Spoilers ahead for the Wicked stage musical and movies, books, and The Wizard of Oz.

“Are people born wicked? Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?” These questions come up at the start of Wicked. As the story progresses, it becomes clear “wicked” says more about the people doing the labeling than the person being labeled.

This is one of the many reasons why Wicked has engaged audiences, especially when people are divided over what wickedness means. Why is certain conduct so obviously wicked to some people but perfectly acceptable to others? How should we respond when we see things we know are morally wrong, while others ignore or approve of them?

Value judgments like “wicked” have always been used for social control. Some behaviors are encouraged by being labeled “good,” and others are discouraged by being labeled “bad” or “wicked.” These values are instilled in us even before we learn how to speak. We get rewarded for being good and doing good things, and we’re punished for being bad and doing bad things. We soon learn the importance of being good and condemning what is bad.

But how do we determine what’s good and bad? We can point to various authorities and religious texts, but how did they identify good and bad? Who made this distinction and why?

Wicked points out what’s considered good and bad can be arbitrary, easily changed, and used by unscrupulous parties to manipulate a population to their personal advantage. The Wizard gives away the game himself in the Act II song “Wonderful.”

A man’s called a traitor or liberator.
A rich man’s a thief or philanthropist.
Is one a crusader or ruthless invader?
It’s all in which label is able to persist.

This is what the Wizard does in Wicked. The Animals were equals with the Humans in Oz, and they held positions of prestige in their society. That was until they became literal scapegoats for the problems in Oz. They were stripped of their rights, jobs, and even their ability to speak. But the Wizard and his supporters wouldn’t have gotten away with persecuting the Animals until they first convinced Humans that Animals speaking and having equal rights was somehow wicked. You can think of real-world examples of how various groups were demonized and dehumanized before they were persecuted.

So when Dr. Dillamond was dragged away by the horns from his classroom, most of his students just sat and watched—except for Elphaba and Fiyero. Dr. Dillamond wasn’t a friend or an esteemed professor to those students. He was just a filthy goat.

As you look at the diverse cast of Ozians in the Wicked movie, you wonder who will get marginalized next. LGBTQ+ Ozians? Munchkins? Wheelchair users? If a once respected segment of Oz like the Animals can get demonized and persecuted, who’s safe? Anyone can get labeled wicked.

That’s the other use of “wicked.” It’s not just to get people to follow the rules; it keeps people from questioning them. Elphaba defies more than gravity as she reveals the man behind the curtain. The Wizard has no power, but he compensates for it by using manipulation, fear-mongering, and a considerable amount of showmanship. (Doesn’t that sound like certain public figures we know?) By revealing the truth, Elphaba gets cast out by Ozian society and painted as the ultimate villain. She is depicted as so vile that “wicked” becomes part of her new name. She may be flying free, but she is flying solo—and in fear for her life.

That is the power and danger of “wicked.” It can control society, stifle dissent, and keep others from speaking out. Glinda was never going to get on that broom with Elphaba, no matter how much she wanted to or how right she knew it was. The cost to her was too high, especially coming from a life of privilege. When we see what happens to Fiyero in Act II, Glinda’s fears were justified. It is too easy to play along or let the poppies put us to sleep. But playing it safe is no guarantee of safety. When the Wizard no longer finds you useful, he’ll get rid of you too.

We need to pay attention and ask questions. Are these supposedly “wicked” people actually harming others, or are they just trying to live their lives? What are these people trying to tell us that we need to hear? And what about those doing the labeling? Why are they targeting those people? What do they want to accomplish? And are they the ones harming others? Are their accusations actually confessions?

The true distinction between good and evil isn’t arbitrary. We know injustice, cruelty, and greed when we see it. We can feel the pain of others. Empathy, compassion, and kindness are at the core of our humanity. We don’t need a wizard to tell us what is right and what is actually wicked.

So when you hear some group is being attacked as evil, pay attention to that man behind the curtain.

Related topics:

How to be smarter How to write about heroes (and be one) Only empathy can save us now How to be angry

Powered by YARPP.