We All Want to Be Elphaba but Most of Us Are Glinda

How Wicked holds up a mirror

Let’s be honest, we all want to be Elphaba, right? I mean, she is the hero of the story:

she’s distinctive,

she has magical power,

she gets to ride a broom,

and of course, she sings “Defying Gravity”.

But maybe we’re not so shallow. We want to be Elphaba because

she speaks out on behalf of others,

she rejects tyranny,

she rises above the ways that other people treat her,

she learns to accept and believe in herself.

These are all good reasons to admire her. We should strive to be like her.

But the truth is, most of us are Glinda.

We are privileged.

We are comfortable.

We are blinded by our privilege and our comfort.

We perform easy solidarity with the marginalized,

rather than actually standing with them.

And, when push comes to shove,

we will most often choose our own comfort and safety over freedom.

If we’re asked to kiss the ring or be banished, we kiss the ring.

We’re in favor of change, just

“not that way”,

or “not that fast”

or “just not right now”.

We’re not evil or villainous, it’s just

if the Wizard isn’t coming for us, directly,

standing with the “wicked witch” is too much of a target on our backs.

So we let Elphaba sing her triumphant song, and ride off on her broom,

alone,

and we stay,

and shake hands with the Wizard

and make whatever compromises we must make

to keep our own peace.