Gregory Maguires tells the story of Frank Baum’s Oz series through the lens of the modern world. At first I do not understand what he’s trying to say in his huge issue soup. However, after investigation and comments from my fellow classmates, I have discovered he’s building an alternate world of Oz land through
current issues.
Maguire’s book address social and political issues that are currently happening just as
Frank Baum’s view on populism in the early 20th century. He uses the main character Elphaba to capture and address the current issues. When Elphaba is born, she is perceived as bad due to her family’s sin. Both her parents are highly religious, but she considers herself an atheist. Elphaba’s viewpoint is characterized as sinful and her birth’s foreboding the upcoming series events that would be potentially harmful for her. The clock is also another device in the story that symbolizes the danger of religion.
Despite the topic of religion, the novel also addresses the issue of racism and
animal rights. The method of characterization is used again to deliver the themes. For example, Dr. Dillamond, a goat, is considered inferior than other species. He could not be accepted by others like his colleague although his research is outstanding and worth mentioning. The head of women’s university, Madame Morrible, is another example of using characterization to present the topic of animal rights. Madame Morrible supports animal oppression and works directly with the wizard. Under the rule of Wizard, the animals are continued to be discriminated.
Maguires touches on varies issues that are widely discussed nowadays. At first, it might seem very disorganized. The truth is, his novel is a real representation of the modern world. Clearly, Maguires is working toward being Baum of the 21st century and has even succeeded to broadway and the movie industry.
Works Cited
Baum, L. Frank. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. New York: Dover, 1960.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked. New York: Harper, 1995.
Gregory Maguires tells the story of Frank Baum’s Oz series through the lens of the modern world. At first I do not understand what he’s trying to say in his huge issue soup. However, after investigation and comments from my fellow classmates, I have discovered he’s building an alternate world of Oz land through current issues.
Maguire’s book address social and political issues that are currently happening just as Frank Baum’s view on populism in the early 20th century. He uses the main character Elphaba to capture and address the current issues. When Elphaba is born, she is perceived as bad due to her family’s sin. Both her parents are highly religious, but she considers herself an atheist. Elphaba’s viewpoint is characterized as sinful and her birth’s foreboding the upcoming series events that would be potentially harmful for her. The clock is also another device in the story that symbolizes the danger of religion.
Despite the topic of religion, the novel also addresses the issue of racism and animal rights. The method of characterization is used again to deliver the themes. For example, Dr. Dillamond, a goat, is considered inferior than other species. He could not be accepted by others like his colleague although his research is outstanding and worth mentioning. The head of women’s university, Madame Morrible, is another example of using characterization to present the topic of animal rights. Madame Morrible supports animal oppression and works directly with the wizard. Under the rule of Wizard, the animals are continued to be discriminated.
Maguires touches on varies issues that are widely discussed nowadays. At first, it might seem very disorganized. The truth is, his novel is a real representation of the modern world. Clearly, Maguires is working toward being Baum of the 21st century and has even succeeded to broadway and the movie industry.
Works Cited
Baum, L. Frank. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. New York: Dover, 1960.
Maguire, Gregory. Wicked. New York: Harper, 1995.
This "issue soup", as you say, is divided into categories that are important in contemporary world. All of them, though, are indicating a potential for making this book a future classic. The main problem of overcoming differences is truly eternal, since a complete understanding between either humans or Animals is impossible. The lesson taught is that any difference creates fear of it and thus the label of wickedness is created.
ReplyDeleteLike you have stated, it is very hard to narrow down what exactly Maguire is trying to say. He introduces many issues that arise in modern day culture but also common issues that have reoccurred many times in many places. I think the over arching umbrella, what all his ideas fall under, would be civil rights. He explores the social, political and ethical components of civil rights. Not only does he exemplify the unjustness in discrimination of "Animals" but also he shows the social unjust and inequality that occurs on a day to day basis, like when Elphaba and Galinda interact.
ReplyDeleteI really like the comparisons that you make between Maguire's Oz and the real world. I agree that the complex network of political and social issues in the story are hard to follow and I think that comparing them to the real world helps to make them distinct and clear. However, one point that I do slightly disagree with is the comparison to racism. The one distinct difference I see between racism in the real world and racism in Oz is that in the real world racism is generally against a group of people that is trying to go from having no rights to having equal rights, and in "Wicked" the Animals used to have equal rights but are now being discriminated against. While it is definitely still obvious racism I do think there are differences between racism in Oz and that of the real world.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with Svita that this book could potentially be a future classics since it deals with the time period holistically by including various social and political issues of the century.
ReplyDeleteThanks Corinne for pointing out the arching umbrella of Maguire's main point. I would like to include inequality into my posting if I have time.