Introduction
This past month, Wicked arrived in theaters and received an overwhelming amount of support and attention online. While Wicked explores the journeys of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, it is meant as a prerequisite to the story of the Wizard of Oz. If you are wondering how the timelines connect and who the characters are, keep reading!
Boq (Tin Man)
Boq is introduced early into the movie as a student from Munchkinland attending Shiz. Upon meeting Galinda in the beginning of the story, he develops feelings for her. In attempts to land her, he agrees to Galinda’s plot to ask Elphaba’s sister Nessarose to a school dance. Nessarose grows attached to Boq and, once in power, forces him to stay by her side under her rule in Munchkinland. Using a speel to force this loyalty upon Boq, Nessarose accidentally shrinks Boq’s heart. The shrinking of Boq’s heart and Elphaba’s effort to reverse her sister Nessarose’s spell is ultimately what leads to him turning into the character of the tin man in The Wizard of Oz.
The shrinking of Boq’s heart symbolizes the loss of emotion. Wicked furthers the origins of the Tin Man’s story by connecting the loss of a heart to Nessarose’s infatuation with Boq and Elphaba’s attempt to undo her sister’s spell. The shrinking of his heart and loss of emotion have made the “tin” man hard and mechanical. In The Wizard of Oz, the Tin Man spends the movie searching for a heart as it would be proof that he has love and compassion in himself. His journey through Oz only showed the depths of kindness and empathy that he already carries himself with.
Fiyero (Scarecrow)
Fiyero is a student held in high prestige at Shiz who becomes the love interest of both Galinda and Elphaba. Initially, Galinda goes for Fiyero being attracted to his looks. While initially pairing up with Galinda, it is not until later into the story of Wicked that Fiyero starts to take a liking to Elphaba. Elphaba unlocks a depth in Fiyero and helps him understand the complexities of the world. In a show of love, Fiyero submits himself to the Wizard’s soldiers to allow Elphaba an escape. To protect Fiyero, Elphaba tries to cast yet another spell on Fiyero to protect him from harm, leading to his transformation into the Scarecrow.
Fiyero becoming the Scarecrow represents his transformed love for Elphaba. While he starts off as a pretentious prince, through his relationship with Elphaba he becomes a committed and selfless person. Fiyero’s transformation into the Scarecrow offers him protection from the world of Oz but distances his form and ability to be with Elphaba. However, the movie is concerned mainly with the fact that the scarecrow would like a brain, where he takes his journey and later discovers his underlying intelligence.
Lion Cub
While the cub plays a minor part in the Wicked movie, it holds a major role in the plot of The Wizard of Oz. The cub is being experimented on at Shiz, displaying the abuse towards animals in Oz and building Elphaba’s resistance to the happenings of Oz. In an act of defiance, Elphaba frees the lion cub with the help of Fiyero.
The lion cub later becomes the cowardly lion in The Wizard of Oz. The cub’s transformation displays how mistreatment from an early age can shape one’s future confidence and identity. Despite being saved by Elphaba, the cub was in a very vulnerable condition for most of its “youth.” In The Wizard of Oz, the cowardly lion learns bravery by confronting his fears and the self-doubt he holds within himself throughout his whole journey in Oz.
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