After holding space for the lyrics of “Defying Gravity,” musical theater fans worldwide have begun to notice striking parallels between the events in the land of Oz and the real-life shift toward conservatism in governments around the globe.
In the film’s second half, the Wizard of Oz, played by Jeff Goldblum, confides in Elphaba, “The people need to have a common enemy.” The film follows a gifted girl who is hated for her skin color as she navigates college life. With a strong sense of justice and empathy for those treated differently, she sympathizes with the animals of Oz, who the human citizens demonize.
In the movie’s emotional climax, Elphaba realizes the Wizard is manufacturing fear against the animals to unite the rest of Oz. For many Americans, especially LGBT, BIPOC, and immigrants, this message feels too familiar. With the rise of conservatism in the United States, populist politicians have spent billions targeting transgender people and immigrants as the cause of economic, social, and cultural issues in the country. Like the Wizard, powerful and influential people use those they see as different to unite the public behind their agendas.
Additionally, many have noted that Galina’s character (later Glinda) perfectly represents white women and their trend toward performative activism. Galinda performs goodness for an adoring crowd, but her selfishness always influences her actions. Halfway through the film, Galinda and Elphaba go from unadulterated loathing to friendship, but only through a misunderstanding.
Galinda convinces Bok to ask Elphaba’s sister on a date – not out of goodness, but to get the awkward suitor out of her hair. She then invites Elphaba to the school’s biggest party of the year, offering her the iconic witch hat to mock her. Misunderstanding her intentions, Elphaba pulls strings to give Galinda the one thing she wants but cannot have – a spot in her coveted seminar.
The rest of the film sees Elphaba extending opportunities and sisterhood toward Galinda, who ultimately abandons her when she takes a stand. Like white feminists who about the political causes they care about but refuse to get their hands dirty, Galinda continues to receive praise when she symbolically changes her name. At the same time, Elphaba is ridiculed and demonized for her differences.
