swatkat | (no subject)

Proof that the Gregory Maguire boards are not always full of stupid: a discussion on Dorothy and the Goddess of Gifts. I'd forgotten all the picture of the Kumbric Witch that Boq had discovered.

jaybee65, does Maguire expand more on the Kumbric Witch and Mother Yackle in SoaW?

There's also some interesting speculation on Elphaba's soul in this thread. While I agree about the parallels between Dorothy and Elphaba - it's quite clearly present in the text of the book - I've always thought of it as *symbolic* parallels than the literal 'two halves of the same soul' theory that the posters here are talking about. I can never quite decide on what Elphaba meant when she said that she didn't have a soul - Maguire is so ambiguous about the nature of souls in his universe, and it gets confusing at times. Do animals have souls? Do Animals? And where does Elphaba stand? Hmm. I need to read that book again.

ETA: Excellent discussion on the Philosophy Club. The moaning over the bestiality and orgies annoys me, but it's an interesting discussion nonetheless.

Threaded | Flat

Oooooooh. Tasty analysis! I haven't checked that board in ages, so I would have missed it if you hadn't steered me there. I need to remember to go there more regularly.

Mother Yackle appears in SOAW, but as far as I'm concerned, her appearance didn't clear very much of that up.

I need to read Wicked again, too.

Oh, fuck me. I just lost my entire post...*grumble*

that Elphaba "returns" through Liir
Through Liir? I rather think he was merely a catalyst for the propagation of her legacy - and his *characterization* served to put Elphaba "first", because he was such an indecisive - and undefined - person. Not to mention the incessant comparisons.

But the most important aspect of SoaW - the perpetuation of Elphaba's ideas - ties back to what I felt was inedequately incomplete in Wicked, namely the scope of Elphie's reputation throughout Oz. It doesn't bother me that much because I *wanted* her to acquire more importance/power in Wicked, but it still rings somewhat incomplete. When you think of it, Nessa was responsible for the secession of Munchkinland, and then became a dictator adept at sorcery. Elphaba wasn't known for her activist days in the Emerald City, since she never accomplished anything and stayed under the radar, until she went to settle at Kiamo Ko. I comprehend her importance to the Animal community - or rather, what was left of it - but how could that (or merely news of her association) have gotten out to the citizens of Oz? Is her reputation based solely on her association to Nessa, her reclusiveness and *rumors*? I wonder if the Wizard did anything to enhance this...

I need to reread the prologue.

Oh, the thread on the Goddess of Gifts and Dorothy is extremely interesting. I had forgotten about what Boq found as well...and eep! Going through SaoW, there's a chapter called Kumbricia's Cradle! And I don't want to spoil you, but it fits with the supposed parallels between characters/mythic figures and/or reincarnations in Maguire's mythos.

I find Yackle endlessly fascinating. Even squee-inducing! And no, she doesn't explain anything new in SoaW, although she's quite present. However, the only version of her we see in the old maunt at Saint Glinda's. She at one point says to the maunts she has been "placed on the sidelines of her life, as a witness" "a guardian twitch" (whuh?)
Kumbrica isn't mentioned in SoaW much, compared to Wicked. Nor are Lurlina/Saint Aelphaba and other legends of Ozian paganism. The Time Dragon and the dwarf were sorely missed, because I found them endlessly fascinating as well. *g*

For what its worth - I finally bought Wicked yesterday afternoon. *g*

I started reading last night. So far I can't decide if its good or bad that its been so long since I read the basic Baum books, or seen the original film.

Nell (still fighting to get through Carpe Jugulum.)

Hm, interesting.

I think the book forum in general doesn't have as many Idina Menzel/SJB/Kristy Cates/Norbert Lee Butz/Taye Diggs fangirls. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they are very good actors, but... do we really need to only discuss them? What about the actual, you know, plotline of the musical?

I'll have to look at those threads. I should also re-read Wicked, it's been so long.