What are your thoughts about Glinda as a character?
Thank you so much for sending this ask!
So, Glinda's character is interesting. I think it is something to examine her character wise because Baum does use her as a plot device or dues ex machina often, and how big her role is changes over the course of the series so it is interesting to examine.
Unfortunately I do believe a version of the "Glinda is the villain" theory, and in reality I know it's because Baum used her often and he used her to implement some of his veiws, I just think, oh so much of the course of Oz pans out a little too convenient for her.
And even how we get there.
In the beginning, she wants nothing to do with the ruler of Oz. Seemingly, at least, her relationship with Oscar later would imply they may have been close beforehand which actually adds to my theory, but anyway.
Scarecrow rules, she doesn't care, doesn't bother to help him or step in or anything like that.
Fun thing I want to throw in here that a lot seem to forget, Glinda admits to having spies. (With her book of records which is added later it may not be needed but I can see her doing it because she mentions the records have to be vague).
But she puts Ozma on the throne. Ozma, you know, the little traumatized kid who would have no idea how to run an empire and just ran away and has no parents. Probably very impressionable and in need of assistance.
Suddenly, she's incredibly involved. Suddenly she's visiting the palace often, giving Ozma advice how to rule it, seems to be deep in the influence of how, going from someone who says she has nothing to do with these politics to making herself the go to person of the group to help resolve issues.
And of course then, Ozma bans magic, except for Glinda who has made herself trustworthy to Ozma after becoming so involved so she can use magic. And later also includes the Wizard in this after he returned, because Glinda wanted to train him.
Glinda is incredibly powerful and I definitely feel it's, as powerful as Baum needs her to be for the plot. But I feel like he unintentionally made it clear Glinda has a lot more knowledge and power then she let's on and only tells and helps what's convenient for her.
A side thing I do find interesting is, Scraps is mentioned to be scared of her. Most characters love and trust her blindly, while I don't think this was intentional by Baum, Baum makes clear Scraps is smart, often underestimated and picks up on things others don't. And randomly in a party scene in the Magic of Oz book he throws in Scraps is a little scared of Glinda. I just think that little detail is interesting.
I know, I do know. This wasn't intentional by Baum. She is supposed to be one of the strong good guys, perhaps mother figure that is as powerful as he needs her to be to help the group or plot. Also he retcons and changes things throughout the series, I know the reality of her becoming involved with Ozma so much was him deciding to use her character more.
I just think taking it all in, it seems suspicious and rather convenient for her how everything goes. It doesn't help Baum used her to implement his problematic beliefs into his books with her influence.
There's a ton of other details as to why, little things in the books that make me feel this way too. While I know the Oz fandom may be a little tired of the "Glinda is the villain" theory I do someday want to make a longer post for the books version of her. Because I can see it and honestly believe it on some level. It's also why in most Oz media I have no issues and even enjoy it when they do that plot. And of course then, I also use it often in my own stories.
Should probably mention somewhere, except for Wicked Glinda, no I don't believe it for the Wicked version of her and that is a complete rewrite of her in the Oz story.
So that all severely affects how I veiw her character. Good guy or villain or somewhere in between, I do appreciate she is a very powerful female character during that time.
Also definitely sapphic in some way. A lesbian, bisexual, somewhere in the many other sexuality possibilities I agree very much she is sapphic in some way.
A bit of a ramble, but thank you for reading and thank you so much for sending this ask!
