CC Book Club-Wicked:The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
The discussion questions are being posted to provoke thought while reading the novel. I'll come in here and randomly post more questions until we officially open this thread for discussion around the 25th of the month. FYI....All these questions are found in the back of the book in the Reader's Group Guide.
Please do not post any responces at this time.
1. Gregory Maguire fashioned the name of Elphaba (pronounced EL-fa-ba) from the initials of the author of The Wizard of Oz, Lyman Frank Baum - L-F-B - Elphaba. Wicked derives some of its power from the popularity of its source material. Does meeting up with familiar characters and famous fictional situations require more patience and effort on the part of the reader, or less?
2. The novel opens with a scene in which the Witch overhears Dorothy, the Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodman gossiping about her. She's "possessed by demons," they say. "She was castrated at birth...she was an abused child...she's a dangerous tyrant." How does this scene set the stage for the story, and what themes does it introduce?
ONLY POSTING TO PROVOKE THOUGHT! PLEASE DO NOT POST RESPONCES YET!
3. What is the significance of Elphaba's green skin? What are the rewards of being so different, and what are the drawbacks? In Oz -- and in the real world -- what are the meanings associated with the color green, and are any of them pertinent to Elphaba's character?
4. One of Wicked's key themes is the nature and roots of evil. What are the theories that Maguire sets out? Is Elphaba evil? Are her actions evil? Is there such a thing as evil, a free-floating power in the universe like time or gravity? Or is evil an attribute of the actions of human beings? (Hint: Turn to pages 231 and 370 for scenes that will draw you into the conversation.)
Posting more thought questions. We open for discussion later this week!
5. The first section of the book ends powerfully but enigmatically when the young Elphaba is discovered under the dock, cradled in the paws of a magical beast as if sitting on a throne. How do you interpret this scene, and what do you think it foretells, if anything?
6. The place of Animals in society is an important theme in Wicked. Why does Elphaba make it her mission to fight for Animal rights? How else does social class define Oz, and why?
7. Galinda reasoned that because she was beautiful she was significant, though what she signified, and to whom, was not clear to her yet" (page 65). Discuss the transformation of Galinda, shallow Shiz student, to Glinda the Good Witch. How does she change -- and by how much? What is her eventual "significance," both in Oz and in the story?
8. Discuss the importance of the Clock of the Time Dragon. Does the Clock simply reflect events, or does it shape them? Why is it significant that Elphaba was born inside it? That Turtle Heart was killed by it? What revelations does it offer to Elphaba and the reader when she reencounters it at the end of the book?
9. Discuss the importance of the Clock of the Time Dragon. Does the Clock simply reflect events, or does it shape them? Why is it significant that Elphaba was born inside it? That Turtle Heart was killed by it? What revelations does it offer to Elphaba and the reader when she reencounters it at the end of the book?
10. Discuss the ways in which Elphaba's determination and willfulness lend purpose and order to her life, and the cost of being such a strong character. Elphaba isn't the only strong female character in Wicked. How do Nessarose, Glinda, and Sarima deal with the issues of power and control? Where do each of them draw strength from? Is the world of Maguire's Oz more or less patriarchal than millennial America?
11. Wicked is an epic story, built along the lines of a Shakespearean or Greek tragedy, in which the seeds of Elphaba's destiny are all sown early in the novel. How much of Elphaba's career is predestined, and how much choice does she have? Do you think that she was no more than a puppet of the Wizard or Madame Morrible, as she fears?
12. Early in their unlikely friendship, Galinda catches a glimpse of Elphaba and thinks she "looked like something between an animal and an Animal, like something more than life but not quite Life" (pages 78-79). Discuss the dual, and sometimes contradictory, nature of Elphaba's character. Why does Elphaba insist that she doesn't have a soul?
13. Who or what is Yackle? Where does she appear in the story, and what role does she serve in Elphaba's life? Is she good or evil -- both or neither?
14. Was Elphaba's story essentially a tragedy or a triumph? Did she fail at every major endeavor, and thus fail at life; or because she refused to give up or change to suit the opinions of others, was her life a success? Is there a possibility that Dorothy's "baptismal splash" redeemed Elphaba on her deathbed, or was this the final indignity in a life of miserable mistakes?
Ok, I fully intended to do my homework and have answers to the questions prepared ahead of time, but didn't happen. So here are my thoughts quickly. I hope we have some good discussions on this book. I'm also anxious to see what all of your comments and views are. I'm sure I didn't read as deeply into the book as I could have and I'll be interested to hear opinions that I might not have thought of.
1. Gregory Maguire fashioned the name of Elphaba (pronounced EL-fa-ba) from the initials of the author of The Wizard of Oz, Lyman Frank Baum - L-F-B - Elphaba. Wicked derives some of its power from the popularity of its source material. Does meeting up with familiar characters and famous fictional situations require more patience and effort on the part of the reader, or less?
I thought it required more patience to read the book knowing the Wizard of Oz. I was constinatly trying to figure out how these characters were going to end up in the version I knew. So I had to sit back and try to be patient and see how it would all unfold. 2. The novel opens with a scene in which the Witch overhears Dorothy, the Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodman gossiping about her. She's "possessed by demons," they say. "She was castrated at birth...she was an abused child...she's a dangerous tyrant." How does this scene set the stage for the story, and what themes does it introduce?
I actually thought the opening scene made me think her childhood was much worse than I ended up thinking it was.
3. What is the significance of Elphaba's green skin? What are the rewards of being so different, and what are the drawbacks? In Oz -- and in the real world -- what are the meanings associated with the color green, and are any of them pertinent to Elphaba's character?
When I think of green, I think of nature. So I guess the signifigance (for me) is that she was very intune to nature and animals.
4. One of Wicked's key themes is the nature and roots of evil. What are the theories that Maguire sets out? Is Elphaba evil? Are her actions evil? Is there such a thing as evil, a free-floating power in the universe like time or gravity? Or is evil an attribute of the actions of human beings? (Hint: Turn to pages 231 and 370 for scenes that will draw you into the conversation.)
I don't believe that Elphaba was evil. I don't think a truly evil person would have the ability to love. And she did feel love. I feel that in this case her actions could be seen as evil but not necessarily her. I think she wanted to be thought of as more evil than she really was.
I'll be back later to answer more and to comment on anybody else who has posted. Gotta sneak in and out of here while trying to actually get some work done.
Last edited by Chris~n~Jen; 04-27-2006 at 07:14 AM.
1. I also thought it required more patience.. It was hard reading a different perspective on the characters I already thought I knew.
2. I think it lets the reader begin to feel some compassion for Elphaba.. going into the story you're aware that something had to happen to make her that way.. she wasnt just a wicked old witch without reason as she was in the movie.
3. Her green skin showed that she just want going to be an ordinary person..maybe even be a bit out there. I think the rewards are, it taught her to be dependant and to think for herself. It also gave her a lot of compassion for other characters who were in a sense, like her, broken to some extent. Also Jealousy is the color most often associated with green. I think it showed that Elphaba was somewhat jealous of people who could have "normal" lives and she was obviously jealous of her sister.
4. I dont think Elphaba was evil at all. I think in a way, towards the end she wanted people to think of her as a little evil but also as a little heroic. To me, as I got more into this book, it showed that there is no pure evil & there is no pure good. Instead there's a nice shade of grey where good goes along with evil and vice versa.
5. I think it foretells how she is able to get along with beasts..
6. I think she makes it her mission, because it doesnt seem that anyone else really cares.. and she does. It seems the higher the class the less compassion for Animals.
7. I think she is def. less judgemental of others as a result of the frienship she and elphaba shared. I dont think she changed all that much though. I think she was important to the people she helped. obviosly in Oz she helps dorothy to find her way home. In the story she has the shoes removed from munchkinland in order to keep the land & people safe.
8. I was a bit confused on the whole time clock concept.. I think it told what was going to happen in the future... but i cant be sure.
I haven't read it yet but would love to know if you recommend this book!
I have to say that in the almost end (on page 372 of 406), I have enjoyed this book. Although the beginning was really slow and a lot of times it seemed over my head. There seems to be a lot of symbolizm in the book. So if you like that kind of thing, then this book is great! But if your looking for an "easy" read, this certainly isn't it. I found myself re-reading several parts because I just felt like I had no idea what was going on. Just my opinion FWIW!
CC Book Club-Wicked:The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
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