweather.com/weather-terms/>.
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
A Sad Conclusion Leads to a New Beginning
This next part of the novel is called City of Emeralds. The picture on the cover is in black and white, and shows a man and a women, presumably naked, with the women on the bed, and the man undressing. The man for some odd reason is either sparkling or is sweating profusely. There is also a hint that these people are in a large city, because there are buildings visible from the window.
Some of the other questions that were mentioned in an earlier prediction blog, are going to be answered now.
My favourite part so far is…
My favourite part is the conflict between Elphaba and Glinda. I enjoy reading how they are opposite of what they are depicted as in the film. Although films are usually different. I enjoy learning how they act around each other and how their relationship is forming, breaking, and turning into a life-long bond.
I don’t understand…
I do not understand why the Animals are being treated as outlaws. They should have just as much right as any other being. Could this be the racial aspect in this setting?
If I could have lunch with the author, I would ask…
I think I would ask Gregory Maguire, what inspired him to write a re-make of the classic novel?
I was able to find a website online with almost the exact same question. Here is a link to it:
http://www.bookbrowse.com/author_interviews/full/index.cfm/author_number/1051/gregory-maguire
His answer is: “
I was living in London in the early 1990's during the start of the Gulf War. I was interested to see how my own blood temperature chilled at reading a headline in the usually cautious British newspaper, the Times of London: Sadaam Hussein: The New Hitler? I caught myself ready to have a fully-formed political opinion about the Gulf War and the necessity of action against Sadaam Hussein on the basis of how that headline made me feel. The use of the word Hitler—what a word! What it evokes!
When a few months later several young schoolboys kidnapped and killed a toddler, the British press paid much attention to the nature of the crime. I became interested in the nature of evil, and whether one really could be born bad. I considered briefly writing a novel about Hitler, but discarded the notion due to my general discomfort with the reality of those times. But when I realized that nobody had ever written about the second most evil character in our collective American subconscious, the Wicked Witch of the West, I thought I had experienced a small moment of inspiration.” ("Book Browse")
There are still a few more questions, but it would be more beneficial to include them in later predictions.
"An Interview with Gregory Maguire ." Book Browse. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct 2011. <http://www.bookbrowse.com/author_interviews/full/index.cfm/author_number/1051/gregory-maguire>.
Some of the other questions that were mentioned in an earlier prediction blog, are going to be answered now.
My favourite part so far is…
My favourite part is the conflict between Elphaba and Glinda. I enjoy reading how they are opposite of what they are depicted as in the film. Although films are usually different. I enjoy learning how they act around each other and how their relationship is forming, breaking, and turning into a life-long bond.
I don’t understand…
I do not understand why the Animals are being treated as outlaws. They should have just as much right as any other being. Could this be the racial aspect in this setting?
If I could have lunch with the author, I would ask…
I think I would ask Gregory Maguire, what inspired him to write a re-make of the classic novel?
I was able to find a website online with almost the exact same question. Here is a link to it:
http://www.bookbrowse.com/author_interviews/full/index.cfm/author_number/1051/gregory-maguire
His answer is: “
I was living in London in the early 1990's during the start of the Gulf War. I was interested to see how my own blood temperature chilled at reading a headline in the usually cautious British newspaper, the Times of London: Sadaam Hussein: The New Hitler? I caught myself ready to have a fully-formed political opinion about the Gulf War and the necessity of action against Sadaam Hussein on the basis of how that headline made me feel. The use of the word Hitler—what a word! What it evokes!
When a few months later several young schoolboys kidnapped and killed a toddler, the British press paid much attention to the nature of the crime. I became interested in the nature of evil, and whether one really could be born bad. I considered briefly writing a novel about Hitler, but discarded the notion due to my general discomfort with the reality of those times. But when I realized that nobody had ever written about the second most evil character in our collective American subconscious, the Wicked Witch of the West, I thought I had experienced a small moment of inspiration.” ("Book Browse")
There are still a few more questions, but it would be more beneficial to include them in later predictions.
"An Interview with Gregory Maguire ." Book Browse. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct 2011. <http://www.bookbrowse.com/author_interviews/full/index.cfm/author_number/1051/gregory-maguire>.
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