Sunday, March 27, 2011

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

Wicked, by Gregory Maguire, is a book based on the Wicked Witch of the West. This witch is commonly known from a story called The Wizard of Oz. The Wizard of Oz portrays the witch as evil and cruel, but is she? Maguire takes a new point of view on this witch and takes the reader through the life of Elphaba, also known as the Wicked Witch of the West. Elphaba was born an outsider. Different in the fact that her skin was green. She was not accepted by her peers and lived a hard childhood that pushed her over the edge and drove her to this evil state. She was a smart and misunderstood girl that was constantly picked on. This story shows how the good could be the bad and the bad could actually be good. The author is trying to show that everything is not how it appears and no one should judge a book by its cover. Elphaba tried to fit in but kept being pushed away. Eventually she could not take it anymore and sought out for revenge on everyone that judged her. Elphaba has been neglected as a child and has to take care of her disabled sister when they go off to school. Glinda, Elphaba's roommate, is popular beautiful and is considered a social butterfly. Quick to judge, Glinda does not want to be friends with Elphaba and makes fun of her constantly. At one point, they do become friends, but after a murder they witness, they go their separate ways. The nature of good and evil is tested in this book. Can you decide who is good and who is not?
1. If you were treated poorly, would you seek revenge on those who ridiculed you? Why?

2.Would you destroy someone else to become superior and well liked? Why?

7 comments:

Natesa W. 7-8 said...

1. No, because revenge always leads to someone getting hurt. And in the end, karma will get them. If I try to seek revenge I will probably only hurt myself.
2. No, people should not have to tear others down to make themselves better.

Josh R. 1-2 said...

1. I agree with Natesa in saying that karma will catch up to them. The actions that might be taken to go through with the revenge might be regretted later down the road, and i would never want to take that chance.

Sara D. 7-8 said...

2. No, I wouldn't destroy anyone else, because that really wouldn't do any good. People will just hate me even more for being so evil that my last resort for popularity was to destroy someone.Also, just because life gets difficult to cope with sometimes, that does not mean that people should try to destroy the problem. There are other ways of solving issues.

Millie W. 7/8 said...

No, theres no point in it. Seeking revenge will only drag you down, that and I couldn't even keep a grudge that long. The way I see it you live with what your dealt with and make your own luck.

Mrs. Sherwood said...

Thread graded

Josie D 7/8 said...

1. I don't think so becuase revenge is helpful. It only causes more problems than it is worth.
2. No, I would not. It's not worth it to be superior if you have to destroy someone else to get there. I could find a better way to be happy than to get rid of someone else.

Hannah J. 7-8 said...

1.no, i wouldnt. it would make me no better than they were.
2. no, that's awful, i wouldnt obstruct someone's right to live just for a glimmer of popularity.