"Wicked" - The Charmed Circle and City of Emeralds

[GreenCrone]

Will it's taken me two weeks but seems everyone is just waiting for me to go on again. Sooooo it's time to finish up the second section of Wicked.

The Charmed Circle

This charmed circle has expanded with the addition of Elphaba's sister, Nessarose. The soon to be owner of those percious silver/ruby slippers. Nessa is expected by Elphaba, but not necessarily welcome. I'm sure many of us have experienced the same love/hate relationship Elphabe has with her younger and obviously better loved sibling. Gorgeous and armless Nessarose. Does she have your pity? I couldn't really pin down my own feelings about this character. Probably at this point in the novel I'm not suppose to have any strong feelings about her either way. I'm sure Maguire has made her a problem yet to come.
But other things are happening too. Glinda feels changed because of Ama Clutch illness. Has the old lady fallen victim to Glinda's invented disease for her. Proof of Glinda's magical talent, or is she just feeling guilty? What do you think? Whatever the reason it seems to make Glinda more tolerable at this stage. She even seems truely interested in Elphaba. Strange.

Stranger still is as Glinda leans sorcery Elphaba calls it nothing more than entertainment, theater.
But Glinda explains that "It's a practical skill, like....like reading and writing. It's not that you can, it's what you read or write. Or, if you'll excuse the play on words, what you spell." Very true.

And the circle of friends becomes complete with the appearance of a Winkie, Fiyore. What a scene! Attacked by a re-animated rack of antlers! "What an awful welcome to Shiz." And as the circle of charmed friends bonds this section ends with a good many surprises and questions. Madame Morrible makes her move on the three girls after the love-her-and-shove-her funeral for Ama Clutch. Is she recuriting for the Wizard, herself, or the oppostion? Nessarose seems clueless, Glinda confused, only Elphaba seems equal to Morrible. So off to Oz while the others end their evening and friendship with a night at the Philosophy Club. I personal think some books need to come with a warning attached. I found the scenes at the Philosophy Club very distrubing. Not only that, I'm not sure why Maguire put these scenes in the book. If any of you could enlighten me I would appreciate it.
In the end Glinda is goes back to Shiz and Elphaba stays behind in the Emerald City with the Wizard's words ringing in their ears. "Beware whom you serve."

City of Emeralds

Fast forward five years and we see Fiyero, the blue diamonded Winkie wandering the streets of Oz. Happily pursueing his friendship with Elphaba again.

He is a well-to-do, bored, care for nobody who is ready to fall in love with someone dangerous and mysterious. That's Elphaba, the perfect terrorist lover!

This whole section made me think and wonder about people who end up as terrorist. There is obviously two sides to every issue. Elphaba has choicen this path because she has seen so much pain and suffering in her life. So to avenge the pain and suffering of others she has in turn agreed to inflect pain and suffeing on others. Who does this help? How can the old adage 'An eye for an eye' help change the suffering of the oppressed?

Fiyero seems barely aware of the problems in Oz until he begins his affair with Elphaba. His focus has been local, her focus globe. She helps to open his eyes, but when he askes if she worries about the innocent bystanders she keeps to the party line. Anything is acceptable for the cause. Yet when finally faced with that reality while attempting to kill Morrible Elphie can't do it, and in the end it's Fiyero who pays with his with his own, now less than innocent blood.

And where do we leave Elphaba? In a convent. She tried to live in two worlds at once and ends up not being able to live in either. "Come my percious and all will be well." I'm very interested in what will happen next.