Wicked Witch of the West

Lore & Background

In Baum's books, the Wicked Witch of the West is the malevolent ruler of the Winkie Country. Her castle is described as beautiful instead of being the sinister fortress shown in the 1939 film. In all versions, she is aquaphobic. She was not related to the Wicked Witch of the East, but leagued together with her and the Wicked Witch of the North to conquer the Land of Oz; the Wicked Witch of the South (Glinda) is good, as is the Wicked Witch of the North (Locasta in the first book). She shows no interest in the death of the Eastern Witch and all she cares about is obtaining the Silver Shoes. W. W. Denslow's illustrations depict her as a paunched old hag with three pigtails and an eyepatch. Baum specified she only had one eye, but that it 'was as powerful as a telescope.' Other illustrators placed her eye in the center of her forehead, as a cyclops. Most of her power resides in the creatures she controls: 40 great wolves, 40 crows, a swarm of black bees, and an army of Winkies. She possesses the enchanted Golden Cap, which compels the winged monkeys to obey her on three occasions.

Reader's Guide

The Wicked Witch of the West is significant as a central antagonist in L. Frank Baum's Oz series and as an iconic figure in popular culture. Her portrayal in the 1939 film, with green skin and a pointed hat, became a standard archetype for witches. The character's death by water—a detail unique to her in Baum's works—has been widely referenced. Later adaptations, including Gregory Maguire's 1995 revisionist novel Wicked and its musical adaptation, reimagined her as a complex protagonist named Elphaba. The witch's legacy extends through numerous films, television series, and literary works, cementing her as a symbol of wickedness and, in some retellings, misunderstood villainy. Her depiction varies widely, from the subtle, cowardly figure in Baum's original to the dramatic, sadistic witch of the 1939 film.

Did You Know?

• In Baum's original novel, the Wicked Witch of the West had only one eye, which was as powerful as a telescope.
• Her dryness was hinted at when Toto bit her and she did not bleed; her wickedness had dried her up long ago.
• In the 1939 film, Margaret Hamilton's portrayal introduced green skin, which was not present in Baum's books.