As someone who can belt every word of Defying Gravity (though my vocals do not compare to that of queer icon and total powerhouse Cynthia Erivo), I have been counting down the days till the release of Wicked: For Good since Wicked: Part One hit cinemas last November. The film is the long-anticipated adaptation telling the story of the second act of one of the most beloved musicals, which has spellbound audiences across the world for over twenty years. After twelve long months, the day has finally come. While I cannot contain my excitement (and will be promptly running to my local cinema, popcorn and branded Wicked cup in hand), I want to take a moment to reflect on the message of Elphaba's story and what it means for us as people who yearn for justice.
Spoiler warning: this blog will contain discussion of plot points from the musical and the subsequent film adaptations!
What is Wicked about?
Wicked (Part One and For Good) is based on the long-running musical of the same name, inspired by Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire (1995) and The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (1900), adapted for screen in 1939. The musical tells the story of Elphaba Thropp, who was born with green skin and magical abilities, and we follow her story as she tries to navigate a world that does not accept her. The Wizard rules over the land, and she believes that if she can prove her worth she will be able to meet him and he will fulfil her heart's desire to be 'degreenified'. During her time at Shiz University, Elphaba becomes aware of the mistreatment of the animals in Oz and decides to take a stand. When she does eventually get to meet the Wizard, she decides not to ask to change her skin colour, stating instead that “my heart’s desire is for you to help the animals”. He uses her wish to trick her into transforming his monkey guards into flying spies for his regime, and upon realising that the Wizard is not only powerless but plans to utilise Elphaba’s magic to oppress and control, she flees with the Grimmerie (a magic book only she can read). In response, her former sorcery professor Madame Morrible (an accomplice to the Wizard), decrees throughout Oz that Elphaba is a Wicked Witch who changed the monkeys for her own benefit and that her green skin is “but an outward manifestorium of her twisted nature.”
Elphaba's Fight Against Injustice
Despite the backlash she faces, and the Oz-wide moral panic about her, Elphaba continues to fight for what is right. It costs her everything. She loses all she had worked so hard to achieve; the life and the luxuries the Wizard promised her, as well as her relationships with her beloved sister Nessarose and her best friend Glinda. In her eyes, the life she had dreamt of in exchange for complicity with injustice is much too high a cost. Instead, she chooses to trust her instincts, close her eyes and leap. Elphaba embraces the life of a fugitive activist and pledges to continue to help the animals knowing that there will be some things she cannot change but till she tries she’ll never know. She is no longer afraid of what people think of her - fighting for what is right is more important.
The message of Wicked in other contexts
While Elphaba’s story is rooted in the fantastical land of Oz, its themes resonate deeply with real-world examples of individuals who chose principle over popularity, even when the cost was immense. Standing against injustice often means stepping into isolation, misunderstanding, and even danger; but history and faith traditions remind us that such sacrifices can transform the world.
One of the most profound examples comes from Jesus. Jesus willingly gave up His life for humanity and the forgiveness of sins, embodying the ultimate act of selfless love. Throughout His ministry, He endured rejection and scorn. He was “despised and rejected by mankind”, yet he persisted in proclaiming a radical message of grace and justice (Isaiah 53:3–5). His choice to confront systems of oppression and hypocrisy, rather than conform to them, cost Him everything - yet it became the cornerstone of redemption.
The disciples who followed Him faced similar trials. Their commitment to spreading the gospel and living out Christ’s vision of love led to persecution, imprisonment, and martyrdom. They understood that faith was not passive; it demanded courage to challenge entrenched power structures and advocate for the marginalized.