“Analysis” of Glinda’s final scene in 'Out of Oz'
In her cell, Glinda woke up with a start … Her glasses had broken a year ago. She didn’t need them anymore, not really. She knew who was turning the door handle of her cell. She called her name sleepily, and added, “You wicked thing. You’ve taken your own sweet time, of course.” — Out of Oz page 571, Gregory Maguire.
I’m not normally one to write something like this, and I use the term analysis loosely, but please bear with me if you can. Feedback is welcomed and greatly appreciated.
I usually enjoy ambiguity in stories, though sometimes they do little more than infuriate me. This is one of those times. So I felt the need to do something.
Now pretty much everyone I have seen or spoken to is in agreement that the woman who opens the door is Elphaba. Now for the entirety of this rambling one-sided discussion let’s take that belief as fact.
Now from how I see it this paragraph could mean one of two things (there are other theories but I do not view them as nearly as likely as these main two).
The first theory is that Glinda has died. If this scene occurs along the same timeline as the rest of the final chapter of the book then Glinda would have been in Southstairs for at least two years. Now she did seem to be in good health before she was incarcerated and Ozians appear to have longer life spans then us, but you must take into mind that the conditions in Southstairs (which I doubt has changed much) would not only have been a large shock to someone who has lived as Glinda has but also extremely difficult, especially for someone who by this time would be in their late fifties/early sixties.
The second theory is also the one most people are probably hoping for or have thought of, that being Elphaba did in fact come back to life in some shape or another, this would make the ramblings of Nanny in Son of a Witch and Out of Oz referring to Elphaba being alive not comments brought on by senility but overlooked facts. The rumours of Elphaba’s return (and everything tied to it) in the book would thereby be true.
Now the next part may appear that I am veering off slightly but once again if you can bear with me.
I have always been under the impression (when I read the original book) that Glinda had some form of premonition power or talent that makes its’ self known when she sleeps. I assume she is unaware of this. I cannot remember why I thought this but I’m sure if I got Wicked out I can explain why, but I have seen other people with the same idea so it’s safe to assume I am not just imagining things. If this hunch is correct then an earlier moment in Out of Oz,shown below, may be tied in with Glinda’s final scene.
Maybe she dreamed of a door opening, and Elphaba coming back from the afterlife. To settle Glinda’s consternation; to save her. — Out of Oz page 65, Gregory Maguire.
Now this could be entirely coincidental or it could be entirely intentional. If it is intentional then this section could be seen as supportive of both the theories I mentioned. The mention of the afterlife could be foreshadowing that Glinda did in fact die and the opening of her cell door could be the door to the afterlife and Elphaba has come to reunite with her.
On the other hand the dream of Glinda’s could be supportive of Elphaba having come back, the final few words being ‘to save her’ could be foreshadowing for Elphaba being the one to get Glinda out of Southstairs as no one else appears to be too concerned for her by that point.
Once again these are just theories. I’m not trying to say either are fact.
Of course this whole wall of text could just be the ramblings of some insane woman behind a computer screen who has no idea what she is on about (probably very likely), and I feel the need to stress these are just my main theories, I’m sure there are more out there that are backed up in a stronger way or make more sense than mine. I just needed to get this out of my system and hope it makes sense to anyone who ends up reading this.
Personally I want the theory that Elphaba came back to be true as that would mean a happy ending, one Glinda most definitely deserves, and it would over joy me. But a small part of me will always insist that the first theory is probably the more likely, sad but true.
If you managed to read this far then thank you for your time, feel free to chip in with any comments or Criticism :)
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