The Wicked Witch of the East, also known as Maleficent, is a prominent character in the classic novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum, as well as in the popular 1939 film adaptation. This witch is often overshadowed by her more infamous counterpart, the Wicked Witch of the West, but she still holds a significant role in the story. The Maleficent witch from the east is first introduced when a tornado carries Dorothy and her house to the magical Land of Oz. As Dorothy's house lands, it tragically crushes the Wicked Witch of the East, leaving only her feet sticking out from under the house. This event sets the stage for Dorothy's journey and triggers the plot of the story.
The Wicked Witch of the East is the overarching antagonist of the 2005 musical fantasy film The Muppets' Wizard of Oz. She is an evil witch who rules over the eastern quadrant of Oz, Munchkinland.
She retires to the western part of Oz, loosing her attractive young looks as she grows more and more bitter and haggard over the hundreds of years from medieval times to the early 1900s. She retires to the western part of Oz, loosing her attractive young looks as she grows more and more bitter and haggard over the hundreds of years from medieval times to the early 1900s.
This event sets the stage for Dorothy's journey and triggers the plot of the story. Although her role is short-lived, the Maleficent witch from the east plays a crucial part in the narrative. Her death and the resulting loss of power destabilize the region in the Land of Oz, causing chaos among the Munchkins.
Maleficent, Ursula, The White Witch: Who's the Wickedest of Them All?
Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty
The horned Mistress Of All Evil curses Princess Aurora into a long and deep sleep after being excluded from her christening. She has lightning bolts in her arsenal, a raven familiar and goblin minions. She's just cruel.
Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz
Green-skinned and hook-nosed, the Wicked Witch of the West zooms around Oz on her broomstick, turning woodcutters into Tin Men and sending forth her army of flying monkeys to terrorise Munchkins and Winkies alike. Dorothy inadvertently melts her with water.
Ursula from The Little Mermaid
Monstrous sea sorceress Ursula is part-octopus and all spite. She transforms Ariel into a human in exchange for her voice and, just when it looks like Ariel is going to get her Prince, shows up as shape-shifter Vanessa to sabotage the romance and marry Eric herself.
Mother Gothel from Tangled
Desperate to keep her youth and beauty, Gothel kidnaps Princess Rapunzel, whose magic hair she needs, and locks her up in a tower for 18 years. Selfish.
The White Witch from The Chronicles of Narnia
Jadis, the witch who freezes Narnia in the Hundred Years Winter, is partially human and white as ice. She rules Narnia with a beastly retinue of wolves, dwarves, werewolves, hags and other monsters. She turns her prisoners into statues and is the sworn enemy of all "sons and daughters of Adam" and the great lion Aslan.
Evil Queen from Snow White
Vain and jealous, this evil usurper cannot bear not to be the fairest in the land. Armed with a magic mirror and a poisoned apple, the stepmother-from-hell attempts to murder Snow White multiple times, finally falling to her own death from a cliff.
Grand High Witch from The Witches
The leader of all Earhtly witches, the Grand High Witch hates children, turning them into slugs. Underneath her human mask, she is a terrifying bald hunchback with claws and a long pointed nose. She is feared by all the witches and even her personal secretary who she mistreats. She's just plain diabolical.
Fairy Godmother from Shrek
Don't be fooled by the wand and the wings, this scheming sorceress conjures up happily-ever-afters at a price. She wants to see her son, the equally despicable Prince Charming on the throne, and is not above blackmail and attempted murder to put him there.
Evanora from Oz The Great and Powerful
The Wicked Witch of the East in Disney's alternate version of The Wizard of Oz is the beautiful protectress of the Emerald City, a position she has gained by murdering the rightful king and framing hs daughter, Glinda the Good Witch. She's actually hideous, controls an army of murderous flying monkeys and sends her sister Theodora around the bend by manipulating her into thinking she was betrayed by Oscar Diggs (the 'wizard of Oz').
Theodora from Oz The Great and Powerful
Unlike her sister, Theodora starts out as a genuinely beautiful, naive and good witch who thinks Glinda, the real good witch, is evil. By the time she realizes her sister Evanora is the evil one, she's already transformed by heartbreak and tears that burn into her skin leaving deep disfiguring furrows. Evanora's magic apple changes Theodora completely into the green-skinned, black-hatted, broomstick-riding Wicked Witch of the West.
Third is their fashion choices. Black, black and more black. Maleficent’s robes have some purple highlights, and the Wicked Witch wears a pointy hat instead of horns, but come on. That’s the same outfit.
The Good Witch of the North, a contrast to Maleficent, advises Dorothy to take the witch's magical silver shoes, setting Dorothy on the path to find the Wizard of Oz and, ultimately, her way home. Maleficent's character is painted as evil and cruel, much like her counterpart in the West, but she is not given as much attention or depth. Her character is primarily used as a catalyst for the protagonist's journey rather than an independent force driving the plot. Nonetheless, her presence is significant in terms of launching Dorothy's adventure and allowing her to meet other iconic characters along the way. In conclusion, while the Maleficent witch from the east may not receive as much attention as the Wicked Witch of the West, her role as the initial antagonist and the event that propels Dorothy's journey is pivotal in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Despite her limited presence, this maleficent witch still holds a significant place in the overall narrative and impact of the story..
Reviews for "The Maleficent Witch's Motifs: Analyzing the Symbolism in her Character"
1. Jane - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "Maleficent witch from the east in the Wizard of Oz". As a long-time fan of The Wizard of Oz, I was looking forward to a fresh and exciting take on the story. Unfortunately, the inclusion of Maleficent felt forced and unnecessary. It seemed like a cheap attempt to capitalize on the popularity of the Maleficent movie rather than staying true to the original source material. The storyline felt disjointed and the characters lacked depth. Overall, I felt let down by this adaptation.
2. Mark - 1 star
I couldn't stand "Maleficent witch from the east in the Wizard of Oz". The choice to include Maleficent as a character felt like a desperate attempt to add some edge to the story, but it just didn't work. The entire film felt like a mess, lacking a cohesive narrative and relying too heavily on special effects. The performances were lackluster, and even the iconic yellow brick road felt out of place in this strange mashup. I would highly recommend skipping this version and sticking to the original Wizard of Oz instead.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Maleficent witch from the east in the Wizard of Oz", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. While the idea of incorporating Maleficent into the story had potential, the execution felt clumsy and forced. The visuals were underwhelming, with the magic and fantasy elements lacking the enchantment and charm of the original Oz. Additionally, the pacing was off, leaving me disengaged from the story and characters. Overall, I found this adaptation to be a missed opportunity and a disappointing addition to the Wizard of Oz universe.