Post #19: Outside Sources and Essay Ideas

The Book of Lost Things:

http://www.thebookoflostthings.com/ this is the official website for the novel

http://www.thebookoflostthings.com/pdfs/BOLT.pdf this is from the publicist for the book

http://johnconnollybooks.blogspot.com/ this is the author's blog

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Lost_Things wikipedia!

Wicked:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manek wikipedia!

http://www.paperstarter.com/wicked.htm possible topics and important quotes

http://www.gregorymaguire.com/discussion/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001729.html themes, discussion board by other students

http://www.harpercollins.com/author/authorExtra.aspxisbn13=9780060987107&displayType=readingGuide important questions


http://www.musicalschwartz.com/wicked-characters.htm characters

http://dictionary.reference.com/ used to look up definitions in the novel

Essay Ideas

I have decided to do my essay on the theme of "illusion and reality" since it is the most prominent connection between the two novels. Here is my essay outline:

Thesis:

In both Gregory Maguire's Wicked and John Connolly's The Book of Lost Things, the framework for the stories is illusion and reality, which is seen in the characters, the derivation of the stories, and ?? NEED ANOTHER POINT (possibly illusion and reality in the society in general?)

Sub-topic 1: Derivations of stories

Wicked-Wizard of Oz

The Book of Lost Things-various fairy tales

Sub-topic 2: ??

Sub-topic 3: Main Characters

Wicked-Elphaba, Galinda

The Book of Lost Things-The Crooked Man, David

Post #18: Other Connections (Both Novels)

1) Real World to Fantasy World

In both novels one of the main characters travels from our world to a fantasy one. In The Book of Lost Things David travels to another world through the sunken garden. In Wicked Dorothy travels to Oz by accident when he house gets caught in a tornado. In both cases the characters go on a journey to try to find their way back home to their families. They both seek the help of a higher power to get home (Dorothy has the Wizard, David has the King), and neither of these rulers really helps them, instead making their journey harder. In the other worlds, both characters make a drastic difference to the society. While David is able to get rid of all the evil in this other world and is the cause of death of the King and the Crooked Man, Dorothy accidentally kills the two main characters, Elphaba and Nessaorse (both of whom have great power). The only big difference between the two is that David returns to the other world when he dies (as it is now heaven in a way).

2) Politics

Politics plays a huge rule in both of these novels. In The Book of Lost Things the other world is ruled by a King, but really controlled by the Crooked Man. The leader of the world is evil and only brings bad things to the people who live there. It is much the same in Wicked, where the Wizard comes and takes over. His rule over Oz brings poverty, discrimination, and forces many of the people to try to conspire against him. At the end of the novels, both of these leaders leave the "throne" either by death or going to another world. Another big similarity is that while there are the two main leaders of the societies, there are also others fighting for power (Leroi and the Loups in The Book of Lost Things and Nessarose in Wicked).

3) Man vs. Self

Both David and Elphaba struggle with their inner selves throughout the stories. David has trouble accepting his mother's death and the addition of Rose and Georgie into his family. He fights off jealousy, sorrow, and betrayal, especially when the Crooked Man starts to intervene. By the end David's journey in the other world he has learned that he loves his family and he is now more a man than a boy because of what he had experienced. Elphaba's inner struggle is never ending about whether or not she is good or evil. She tries and wants to be good, but constantly finds herself thinking about or committing evil deeds (usually for the greater good). Unlike David, she struggles with this until her death.

4) Man vs. Man

During their quests, both of the main characters find themselves in conflict with other people in the society. In Elphaba's case, she believers it is her against the world, and has issues with just about everyone. Her biggest antagonists are the Wizard and Madame Morrible, who Elphaba believes are evil (she attempts to conspire/kill both of them). In David's case, he must fight off the fears of others and his own fears. By the end of the novel, he has fought the Loups, the Beast, the Enchantress, the Huntress, and The Crooked Man (who is his main antagonist). The main difference between these two characters is that David is able to defeat all of those I just listed, while Elphaba constantly fails.

5) Mythical Creatures

In The Book of Lost Things, these creatures include: Leroi and the Loups, Centaurs, The beast-children, Harpies, dwarfs, the beast from the village. Each of these mythical creatures adds to the atmosphere of the other world and makes it seem more like a fantasy. David defeats each of the above, except for the dwarfs because they help him on his journey. In Wicked, the "mythical creatures" are mostly just variations of humans. The most important to the book are the Animals, because Elphaba tries to fight for their rights and the death of Doctor Dillamond (a Goat) triggers the rest of Elphaba's story. All of these creatures have been heard of before in other stories.

6) Man vs. Fate

In Wicked, Elphaba is convinced that other people are controlling her fate. Whether it is Madame Morrible, the Wizard, or Yackle, she never believes that she is control of her own destiny. However, she constantly tries to fight Fate, even though it seems that everything in her life goes horribly wrong and she ends up dying at the end. In The Book of Lost Things, it is David's destiny to "fix" the other world, although he has no idea when he first arrives. He is chosen by the Crooked Man and brought into the other world and ends up destroying all of the evil in the land, which is a great feat that many soldiers had already failed at. Although the Crooked Man believes it is David's fate to become King, David fights this and kills the Crooked Man so that he can return home to England and his family.

7) There's No Place Like Home

This popular line from The Wizard of Oz (which is where the idea of Wicked came from), describes the situations of David and Dorothy. Both characters leave their home, and as soon as the arrive in a new world, they immediately try to return home. After their journeys in the other lands, they learn to appreciate their homes and their families. The difference between the two is the Dorothy does not want to go to Oz and only gets there by accident, while David purposely goes into the sunken garden because he wants to try to find his mother.

8) Discovery of Self Through Alienation

In both novels, the main characters alienate themselves from other people and end up learning more about themselves. Elphaba is alone for much of her life, and spends most of her time contemplating her previous actions, whether she is good or evil, and why she feels the way that she does. David is alienated on his journey to the King, and during this time he realizes that he actually does have love for Rose and Georgie, and accepts the fact that his mother is dead. In essence, he discovers who he is and becomes a man.

Post # 17: Major Themes (Both Novels)

Similar Themes Between The Book of Lost Things and Wicked:


1) Good vs. Evil


In both of the novels I read, the main characters battle with the good and evil in themselves as they grow up and discover who they are. Although both protagonists do evil deeds or have evil thoughts and feelings, they are essentially good.

Reasons why Elphaba is evil/believes herself to be evil:

-born green, with fangs, bites finger off fishwife, female even though her mother desperately wanted her to be male, threw rocks at/bit other children, product of mother's infidelity, father is the Wizard (who is the main antagonist of the story)

-is not harmed by evil forest creature

-is followed by Yackle, who according to the Grimmerie may be a demon

-murders Madame Morrible, Manek, proud of killing them, tries to harm Dorothy and her friends, kills monkeys during experiments, kills the cook with her Bees

-seduces Fiyero even though he is married and has children, is the cause of his death

-neglects Liir, who almost dies and is almost kidnapped because of this, scares the other children at Kiamo Ko

-conspires against Wizard, who is her own father

-leaves Nessarose and her friends without saying goodbye

-becomes a sorceress, works with black magic, uses magic for manipulation and murder

-refuses to forgive Dorothy, even when she knows how horrible the feeling of guilt is and she herself wants forgiveness from Sarima for accidentally killing someone, tries to give burden of Fiyero's death to Sarima

-water burns her skin, there is a storm when she looks out the window but nowhere else

-known as the Wicked Witch of the West

-believes that she has no soul, and does not believe she will have an afterlife when she dies

-illegally assists with Doctor Dillamond's research

Reasons why Elphaba is good/believes herself to be good:

-looks after Nessarose and has motherly feelings towards Liir, tries to save Nor

-cares about Animal rights, helps with Doctor Dillamond's research, sorrow at his death, tries to avenge him

-gets upset when Doctor Nikidik tries to harm the baby lion, feels pity for others

-wants to be good, wishes she had a soul

-helps Boq try to woo Galinda, helps Galinda realize that she has an intellectual side

-keeps Galinda and Nessarose from attending the philosophy club

-plots against Wizard and kills Madame Morrible for good of society

-fulfills needs of Fiyero, loves him, tries to protect him, wants to be loved

-saves Chistery, takes care of her familiars (snow monkeys, Killjoy, Bees, Crows), animals like her

-maunt for seven years, takes care of sick, tells the truth

-loves her father, sister, and Fiyero

-leaves her friends at Shiz for their own protection

-tries to give Sarima closure about Fiyero's death

-feels remorse about most of her evil deeds, except for the ones she believes she did for the good of society

-has no plans to kill Dorothy, just wants shoes

Reasons why David is evil/believes himself to be evil:

-hatred for Georgie and Rose, who are his family and care for him

-jealous of attention father gives to others

-brings beast to other world, his greatest fear

-almost gives up Georgie's life to Crooked Man because of jealousy/hatred, has thoughts about betraying family

-feels relieved at mother's death

-kills Huntress, Enchantress, two men on road

-leaves the Woodman to be kills by the Loups, just saves himself

-goes into sunken garden in first place, which he knows he should not do

-intentionally begins arguments with Rose

-tries to make father feel guilty for remarrying and having another child

-harms tree in other world

-sneaks around castle and invades King's privacy and Crooked Man's privacy

-steals from Crooked Man

Why David is good/believes himself to be good:

-loyal to Georgie in the end, tries to help him when the Crooked Man goes into his bedroom

-good to Rose at the end when he returns to his world

-loves and takes care of his father until he dies of old age

-goes to heaven (good other world) when he dies at the end of the book

-helps Roland find his lover

-releases Anna from the Crooked Man

-helps Fletcher and the community kill the beast

-kills the Huntress and the Enchantress, which avenges the deaths of innocent people and makes the other world better

-helps make the other world a better place by helping in the battle that kills the Loups and the Crooked Man

-tries to save mother when he thinks she is in the other world

-fell sick after he kills people, remorse, sadness at deaths of people he cares about

2) Illusion vs. Reality

Both of the novels are based on other fictional literature, but show the truth behind the stories.

Wicked-Wizard of Oz

(illusion...reality)


-Elphaba is evil (Wicked Witch of the West)...Elphaba is essentially good, but commits evil deeds for the good of society

-Elphaba and Galinda do not know each other...they were best friends at school and grew up together


-Dorothy went to find Elphaba so she could bring the Wizard her broom...she goes to ask forgiveness for accidentally killing Nessarose


-Dorothy leaves oz with the Wizard...disappears from Oz

-the Wizard is good and helpful...he is an evil dictator who only cares about his wealth and power and not the well-being of others

-Elphaba lives in the castle...just staying there as a guest to Sarima

-Tinman was already tin...he was turned into tin by Nessarose because a woman asks her to do it since her maid is in love with the woodsman


-Emerald City is fabulous and full of all of the elegant people of Oz...it is a mess of poverty, abandoned children and filth, due to the rule of the Wizard

-Elphaba and Wizard are not related...Wizard is her father


-Elphaba's only family is Nessarose...learn about parents, childhood, Shell, son Liir

-Elphaba has no connection to the Lion...she met him in Doctor Nikidik's classroom at Shiz

-we assume Nessarose has arms...she was born armless and needed to be supported by Nanny until Galinda makes her ruby slippers magic

-Elphaba is a hermit...she had friends, Galinda, Fiyero was her lover, lived with a big family


-Chistery was born a flying monkey...Elphaba created him by attaching the wings from birds onto him and the other snow monkeys

The Book of Lost Things-Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales (just a few)

Rumpelstiltskin:

Grimm


-poor miller with beautiful daughter tells king that she can spin straw into gold

-king puts her in room with straw and tells her that if it is not gold by morning he will kill her

-little man comes in and spins it into gold in exchange for her necklace

-next night there is more straw and she must give the little man her ring

-even more straw, if she succeeds, she will become queen, must promise first born to little man

-one year later has first child, little man comes to collect, says she can keep her child only if she can guess his name within three days

-tries all names in the land, none are his

-on third day, messenger tells her that he heard the little man singing and tells her his name is Rumpelstiltskin

-the little man is so furious that he accidentally tears himself in two

The Book 0f Lost Things



-name is Crooked Man, ancient

-needs to eat hearts of children to stay alive

-gets the children by making their older siblings say the child's name to him

-then they are both his, he eats the younger child's heart and the older child becomes king of the land

-keeps spirit of younger child in a jar in his layer

-comes to our world to find children

-uses jealously and hatred of older children to his advantage

-dies at the end of the story when David refuses to tell him Georgie's name

-trikster: changes shape, underground tunnels, plays tricks on David

-uses power to rule over kingdom even though there is a king (has power over king)

Little Red Riding Hood:

Grimm

-sweet girl loved by all, especially grandmother who makes her a red cape which she wears everywhere

-mother sends her into the forest to her grandmother's to take her a picnic basket, tells her not to stray from the path

-she meets the wolf and tells him where her grandmother lives, he makes plans to eat them and distracts her with flowers and she wanders in the woods while he goes to grandmother's house, pretending to be her

-she tells him to come in, he eats her and puts on her clothes

-Little Red arrives and is wary of her "grandmother", the wolf eats her also

-huntsman comes by and cuts the girl and her grandmother out of the wolf

-Little Red fills the wolf's body with stones, and when he awakens he dies

-the huntsman goes home with the wolf's skin and the other two eat the cake and drink the wine, Little Red thinks to herself that she will never again stray from the path when her mother has forbidden it

The Book of Lost Things

-lively, bright girl who lived in outskirts of forest, wore red cape so she could easily be found if lost

-became beautiful, turned down the many male suitors, not challenging enough for her

-would often bring food to grandmother in forest, while grandmother slept, Little Red would wander in the woods

-spots a wolf who tries to avoid her, fallows it and falls in love

-tries to scare her off, but she calms it and they have sex and produce Leroi (the first Loup)

-lures other women, some willingly, eventually Loups start eating women, this is the creation of the Loups

Hansel and Gretel:

Brothers Grimm

-parents were poor woodcutter and his wife (mother died)

-no food, wife suggests leaving children in forest, children overhear and boy goes outside to collect pebbles

-next day they all go into forest and Hansel leaves stone trail back to house

-make fire and father says the children should rest while they go find wood

-children wake up at night alone, follows pebbles in moonlight

-when they return, wife scolds them for staying in the woods so late, father rejoices since he did not want to leave them in the first place

-repeat of before, bread crumbs for trail this time

-birds eat bread, children get lost, three days later find candy house and start eating it

-old woman invites them inside, feeds them, gives them beds

-actually wicked witch, locks up Hansel and tells Gretel to feed him so he gets fat, then the Witch will eat him

-tries to trick witch into thinking he is still thin, plans to eat him anyways

-heats oven and tells Gretel to climb in to test temperature (plans to cook her)

-Gretel tricks the Witch into climbing in and then locks her in the oven, lets Hansel out of cage, children take Witch's jewels and leave

-give home to happy father and give him jewels, wife has died, all are happy

The Book of Lost Things

-children's father dies, new evil stepfather

-he suggests to mother that they eat the children and have more later because there is no food

-mother is horrified/fearful, abandons children in woods

-girl is wiser/stronger, traps animals and steals eggs, boy wants mother and old life back

-one day she finds brother eating gingerbread house, she is wary but hungry so starts eating, children fall asleep

-wake up in house trapped in hanging cages, old woman is building fire, can see bones of other children

-Gretel tells Witch to take her first, tricks her into getting in oven, watches her burn alive

-burns house and leaves with Hansel

-girl is happy but boy still wants mother, he returns home (empty), and then goes back into the forest, not to sister because he is jealous and resentful of her

-finds cottage with nice woman who says she wants a son, she eats him

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs:

Brothers Grimm

-queen has daughter but dies during birth, father remarries, stepmother is evil

-she has a mirror that tells her she is the fairest of them all

-Snow White becomes beautiful and the mirror tells the queen that she is now fairest

-queen is jealous, tells huntsman to take Snow White into forest and kill her, lets her go, brings back pig's heart instead of Snow White's and the queen eats it

-Snow White finds cottage, eats and falls asleep

-seven dwarfs come home from job mining ore in mountains, tells her that she can live with them if she cooks and cleans

-warn her about stepmother, not to let anyone inside

-mirror tells queen Snow White is alive, disguises herself and tries to kill Snow White but the dwarfs save her (this happens twice)

-third time gives her poisoned apple and tricks Snow White into eating it, dwarfs try to save her but she dies, build her glass coffin

-prince takes coffin, and while it is being moved the apple falls out of Snow White's mouth and she awakens

-marries prince, evil stepmother comes to wedding, and is forced to wear hot iron slippers and dance herself to death

The Book of Lost Things

-dwarfs are very touchy, feel strongly that they are oppressed, get angry at David, try to fight him

-dwarfs are called by their number, not by names, number seven is exiled because he went to work for his mother (therefore he is a capitalist, according to the dwarfs)

-David asks to stay with them for the night, dwarfs worry about Snow White's reaction, but think she may like the company

-David asks about Snow White: the dwarfs reveal that there are no sexual relationships, that she eats them out of house and home and that that failed to kill her

-tried to poison her with a apple, but did not put enough in, tried to blame it on stepmother but she had alibi

-says a prince comes along and kisses her, she punches him and yells at him so he leaves

-judge says that if anything happens to Snow White again, the dwarfs are in trouble

-arrives back at cottage, Snow White yells at them and makes them get her dinner

-ugly, fat, mean, greedy, violent, ignorant woman, poor english, covered in horrible makeup and too-fancy clothing

-she is upset that David is not a prince or rich

-David asks why she does not leave, she says her dad and step mother moved away, says she is going to stay with dwarfs until prince returns

-she eats and falls asleep, dwarfs clean up, reveal to David that they hide their wealth from Snow White because they do not trust her, tell david where mine is

-David leaves and the dwarfs say to come visit and send any princes he comes across to their cottage

Other Fairytales in book:

-The Water of Life

-Goldilocks

-The Three Billy-Goats Gruff

-The Three Army-Surgeons

-The Goose-Girl

-Beauty and the Beast

-Sleeping Beauty

-The Death of Manius (actually happened in real life, reversed illusion and reality compared to the rest of the stories

Post #16: Character Analysis (Both Novels)

*Wicked

*The Book of Lost Things

Major Characters:

Elphaba Thropp is the main character of the novel. She is born to Melena and Frex with green skin and eventually comes to be known as the Wicked Witch of the West. She has a love affair with Fiyero, and after his death, goes to his home to ask his wife for forgiveness which she is not given. She constantly questions society and the unfair treatment of Animals. Elphaba had a harsh life, trying to be good, while worrying that she was evil. She worked with Doctor Dillamond on his research and spends much of her time trying to avenge his death. Dorothy kills her at the end of the book by accident. This character falls into many archetypes since she is so complex. They are as follows:

-wounded child-harsh childhood, blames Frex and Melena (parents)

-avenger-wants to avenge Doctor Dillamond's death, kills Madame Morrible for what she has done, plots against the Wizard of Oz to get revenge for Animal cruelty

-detective-tries to figure out answers to great psychological questions, why people act/think as they do, difference between good and evil

-disciple-devoted to cause of bringing down the Wizard and helping Animals get back their rights

-hermit-misunderstood, eccentric, chooses isolation physically and emotionally for philosophical pursuits, learns about herself and the world

-sorceress-cast spells and manipulates with magic, gives chistery wings, kills Manek with icicle, flies on magic broom

-martyr-works for political cause that would benefit society as a whole, Animal rights, taking down the horrible Wizard, self-created suffrage, would die for good cause

-philosopher-seeks to find answers to which there are no definite answers about nature and human life, creation of the world

-rebel-rebels against status quo, fights higher powers (Madame Morrible and Wizard), motivated by personal anger at death of Doctor Dillamond

-saboteur-sabotages herself in so many ways, gives up her own happiness for greater cause, doubtful of self, fighting higher powers constantly puts her in dangerous situations

-mother(shadow)-neglects Liir, but feels some motherly instincts towards him

Galinda Arduenna Upland (Glinda) is essentially Elphaba's best friend throughout most of the novel. She hides her intelligence with her beauty and is obsessed with material objects and social standing. She fits into the following archetypes:

-prostitute-promotes herself with her outward looks, marries for financial security, does not live up to her full potential intellectually

-goddess-always beautiful, not mother, protects Dorothy

-queen-rule over others, live/dress lavishly to show status, has status from marriage

-sorceress-casts spells, magicks Nessarose's shoes, manipulates with magic

Nessarose Thropp is Elphaba's younger sister (although it is assumed that Turtle Heart is her father) who comes to be known as the Wicked Witch of the East. Born without arms, she is helpless and very religious, until Glinda gives her the power to stand by herself. Then, she becomes a powerful sorceress and the Eminent Thropp (ruler of Munchkinland). Elphaba is jealous of her beauty and the love Frex has for her. She is killed by the house that Dorothy arrives in. Here are her archetypes:

-needy child-deprived of many experiences due to physical ability, constantly needs assistance from Nanny for most of her life, focuses on own needs more then others' needs

-divine child-religious, vulnerable, great power, angelic towards others

-prostitute-when in power, gives up morals/ethics to gain power, hypocritical use of magic

-celibate-no romantic relationships with others

-queen-rules over others when Eminent Thropp, shows status with clothing and material objects

-sorceress-uses magic to manipulate others, creates Tinman (woman asks her to cast a spell on the man because her maid is going to run away with him)

-martyr-in beginning of book, wholly devoted to Unknown God, inspires others

Fiyero is the prince of the Arjiki tribe and one of the group of friends from when Elphaba was going to Shiz. He is married at a young age to Sarima, but has an affair with Elphaba which ends in his death because Elphaba was involved in inspiring against the Wizard (he is killed by the Gale Forcers). His archetypes are:

-saboteur-he sabotages himself when he follows Elphaba out of curiousity, causes his death

-prostitute-cheats on his wife with Elphaba, compromising his morals/ethics

-lover-affair with Elphaba to fulfill sexual needs not received from Sarima

-father(shadow)-neglects responsibilities to wife and children

-prince-close to having power over tribe, not matured into his own capacity to access it, some authority

The Wizard of Oz is a man from Dorothy's world who traveled to Oz in a hot air balloon in search of the Grimmerie, but ends up becoming ruler of Elphaba's world. We find out near the end of the book that he is Elphaba's father, which is why she was born green. Here are his archetypes:

-gambler-all of his success as ruler of Oz is by chance, he takes a huge risk in overthrowing the Ozma Regent

-king-rule over others, dictator, lives in palace of emeralds, rules harshly

-sorcerer-illusions when speaking to peasants (when Galinda and Elphaba go to see him he appears to them as a skeleton with smoke and thunder), came to Oz for magic book (Grimmerie)

-midas-money maker, tries to mine rubies from Quadling Country even though it is impossible

-pioneer-travels to another world from his own, which has never been done before

-the wizard-interested in science, learning new things (how to travel to another world), physical laws of universe, exploration

Madame Morrible is the headmistress of Shiz University where Elphaba, Galinda, and Nessarose attended as young ladies. Elphaba suspects that she was behind the murder of Doctor Dillamond. She proposes to the three girls that they could be adepts for the Wizard, and Elphaba believes that she in some way is controlling their fate. She is somewhat of a sorceress and appears in the fish well at Kiamo Ko as a Carp. Elphaba attempts to murder her, but is unsure whether or not she was already dead. Her archetypes are:

-disciple-she follows and aids the Wizard

-queen-rules over students at Shiz, always dressed in fancy attire, uses people to gain power

-sorceress-uses magic to control the fates of Elphaba, Galinda, and Nessarose, also casts a spell on Ama Clutch to cause her to get mentally ill

-net worker-has spies all over to gain knowledge, in alliance with Wizard, Grommetik

-shape shifter-changes into a Carp to spy on Elphaba at Kiamo Ko

Doctor Dillamond is the Life Sciences teacher at Shiz. He is a Goat who is killed by Grommetik (under orders from Madame Morrible) because of the research he is doing for Animal rights. His archetypes include:

-alchemist-tries to find relationship between matter and creation of life, difference between tissues of humans, animals, and Animals

-hermit-prefers solitude, chooses to fill time with scientific pursuits

-rebel-does not accept Banns, work against society to find truth through science

-teacher-teaches in a way that follows his own ethics/beliefs

-scientist-new insights about matter, science of humans vs. Animals vs. animals

Boq is a Munchkin who knew Elphaba when she was younger and becomes good friends with her while she attends Shiz. He believes he is in love with Galinda, but when she becomes Glinda he loses these feelings. He assists in helping Elphaba get books for Doctor Dillamond's research. When they grow up, he marries Milla and they have a couple children. Dorothy passes by their house on her way to see the Wizard. His archetypes are as follows:

-lover-his lust for Galinda consumes him and he often fantasizes that she will fall in love with him

-prince-he is always close to being in power (his father is Mayor of Rush Margins) but he never gets any status

Liir is Elphaba and Fiyero's illegitimate son. He travels with Elphaba from the mauntery to Kiamo Ko, and lives there until the death of his mother, when he goes to try to save Nor (his half-sister). His archetypes are:

-orphan child-he is constantly worried that Elphaba will leave him and this makes him insecure

-coward-he is afraid of Manek, does not fight soldiers when they kidnap his family, fights his inner fears to stand up for Dorothy and go to rescue Nor

-hero-goes on a quest to save Nor at the end of the novel, continued in Son of a Witch

-lover-fantasizes about being in love with Dorothy (first girl he meets not related to him)

-slave-stuck with Elphaba at Kiamo Ko, nowhere else to go, has not taken control of own life/fate yet

Yackle is an old woman who keeps mysterious showing up in Elphaba's life. First she is the one who gives Melena medicine so she will not have another green child. Then she is at the Philosophy Club, and then she is a Maunt at the church when Elphaba stays for seven years and gives birth to Liir (she is the one who gives Elphaba her broom). Finally, Elphaba sees a picture of Yackle in the Grimmerie. This causes Elphaba to believe that Yackle may be controlling her fate, and may in fact be Kumbricia or that she may be a demon (because of the picture). Her archetypes are:

-goddess-if she is Kumbricia, who was a goddess

-healer-gives medicine to Nanny for Melena, helps Elphaba get better/give birth while she is at the Mauntery, kind of a guardian angel for Elphaba

-sorceress-gave magic potion to Melena, gave magic flying broom to Elphaba

-wise old woman-knows more than she reveals, knows everything about Elphaba's life

Dorothy Gale is a young girl who travels from her world to Oz by accident in her flying house, which kills Nessarose. She is adored by all (except for Elphaba) and Glinda gives her Nessarose's magic shoes and tells her the way to get to the Wizard, who may be able to help her get home. She travels there with Toto, the Scarcrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Lion (they arrive safely because the Gale Forcers are afraid of her last name). When she gets to the Wizard he says he will only help her if she kills Elphaba. She goes to Kiamo Ko to ask forgiveness from Elphaba for killing her sister (Elphaba is angry because she wants the magic shoes which will not come off of Dorothy's feet) and ends up accidentely killing Elphaba by pouring water on her because she was on fire. In the end she disappears from Oz. Her archetypes are:

-divine child-angelic, innocent, only good traits/characteristics, loved by all

-coward-must face Wizard and Elphaba and is in a strange land and homesick, she is scared but finds courage within herself

-heroine-great feats that others were unable to accomplish (killing Elphaba and Nessarose, help from Wizard), goes on a quest and constantly overcomes obstacles, not by choice

-puppet-subjected to the whims of the Wizard and Elphaba without choice, due to circumstances, must learn to create her own fate

David is a 12 year old boy and the protagonist of the novel. After his mother's death and his father's remarriage to Rose (they have a son named Georgie), David travels to another world just as a bomb explodes behind him (takes place during WW2). He travels through this new world with the help of the Woodsman and Roland to reach King Jonathon and his Book of Lost Things so that he can return home. In this world, David discovers the wicked side to all of the childhood fairy tales he loved so much and overcomes great feats. He eventually gets home and only returns to the other world when he dies. His many archetypes include:

-orphan child-mother dies, father remarries and has another child, worried that people will leave him, this is seen with Roland when he is not there when David wakes up but comes back within minutes (David starts crying and gets angry)

-saboteur-sabotages self by believing that his mother is in the other world when deep down he knows that she is dead, his fear of "the beast" causes it to appear in the other world, fear of losing his father makes him resent Rose and Georgie

-avenger-fights and attempts to kill the Crooked Man to avenge Jonathan and Anna, kills the Enchantress to avenge the death of Roland

-coward-must travel though a strange land, fight off beasts and villains, this causes him to become courageous, progresses throughout the novel

-hero-goes on a quest to get home, overcomes obstacles (Loups, the Crooked Man, the Huntress, the Enchantress, etc.), goes on journey alone, grows into a man, not by choice

Woodsman is the first person David meets in the other world. He helps David through the beginning of his journey to the King, and risks his life for David. He returns near the end to help fight in the battle and also meets David when he dies at the end of the novel. His character is based on the woodman from Little Red Riding Hood. His archetypes include:

-hermit-lives alone by choice but takes care of children and the forest

-healer-heals the trees when they are injured, one of which was done by David

-father-takes care of David and the forest, shows honour, integrity, loyalty, and physical stamina

-rescuer-saves David and helps keep him safe, no personal gain

-warrior-uses physical strength to protect others, would die to save a life, fights to take care of the forest

The Crooked Man is the main antagonist of the novel. He kills innocent children to stay alive and manipulates people's greatest fears to gain power. He tricks David into coming into the other world by making him believe that his mother needs his help even though she is dead. He tries to get David to say his brother's name, which would allow the Crooked Man to kill Georgie and force David to be kind, but David refuses and the Crooked Man dies. His character is based on Rumplestiltskin. His archetypes are:

-saboteur-he sabotages himself by choosing a child to become king that was too pure and loyal to his younger brother

-hermit-he lives in isolation from all others, spends time manipulating children's hatred for their siblings and creating monsters

-magician-uses illusions and disguises to take advantage of others, comes to David for the first time as an old man and shows him his own world in a puddle of his spit

-shape-shifter-changes into an old man to trick David

-trickster-full of illusions (string around trees, making David think his mother needed him, etc.), makes people face their fears, sets people up for failure

Jonathan Tulvey is Rose's uncle and King of the other world. He was jealous of his younger sister Anna, and the Crooked Man manipulated him into becoming King and kills Anna. In the end, he tells David what happened, apologizes to Anna (who's spirit is kept in a jar), and is killed by Leroi. His archetypes are:

-wounded child-regrets decisions he made as a child, sorry about what happened to Anna

-saboteur-sabotages his own life with his jealousy of his adopted sister Anna, has to be king for hundreds of years, hates his life

-avenger-avenges Anna's death and his own life by telling David about what the Crooked Man has done, David then causes the Crooked Man's death

-king-rules over others, but never truly has the power since the Crooked Man has power over him

-puppet-works for Crooked Man, no choice in the matter

Roland is a soldier David meets in the other world who helps him on his journey to the King. In return, David helps Roland find out what happened to his lover, Raphael. He dies in the floating castle where he finds Raphael. He leaves his horse, Scylla, to David. His archetypes include:

-saboteur-sabotages self by going going to find his lover, leads to his demise

-avenger-tries to avenge Raphael's death by killing the Enchantress, but fails

-lover-seeks out romantic encounters to fulfill needs, lover is Raphael

-rebel-rebels against parents and society, confronts by taking a male lover, which was frowned upon and a discrace to his family and community

-warrior-before Raphael he was a knight who fought for his people and did everything he could to prove himself a worthy soldier

Leroi is the leader of the Loups (he is the most advanced), who are part man and part wolf. He was created in the other world because he is Jonathan's greatest fear and when he kills jonathan, he is also killing himself as well as all of the other Loups. For most of the book he tries to kill David and wants to take over the kingdom. His character is based on the wolf from Little Red Riding Hood. His archetypes are:

-saboteur-causes his own death when he kills the King since he was the King's fear

-king-leader of the Loups, but never gets to rule over the kingdom of the other world

Minor Characters:

Nanny-caretaker of Elphaba and Nessarose when they were children, of Nessa when older too since she has no arms

Chistery, Killjoy, Bees, Crows-flying monkey Elphaba has created, cook's dog, Elphaba's familiars

Grommetik-Madame Morrible's tiktok servants, killed Doctor Dillamond

Dwarf-looks after Clock of the Time Dragon

Frexspar and Melena-Elphaba's parents

Turtle Heart-Elphaba's parents' lover, Quadling

Shell-Elphaba's younger brother

Commander Cherrystone-soldier in charge of those staying at Kiamo Ko, kidnaps Sarima and sisters and children

Sarima-Fiyero's wife, Princess, lives at Kiamo Ko, three children, killed by soldiers

Irji, Manek, Nor-Sarima's children, Manek is killed by Elphaba, Irji is killed by soldiers, Nor is prisoner of Wizard

Two, Three, Four, Five, and Six-Sarima's sisters, not able to wed due to death of Fiyero, live at Kiamo Ko, killed by soldiers

Lion, Scarecrow, Tin Woodman-Dorothy's friends, go with her to Wizard and to kill Elphaba

Toto-Dorothy's dog

Yunamata, Scrow-Arjiki tribes

Princess Nastoya-Scrow leader, Elephant in hiding, loyal to Elphaba

Oatsie Manglehand-caravan leader

Lurline-fairy queen

Ozmas-female rulers of Oz before Wizard

Unknown God

Gale Forcers-Wizard's army

Ama Clutch-Galinda's caretaker/servant, witness to death of Doctor Dillamond

Malky-Elphaba's cat in part 3 of the novel (later discovered that he plays a small part in Fiyero's death)

Shenshen-Galinda's friend

Pfannee-Galinda's friend

Milla-Galinda's friend, later unhappily married to Boq

Avaric-Boq's roommate, becomes part of group of friends

Crope-Boq's friend, becomes part of group of friends

Tibbett-Boq's friend, becomes part of group of friends

Doctor Nikidik-Life Sciences teacher, replaces Doctor Dillamond after death

Miss Greyling-Sorcery teacher

Mister Mikko-History teacher (Ape)

Professor Lenx- Math teacher (Boar)

Rhinoceros-Three Queens librarian

Bfee-Boq's father, Mayor of Rush Margins

Gawnette-runs daycare that Elphaba attends as a child

The Harpies-flying beasts at the troll bridge

Raphael-Roland's lover, a soldier

David's Mother-dies in beginning, although David is convinced that she is in the other world

Dr. Moberly-David's psychiatrist

Loups-half man/half wolf, led by Leroi

David's Father-lives with David until his death

Rose-David's father's new wife, despised by David until he returns to his world

Georgie-David's younger brother, wanted by Crooked Man

Anna-Jonathan's adopted younger sister, killed by Crooked Man

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

The Huntress-woman who binds children and animals and kills them for sport, killed by David

Billy Golding-boy who was killed when David was a boy

Trolls-block the bridges, tell riddles

Deer-Girl-one of the Huntress' creations

Scylla-Roland's horse, later David's horse

Enchantress-woman in floating castle, killed by David

Fletcher-man in village where beast attacks

Duncan-head of King's soldiers

Alyson-David's wife, dies during birth of Georgie

Georgie (David's son)-Alyson and David's child, dies during birth

http://www.mythsdreamssymbols.com/majorarchetypes.html

http://rgsmedicalinsight.homestead.com/archetypes1.html

Post #15: Part Five

Part 5: The Murder and Its Afterlife

***There are no chapters in this part***

In this part, a tornado tears through Munchkinland bringing the house with Dorothy and killing Nessarose when it lands on her.


***


The Witch learns of Nessarose's death while she is busy trying to perfect the procedure to put wings onto a monkey (not Chistery). It is decided that Liir (who it turns out the soldiers left behind) will stay at the castle to care for Nanny while Elphaba goes to the funeral.


***


She arrives and settles in before going to see her father. She asks him to look at the page from the Grimmerie (even though he is almost blind). They end up talking about Elphaba when she was a child and Frex says that she was his fault (for being green) and that she was a little beast until Nessa was born. He also says that Nessarose's deformitities were her mother's fault because of her lax morals. Glinda arrives and she and Elphaba talk in the garden while commenting on how the people of Munchkinland destroyed Colwen Grounds when Nessarose died. Glinda tells Elphaba about her sister's death (Glinda was already in Munchkinland when it happened) and describes how Dorothy came out of the house (with a little dog named Toto) and had come from a land Glinda had never heard of. She tells Elphaba that she sent Dorothy to the Emerald City to seek the Wizard's help to get home and that she gave her Nessa's magic shoes for protection. Elphaba is furious and tells Glinda off for giving away the shoes that should be hers.


***


The Wizard comes to see Elphaba after the funeral and asks her if she plans to become the next Eminence and asks to see the page that she brought with her from the Grimmerie. She tells him that she does not wish for the title, but will show him the page if he tells her if Sarima is alright (the army that was staying at Kiamo Ko was really just there to keep an eye on Elphaba). The Wizard says that Irji, Sarima, and her sisters are all dead, but brings out Nor all tied up. She gives him the page (how to train dragons) and he explains that the Grimmerie is the reason he came to Oz from another world in the first place. He refuses her bargain to trade the book for Nor and she reminds him about when her and Glinda came to visit him back when they were going to Shiz. As she leaves Colwen Grounds, she passes Glinda, seeing her for the last time.


***


The Wicked Witch of the West (as she is now known) starts after Dorothy and travels on the Yellow Brick Road until she comes to Boq and Milla's house. They catch up quickly and Elphaba finds out that Dorothy had just passed through and that Boq and Milla adored her, as everyone seems to. They discuss the reunification of Munchkinland to the rest of Oz as well as the issue of the Animals being mistreated. Elphaba tells them that she is after her sister's shoes and is worried what the Wizard would use them for if Dorothy brought them to him. She regrets not joining forces with her sister and dreams of Madame Morrible's death.


***


She goes to Shiz to murder the Headmaster, but finds a new one in Madame Morrible's place. Elphaba learns that the old one is staying in a nearby building and when she gets there, she bashes in her head until she dies with a trophy that says "in appreciation of everything you have done" (even though Madame Morrible is so weak she is already almost dead).


***


She goes to see Avaric because she wants to know if there is gossip circulating about Madame Morrible's death. Avaric mentions what happened at the Philosophy Club and the woman named Yackle who gave them the tickets. Elphaba reveals to him that she killed the old Headmaster and she ends up stying for dinner and wine, while the group discusses the meaning of evil.


***


The Witch leaves Avaric's place and comes to The Clock of the Time Dragon, which he mentioned seeing earlier that day. There is a dwarf there who talks with Elphaba (he knows about Madame Morrible, Yackle, and the Grimmerie). She asks him why Yackle keeps appearing in her life and he says she is Elphaba's guardian angel of sorts. He then lets her see one of the Time Dragon's shows, where she sees the legend of Saint Aelphaba and how she herself was conceived. In the play Frex leaves and a man comes in and gives Melena a green bottle to drink from and then sleeps with her. He is seen getting back into an air balloon like the one the Wizard arrived in (the Wizard is Elphaba's father). Then a tray slides out and gives Elphaba the looking glass from when she was a child, in which she sees herself and Fiyero.


***


Elphaba goes back to see Boq to tell him what she did, but he gets scared and tells her not to harm Dorothy, so she leaves. She continues down the Yellow Brick Road until she meets a peddler who tells her that Dorothy passed by a few hours ago with a tin woodman, a scarecrow, and a Lion.


***


She spots the foursome from the sky as a storm approaches and she ponders why she really wants the shoes.


***


Because of the storm and her hangover, the Witch gives up for the time being and heads back to Kiamo Ko. Nanny tells her that she caught the gold carp from the fishwell (Madame Morrible) and Elphaba finally admits to herself that Dorothy reminds her of herself at that age. She recollects a time from her childhood when her family is in Quadling Country and there is a great resemblance between the two of them. Elphaba begins to have strange dreams when she takes a "miracle elixir" from a green bottle before going to bed and one night she dreams about the Wizard. He looks at a watch and then walks naked into the ocean and it throws him back to shore repeatedly. Elphaba wakes up coughing and terrified because of the water.


***


Liir finally returns and tells Elphaba about what he has overheard. Dorothy, along with the other three, got in to see the Wizard (the Lion asked for courage, the tin woodman asked for a heart, the scarecrow asked for brains, and Dorothy asked to be sent home). The Wizard said that he would only grant their requests if they killed Elphaba. We also discover that Dorothy's last name is Gale, so the Gale Forcers will not harm her because they are superstitious. Liir admits that he wishes to meet Dorothy. When they discuss what they would ask for, Elphaba says a soul and Liir says a father.


***


Elphaba ponders the idea of religion and the Unnamed God.


***


Elphaba has trouble sleeping as she waits for Dorothy to come to Kiamo Ko. She wonders if the Lion is the same one as from Life Sciences class and if the tin woodman was the one that had stolen the heart of the maid that worked for the woman who had come to seek Nessarose's help. She decides that the scarecrow is really Fiyero in disguise coming back to her after all these years. She gets excited and sends Killjoy to fetch them.


***


Elphaba starts preparing for her guests, but is horrified and furious when she finds out the the tin woodman killed the dog she sent to fetch them. She bewitches some crows, but her magic fails so she sends bees after Dorothy. To her great surprise the scarecrow (who she believed to be Fiyero coming back to her) took all of the straw out of him and covered the four of them to keep the bees from stinging. She ends up sending Chistery and the other flying monkeys to fetch them. She is devastated now due to the death of her familiars and the loss of hope of Fiyero coming back.

***

Nanny and Liir welcome Dorothy when she arrives (Liir tries to show off and flirts mercilessly). The Witch enters and Dorothy, who is terrified of the Witch, apologizes for killing Nessarose but Elphaba is not impressed. During dinner Dorothy cries because she misses her family. Afterwards, Elphaba tricks the Lion and he gets locked in another room (after trying to protect Dorothy from the Witch) along with Toto. Liir stands up for the girl and kisses her, but then leaves to go save the dog.

***

Elphaba is now alone with Dorothy and demands the shoes from her, but the shoes will not come off her feet. Dorothy says she only came to apologize and ask forgiveness for the death of Nessarose and could never kill the Witch. Elphaba is now furious and lights her broom on fire and threatens Dorothy with it. A piece flutters to the Witch's clothing, and Dorothy tries to save her by throwing a bucket of water on her, but Elphaba dies.

***

Barely an hour after her death, the unknowing clans of the Vinkus decide to send Elphaba a delegation to ask for advice and support for their alliance. The same night a baby gets eaten by a Crocodile, Grommetik gives a speech about class revolution in the old Philosophy Club, and Glinda has a bad night and is unable to sleep although she is not sure why. The Wizard realizes that his rule is coming to an end and plans his suicide for when he returns home (he also knows that sending Dorothy was a mistake and he hopes she will be alright). The Wicked Witch of the West's death becomes a celebration and Dorothy returns to the Emerald city with the green bottle from the castle to prove that she had been there. The Wizard gasps when he sees it, as he discovers that Elphaba was his daughter. He leaves in his hot air balloon, Dorothy leaves by some unknown means, and Liir goes to search for Nor. The novel ends with: "And there the wicked old Witch stayed for a good long time." "And did she ever come out?" "Not yet".


THE END!

My Thoughts/Questions:

-good vs. evil or illusion and reality would be the best topics for final paper
-will Liir save Nor in the next book?
-what happened to Dorothy and Shell and Glinda?
-did Elphaba kill Madame Morrible?
-the Wizard is Elphaba's FATHER?!?
-what powers the Clock of the Time Dragon/where is it from?
-is Madame Morrible the Carp?
-Dorothy Gale and Gale Forcers? what is the connection here?
-why will the shoes not come off of Dorothy's feet?
-SUCH a good book!!

Post #14: Part Four

Part 4: In the Vinkus

Chapter 1: The Voyage Out


In this chapter, seven years have passed and Elphaba is about to leave the maunts with a woman named Oatsie Manglehand and is taking a boy with her whose name is Liir. They travel in a caravan with a variety of other passengers. Elphaba often stays awake and reflects on her time spent with the maunts. They pass through Kellswater and reach the Great Kells and Liir becomes friends with the cook's dog, Killjoy. Elphaba invites some bees to join them and the group sends out a request for a hired rafiqi to guide them through the Vinkus tribes. The travelers discuss the legend of the Kumbric Witch and the cook says he does not believe in her at all.

***


The rafiqi says they may have some trouble from the Yunamata due to some negative activity involving the Emerald City. In the middle of the night the cook disappears and all are concerned except for Elphaba. The Yunamata arrive the next night and surprise the travelers with their hospitality. One of the messengers comes and tells the group that a body has been found covered in welts and they blame Elphaba's bees for killing him.

***


The caravan is approaching a new encampment, of Scrow this time. They meet the Princess Nastoya, an Elephant in hiding. She asks each of the travelers what their intentions are and Elphaba says she wants to have Sarima (Fiyero's wife) forgive her for his death. The Elephant speaks to Elphaba privately and tells her why she is in hiding and gives her three crows to be her "familiars". She will now use the disguise of a Witch and be under any protection that the Princess can provide for her. She brings up Elphaba controlling the bees to kill the cook since she says she can hear bees. Elphaba asks to stay with her, but the Princess says she must continue on her journey and that nothing can control your own destiny.

***


They leave the encampment and many of the travelers get dropped off at their destinations. They are getting close to Kiamo Ko when they stop to rest near a small body of water with a small bit of land in the middle of it. On this island there is a baby monkey who Killjoy immediately goes after, but Elphaba saves by turning the water to ice and running across to take it from the dog. They reach Kiamo Ko (where Elphaba, Liir, the monkey, Killjoy, and the bees stay) at last and it is revealed that Liir is Fiyero's son.

Chapter 2: The Jasper Gates of Kiamo Ko


In this chapter, Elphaba meets Sarima and her six sisters, who just go by their numbers, as well as the children Irji, Manek, and Nor. Sarima tells the Nor the story of the Witch and the fox babies, where the Witch is going to cook fox babies, but they escape and block the Witch in a cave. It ends with, "And there the wicked Witch stayed, for a good long time." "Did she ever come out?" "Not yet." Elphaba says she wishes to immediately discuss why she came and Sarima says that she remembers Fiyero talking about her and Glinda and Nessarose, as well as the others. Elphaba reveals to her that she believes she was the cause of Fiyero's death but Sarima dismisses the idea and refuses to listen. She says that Elphaba is welcome for as long as she likes and that she will be called "Auntie Guest".


***

A week has passed and Sarima asks to see Elphaba in the Solar. She says that Elphaba will have to stay a while longer because of the weather and offers her and Liir the highest room in the castle. Also, the children play on the roof and Manek asks if Auntie is a Witch. Liir says she is magic and so is her broom, and Manek threatens to push Liir off the roof. Eventually the children lose interest and go find something else to do.



***

Lurlinemas is approaching and everyone is helping decorate the castle. Chistery (the monkey Elphaba rescued) makes a mess in the kitchen and the sisters yell and throw things at him until Elphaba comes in and scolds them all. She gets upset with Nor because she went into her room and took her paper that had writing on it. On Lurlinemas, all of the children receive presents except for Liir, who was overlooked, and Elphaba stays in her room all day.


***


A few weeks later, Elphaba goes to see the sisters and apologizes for what happened with Chistery. She also asks how they found out that Fiyero died and what they think happened. They say Sarima believed that he was having an affair with Glinda and that he husband, Sir Chuffrey, had him killed out of jealousy but they believed he was killed because he was involved in dangerous politics against the Wizard. They refuse to discuss the topic further.

***


Sarima and Elphaba go through some old books that were stowed away in the castle. Elphaba finds a Grimmerie, a book of magic that is almost impossible to read. Sarima says an old man who claimed to be from another world left it with them to keep it safe because it was such an important book. She gives Elphaba permission to keep it.



***


The children play hide-and-seek and find finally find Manek outside of Auntie Guest's room. The four listen while Elphaba tries to teach Chistery how to talk. A few days later, the family along with Elphaba and Liir go skating at a nearby pond. Sarima tells Elphaba about what they do in the summer and asks about the broom Elphaba always carries with her. She says it was given to her by Mother Yackle and it may be enchanted. Then Nor asks to hear the story about the Witch and the fox babies again, so Sarima tells it to her in front of Elphaba, who comments on the fact that she does not believe in the afterlife, especially for evil. Sarima is upset by this because she plans to see Fiyero in the afterlife.


***


The children go into Auntie Witch's (as they now refer to her) room and try to talk to Chistery. Elphaba catches them and explains that he does not understand what he is saying and is only able to mimic what others say. They decide that they are no longer afraid of her.



***


The children again play hide-and-seek, but this time Manek convinces Liir to hide in the fishwell in the castle's basement. They forget about Liir and he remains in the fishwell. Meanwhile, Elphaba goes to Sarima and complains that her children are running wild around the house and need to learn manners. Travelers are seen coming from a distance and the sisters and children get excited. One of the sisters comments that she has not seen Liir in a while but no one thinks anything of it.



***


The traveling caravan arrives and it turns out to be Nanny, who is now going to stay at the castle to visit with Elphaba. She tells them that the Wizard has named himself Emperor, is giving out honors left and right, and is building an army.


***


Nanny tells the sisters Elphaba's name and they discuss the legend of Saint Aelphaba of the Waterfall. The children find Liir and everyone rushes to get him out of the fishwell and bring him upstairs. Elphaba gives him mouth to mouth and he survives and she glares at Manek. Nanny takes care of Liir and scolds Elphaba and the sisters for the treatment Liir receives (he does not even have his own bed). A few days later, Elphaba makes an icicle fall on Manek and he dies.


Chapter 3: Uprisings

In this chapter, Nanny and Elphaba catch up while the sisters pick flowers. Nanny tells her that Nessarose has become the Eminent Thropp and is doing well with the politics. Apparently Glinda magicked Nessa's shoes so that she can now stand by herself. Shell is rumoured to be working as an agitator for Munchkinland's sucession from Oz. Elphaba reflects on the chat from many years ago with Madame Morrible about the three girls being "Adepts" and wonders if this is true. Also, Liir tells them that a fish had talked to him in the fishwell and told him that Fiyero was his father (Madame Morrible used to look much like a fish). Sarima dismisses the idea, even though Elphaba wishes she knew the truth. She reveals to Nanny that she was in a coma when Liir would have been born, so she is not sure that he is even her son. Nanny reveals that the Wizard is recruiting for a youth camp, called the Emperor's Garden, for children. Elphaba tries to find something in the Grimmerie for overthrowing a regime, but is unsuccessful. She does find a picture of "Yakal Snarling", a creature that is part woman that reminds her of Mother Yackle from the mauntery.

***


The family is upset about the death of Manek, especially since the sisters were hoping he would be the man Fiyero was not. Nor begins to wander around the mountains and spots a group of soldiers. She leads them to the castle and the sisters welcome them but Elphaba is cautious. The leader of the group, Commander Cherrystone, says he is under orders from the Emperor to find shelter while they are doing their work in the Kells and they stay at Kiamo Ko. Irji avoids the men at all costs, while Liir follows them around, and Elphaba constantly argues with the Commander and tries to find out what their work is. Nanny tells Elphaba more about her mother, Melena. First, that she was only upset Elphaba turned out to be a girl because she did not want any of her children to have to be Eminent Thropp (passed down to the girls) because she herself hated the position so much. She is also mentioned that it is uncertain whether Frex or Turtle Heart is Nessarose's father and that Melena took medicine from a woman named Yackle to prevent another green child.

***

Nor becomes a young woman, Liir becomes a waterboy for the soldiers, Irji becomes very religious, and the sisters try to unite Commander Cherrystone and Sarima (with no luck). Nor begins hanging out more in the soldiers' quarters and fantasizes about them. One day while she is cleaning their things, she spots Elphaba's broom (to sweep with) but she ends up finding that it is magic. She flies around the castle a bit until the Witch spots her and tells her to come down. Now that she has seen Nor flying, Elphaba gets curious and tries flying herself. After receiving a letter from Frex telling her about how Nessarose led a revolt so that Munchkinland could become and independent state, Elphaba decides to fly on her broom to Colwen Grounds to visit her father, Nessarose, and Shell.

***

Elphaba makes the journey to Colwen Grounds and meets first with her father. She tells him that she is a Witch and they talk briefly about her life before she asks about Nessarose. Frex says he wishes for Elphaba to join Nessarose and help her govern Munchkinland and she refuses because her she does not want to continue to be in her sister's shadow in the eyes of her father (she mentions that she is jealous that he gave Nessarose the shoes). She then goes to see her sister.

***

One day an old woman comes to Nessarose to complain that her maid has fallen in love with the woodcutter and she wants Nessa to get rid of him. She offers to give her some of her Animals in exchange, and Elphaba is repulsed at the idea. The woman brings the woodsman's axe and asks Nessarose to enchant it so that it will slip and kill the woodsman, and she does but only so that it will cut off his arm. Elphaba is amazed that her sister is a Witch. Later, Elphaba goes to see the Sheep and Cow that were traded and even though the Sheep no longer talk, the Cow tells her about how the Animals are living now. Elphaba sets them free, but the Cow says they will be captured and brought back and be slaughtered for one of Nessarose's religious sacrificings.

***

Elphaba and Frex discuss Nessarose's power and once again Frex tries to convince Elphaba to join her. Frex finally tells her about the love he had for Turtle Heart, and she realizes that he will always love Nessarose more because she is a connection to both of his past lovers. Nessa also asks Elphaba to lead alongside her, but Elphaba dismisses this idea and asks her sister if she remembers the conversation with Madame Morrible and although Nessarose thinks nothing of it, Elphaba wonders if the headmaster was right about the three girls all along. Right before Elphaba leaves to go back to Kiamo Ko (without saying goodbye to her father), Nessarose says she will pray for Elphaba's soul. Elphaba says she will wait for Nessarose's shoes.

***

On her way back, Elphaba reflects on who controls her fate (Madame Morrible, Yackle, the Kumbric Witch?). She arrives at Kiamo Ko to find Nanny alone in the castle. The soldiers kidnapped Sarima, her sisters, and the children "for their own protection" and although they had put up a fight, they were taken a while before Elphaba arrived.

My Thoughts/Questions:

-is Liir Elphaba's son?

-Princess Nastoya-illusion and reality

-is Chistery the flying monkey from The Wizard of Oz?

-Elphaba has more power with magic as the story progresses

-importance of Witch story?

-theme: abandoned/neglected child (works for both novels but not very strong topic)

-themes: guilt, betrayal, jealousy

-Yakal is Yackle? why does she keep coming up?!

-Saint Aelphaba of the Waterfall seems important

-more about good vs. evil and the afterlife, fate

-is the Woodsman the Tinman from The Wizard of Oz?

-what happened to the family/will Elphaba save them?