“Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?” Ariana Grande, actress of Glinda, said during Wicked’s opening number, “No One Mourns The Wicked.” This statement is questioned throughout the entire franchise as we see Elphaba Thropp, the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz’s backstory, and the motives behind her actions. The sentiment applies not just to the Oz world, but also to society as a whole.
The duology dominated popular culture in the last two years. Both directed by John M. Chu, Wicked, encompassing the first act of the Broadway musical, was released on Nov. 22, 2024, with the second installment coming out on Nov. 21 this year. But buried under the sparkly outfits, lush orchestration, and striking visuals lies a political message.
Politicism in the Oz universe is nothing new. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was deeply entrenched in political themes and messaging. Adapted from Gregory Maguire’s novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, an unofficial prequel to the classic novel and film, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Wicked began as a musical in 2005 and was filmed as a motion picture in Dec. 2022.
Its core messaging, though, has become particularly relevant in recent times, specifically with the Trump administration’s use of power. Fans who have seen both the stage play and the cinematic release have begun to draw comparisons.
The first key source of comparison comes in the first act of the musical, with Elphaba’s plea for the animals. In Wicked’s Oz, animals have the ability to talk, being seen in roles such as professors, doctors, and housekeepers. As creatures like the goat professor Dr. Dillamond lose the right to speak and hold jobs similar to those of human Ozians, animals are taken away, with places such as Shiz University being subject to raids. This is reminiscent of the current political climate, specifically with the use of ICE by the government to target immigrants at schools and workplaces.
While the plot of Wicked was written in 2005, it continues to grow more relevant to today, and the additions to the plot for Wicked: For Good are even more relevant to the United States culturally and politically. In “No Place Like Home,” a track added for Wicked: For Good, Elphaba speaks about how Oz seems to be “devolving” while she continues to persist against the Wizard. Elphaba refers to how Oz is both a place and an idea. This reminds many American viewers of the sentiment of the United States being an “experiment.”
The connection between Oz and the United States is clear. The Wizard is our current government, leading with an iron fist; the animals and Elphaba are immigrants and minorities, and we are Dorothy, being led blindly.
Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them? Are immigrants born criminals and enemies, or do they have that label given to them? Or is a certain populist leader the reason for their infamy? Only time will tell if the United States will have the same fate as Oz.
