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/>.

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>.

The Charmed Circle Part 8

In this section Glinda and Elphie are on their way to Emerald City. On the way they pass many poor people. Times have been tough in Oz ever since the new leader was let in, as well as the drought a while back did not help.

A great example of something in the real world that relates well with this topic is Dorothea Lange. She is a women of the early 1900’s and she is famous for her amazing pre WWII pictures. Attached is a photo of two young boys that would have been what riding by on the carriage with Glinda and Elphie would have been like ("History Place") The distant stares from people wishes to be with you on the carriage, or somewhere else. As well as the poverty and the poor quality of life everyone has.

Once in Emerald City, the girls realise that there are no Animals around anywhere. When they demand to see the Wizard, they see a skeleton that is dancing gin the rain. Nothing similar to a scary green face with flames and fog. They state their problems and essentially are told to leave, not come back, mind your own damn business, talk to some one who cares, and “Beware of whom you serve.” (Maguire 177)

Glinda wants to go back to Shiz, but Elphie decides to stay in Emerald City to join a underground resistance movement. Glinda decides to continue on her journey and go home. They say goodbye. Glinda felt as though her heart has been ripped out.

"Migrant Farm Families." The History Place. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct 2011. <http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/lange/index.html>.

That was Odd. You Can Say that Again.

Now that this novel has taken itself to extreme lengths and back, it is time to catch up with the girls on the journey. This will be the final subsection of the Chapter of this part of the book. Confusing? Yes.

The girls are on their way to Emerald City to speak with the Wizard himself, about the political issues, and quite possibly begin spying for M. Morrible.

The Charmed Circle Part 7

This entire scene is essentially a sex scene, without the actual sex. The entire set up and participants are on stage at a local pub, and the dwarf in charge has them placed so it makes it easier to “do the nasty.” thankfully before anything too graphic happens, the chapter ends, leaving the rest up to the imagination of the reader.

There is an unusual scent of incense burning in the air. Could it possibly be something that surrenders peoples thoughts and control, to allow for this kind of show?