Wicked fans have been left stunned after discovering the meaning of the name Elphaba.
Fans of the beloved Broadway musical have long been intrigued by the iconic character’s name, and with the release of the second movie, Wicked: For Good, it’s back in the public eye.
For many, it’s simply the name of the misunderstood Wicked Witch of the West.
But what if we told you that there’s a deeper meaning behind this unusual name?
The sequel to 2024’s Wicked has been a major hit since its release in cinemas on November 21.
It’s broken box office records set by the first movie, with its opening weekend reaching $226 million, while the original debuted at $164.2 million.
The second installment follows Elphaba and Glinda as they embrace their new identities.
Gregory Maguire’s 1995 book, ‘Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,’ reimagines ‘The Wizard of Oz’ from the villain’s perspective.
While the musical is family-friendly, the novel dives into far grittier territory, exploring themes like misogyny, racism, transphobia, and graphic s**ual content, making it unsuitable for younger audiences or sensitive readers.
Though set in a fictional world, ‘Wicked’ mirrors real-world issues, portraying systemic prejudice and discrimination.
From the early chapters, Ozians face deeply ingrained misogyny and racism.
Marginalized groups like the Vinkus people, sentient animals, and women face segregation and discrimination, while comments about Elphaba often carry transphobic and queerphobic undertones.
These themes are evident not just in character interactions but also in Maguire’s writing style, which has been criticized for reinforcing stereotypes, particularly regarding the Quadling and Vinkus communities.
As one reviewer on Storygraph observed, female characters in the novel are often one-dimensional and unsympathetic, contrasting with the relatively nuanced portrayal of male characters.
Readers may find these elements challenging and must decide individually how they feel about the story.
The novel’s explicit s**ual scenes involve incestuous acts, and characters like Boq visit clubs featuring BDSM and interspecies encounters.
These graphic descriptions make it clear that ‘Wicked’ was not intended for a young audience, as the adult themes are pervasive and disturbing.
The story of Elphaba’s conception adds another layer of discomfort.
Her mother, Melena, reveals that Elphaba’s green skin is the result of a non-consensual encounter with a man who drugged and r**ed her.
This man is later revealed to be the Wizard.
The scene, described in stark detail, adds nothing significant to the story beyond explaining Elphaba’s skin color and further cementing the Wizard’s villainy, which had already been established through other actions.
Melena’s relationship with Elphaba is fraught with resentment and hostility.
Early in the book, Melena casually entertains thoughts of drowning her infant daughter, even suggesting this plan multiple times to her Nanny.
The repeated mentions of infanticide, along with Melena’s neglect and abusive behavior, are deeply disturbing and may alienate readers.
Another element of the book that has left fans of the musical shocked, too – the origins of Elphaba’s name.
The name was first introduced in the ‘Wicked’ novel, as the Wicked Witch of the West was unnamed in the original book and film.
The fascinating origin behind Elphaba’s name is a clever nod to the author of the original ‘Wizard of Oz,’ Lyman Frank Baum.
In ‘Wicked,’ the name Elphaba is a playful adaptation of Baum’s initials, ‘L. F. B.’
Maguire shared that he came up with the name by experimenting with different combinations.
In an interview, the author explained: “I invented the name by playing with the initials of the author, Lyman Frank Baum. I tried Lafaba, I tried Lafeyba. And then I tried Elphaba. As soon as I got Elphaba, I thought, ‘Oh, that’s it.’”
You can watch the trailer for Wicked: For Good below:
