((Before I saw the Wicked movie, I had become aware of the hate against Nessarose for not sticking up for Elphaba, especially to the point where people were making abelist jokes against her. Poor Marissa Bode had to speak up about this, saying how people can't seem to handle morally grey characters.
When I went to see the movie, I could honestly defend most if not all of Nessa's behavior. Let's start with her childhood:
Nessa seemed to speak very little as a toddler. When those bullies came in to jeer at young Elphaba, Nessa closed her eyes and ears and started bawling. This reminded me of a meltdown, which makes me wonder if Nessa is autistic. If so, then how could a toddler suffering a meltdown be able to explain to her father that Elphaba was trying to defend herself and her sister? Plus, again, she was closing her eyes; she probably couldn't even see much of what Elphaba was doing.
Now onto Nessa going to Shiz. From what I can see between Nessa, Elphaba, AND Mr. Thropp, Nessa isn't just embarrassed with Elphaba like everybody says [which sucks]. She is coddled and overprotected by her father. Mr. Thropp treats her like she could shatter at every little move. It makes me wonder if she was ever allowed to interact with other people outside of the Thropp estate. Nessa wants to have a normal life and be treated like everyone else. Going to Shiz probably gave her a chance to be independent. Elphaba seems to understand her sister far more than her own father does. When Mr. Thropp ordered Elphaba to accompany Nessa to her room, Elphaba said no, like she knew that Nessa didn't need her help, like she knew that Nessa could handle herself.
And then there's this moment:
I have read plenty of stories of wheelchair users stating how they HATE having people move them without their permission. She's once again being treated like she's broken here. Elphaba reacts because, again, she knows her sister. She knows that she hates being treated like this. Elphaba had to use her powers to get Nessa away from this woman.
Now I've seen people get angry at Nessa for snapping at Elphaba for saving her. I understand, but let me remind you that Nessa got YEETED off of the ground!
With one wrong move, Nessa could fall off of the wheelchair and either die or have more problems than just legs that don't work! I'd be frazzled to the point of snapping, too! Plus, referring to the possibility of Nessa being autistic, can you imagine the overstimulation of having your wheelchair moved without your permission and then flying in the air without warning?
Now for the solo exchange between Elphaba and Nessa in "Dancing Through Life." Pay attention to this line Nessa sings:
"Fin'lly for this one night/I get to have a fun life"
This solidifies my theory that Nessa has been coddled by her father to the point where she couldn't go out with other people. The Ozdust Ballroom dance was probably her first dance party. Her father probably never let anyone ask her out. Once again, all she wants is to have a normal life which means she wants people to treat her like anyone else.
Can you imagine her joy when the most popular girl in school got a sweet boy to workup the nerve to ask her out to dance? To give her a chance to have her independence and fun for the first time in her life? Can you imagine her joy when the boy "confessed" that he asked her out not out of pity but because he thought she was beautiful? It makes you wonder what kind of self-esteem issues Nessa had growing up. If she felt that the wheelchair was too distracting.
Now I'll admit that I did get a little miffed when Nessa didn't join Elphaba when she danced on her own. But I want to go back to that autistic theory. Nessa at one point said "I can't look!" Was that shame? Or was she embarrassed for Elphaba, like ultra empathy that some autistic people have?
To wrap it all up, I want to bring up a possibility that will make you hate Mr. Thropp even more. If you recall Elphaba's monologue on why Nessa came out disabled, she started off by saying "My father hates me." Despite the fact that it was really HIS fault that Nessa needed a wheelchair and he wife died of childbirth, Elphaba is carrying the guilt that this all happened because she came out green. Mr. Thropp does not hide his favoritism between his daughters and his disdain towards poor Elphaba. If he didn't tell her outright blame her, he must've dropped passive-aggressive hints at her.
WHAT IF MR. THROPP ALSO PLANTED THOSE SEEDS OF HATE IN NESSA? What if he told Nessa that it's Elphaba's fault that she's bound to a wheelchair? If he did, it would add onto Nessa's distant behavior towards her own sister.
If this is true, then a heart attack is too good of a death for that creature.))
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