Wicked Challenges The Wizard Of Oz’s Yellow Brick Road Color Choice

In the upcoming 2024 musical film Wicked, Glinda and Elphaba find themselves in a unique position to select the color for the Wizard’s famous Yellow Brick Road. This pivotal moment suggests that an alternative hue might have outshone the conventional yellow. This production serves as both a prequel and a spinoff to the iconic 1939 classic, The Wizard of Oz. While audiences are captivated by the evolving friendship between Elphaba and Glinda, they simultaneously witness the transformation of Oz into the enchanting land Dorothy would later visit. Surprisingly, Wicked artfully subverts the established narrative of Oz.

Wicked Empowers Glinda & Elphaba to Choose the Road’s Color

Understanding the Significance of the Brick Road in Wicked

Glinda and Elphaba entering the Royal Palace of Oz

One of the most striking moments in Wicked occurs when the Wizard invites Elphaba and Glinda to decide the color of the Yellow Brick Road. This scene takes on a greater significance when Elphaba is still unaware of the Wizard’s ulterior motives. She is mesmerized by his vision for Oz while he displays a 3-D map detailing the road, giving her the opportunity to select its color. After weighing various options, they ultimately opt for yellow, a choice nudged by Glinda’s keen sense of aesthetic.

While the road symbolizes a newfound unity within Oz, connecting its diverse regions, the Wizard’s true intent reveals a more manipulative agenda. This selection process holds immense relevance, not only for the audience familiar with the road’s iconic status but also for Elphaba and Glinda themselves. Throughout Wicked, Elphaba strives to affect meaningful change in Oz, and this moment provides her a glimpse of the influence she yearns to wield. Thus, the Yellow Brick Road embodies the darker undertones of power and control.

Glinda’s Earlier Commentary on Why the Brick Road Should Have Been Pink

The Intriguing Symbolism Behind the Brick Road’s Color Choice in Wicked

Although Glinda ultimately selects yellow as the color for the brick road, Wicked subtly suggests that a different aesthetic might have been more fitting. Earlier in the narrative, Glinda remarks on the complimentary nature of pink and green. While this comment refers specifically to her relationship with Elphaba, it also holds merit for the broader aesthetic of Oz. Pink could have offered a more vibrant visual for the Emerald City, aligning with Glinda’s personal preferences.

Yet, Glinda’s choice to dismiss pink in favor of yellow reveals the underlying themes of the story. A pink brick road would symbolize the strong bond between Elphaba and Glinda, hinting at a transformative friendship in Oz. However, as Wicked progresses, it becomes evident that their relationship cannot alter the Wizard’s machinations. Therefore, the choice of yellow effectively symbolizes the Wizard’s avarice—reflecting the money-saturated Emerald City and the road itself resembling gold.

How The Wizard of Oz Limits the Narrative Shift in Wicked

Wicked’s Narrative is Tethered to The Wizard of Oz

Dorothy and her companions on the Yellow Brick Road

However, the Yellow Brick Road is not the sole obstacle faced in Wicked. Despite the musical’s ability to reimagine the tales and redeem familiar characters through Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship, the foundational canon of The Wizard of Oz constrains the adaptation. Consequently, the conclusion of Wicked should come as a predictable outcome. Just as Dorothy defeats the Wicked Witch of the West with her bucket of water, Elphaba’s trajectory foretells a similarly tragic end.

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