Wicked+Witch

Wicked Witch of the West By: MaryCate Muschett

The Wicked Witch of the West exemplifies a malicious and malevolent villain within the 1939 film __The Wizard of Oz.__ The Wicked Witch’s only desire is to acquire her deceased sister’s pair of “ruby slippers” which will provide her with extraordinary power; she will commit any deed, no matter how nefarious or dreadful the act may be, to obtain these shoes. The first encounter between the Witch and Dorothy Gale, the protagonist of the story, displays the Witch’s unpleasant nature. After realizing that it had been Dorothy who inadvertently killed her sister and bore the coveted ruby slippers, the Witch declares, “I’ll get you my pretty, and your little dog too!” The Witch articulates this in a vile voice, deviously cackling as she threatens to harm the hero. Later in the movie, the Witch’s spiteful manner can be seen again when she attempts to poison Dorothy and her comrades, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, by placing toxins within “poppies”. Although this iniquitous plan does not succeed, the witch had intended for the flowers’ pleasant aromas to allure the group and then duplicitously kill them. The Wicked Witch finally prevails in capturing Dorothy to only understand that the “ruby slippers” may not be removed from the heroine’s feet while she is alive. The Witch’s despicable determination to bear the slippers and wield their tremendous power permits her to announce that she will have to eradicate Dorothy. In the end, Dorothy triumphs by throwing a bucket of water on her, melting the Witch into nonexistence. Throughout the film, the Wicked Witch is epitomized as a villain for her relentless desire to seize the ruby slippers and wreak havoc on Dorothy Gale. The Witch’s violent reaction to water (melting) revealed the character’s dry and desolate existence. No one in the story had any affection for the Witch, for even her loyal guards rejoice at her death. The Witch of the West truly is a ‘wicked’ villain.

Physical Qualities: 1.) The Witch’s verdant skin color displays a gruesome complexion. The color green may be associated with envy, death, sickness, and the devil. Her skin pigment immediately indicates to others that she is an unnatural, horrid, and sadistic individual. 2.) Her face is not smoothly rounded, nor is it appeasing to the eye. The witch’s chin and nose are acuminous, jutting out from her countenance. Her features are dreadfully sharp and angular. 3.) The Wicked Witch’s eyes are dark and unsettling. Her intimidating and disconcerting gaze inflicts discomfort on whoever she glares upon. 4.) The Wicked Witch’s affinity for dark objects can be seen in her wardrobe. The Witch simply sports her black dress and long, black cape; she dons her black, pointed hat upon her head to finalize the gloomy fashion. 5.) Her unkempt hair, dilapidated broom, overgrown fingernails, and bushy eyebrows exhibit the Witch’s untidy nature and indifference to hygiene. She neglects any efforts to sustain cleanliness and purity in her life. Video:media type="custom" key="7175559" width="130" height="130"