Why Is Glinda Happy Elphaba Is Dead: Answers To The Questions Everyone Is Asking
Okay, let's talk about Oz. We all know the story, right? The sparkly good witch, Glinda, and the misunderstood green girl, Elphaba. For years, we've been told that Glinda was the picture of happiness, living her best life in her castle, while Elphaba… well, she had a bit of a rough go. But then something happened. Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, was gone. And the big question on everyone's lips, the one whispered at tea parties and debated over milkshakes, is: why was Glinda so darn happy about it?
Now, before you grab your torches and pitchforks (or perhaps your magic wands), let's dive into this with a fresh pair of sparkly slippers. It's easy to think of Glinda as this perfectly serene, never-has-a-bad-hair-day kind of lady. And she was! But being good and being happy aren't always the same as being unbothered.
Think about it this way: imagine you have a neighbor. A neighbor who, shall we say, really likes experimenting with loud, experimental music at 3 AM. And also, occasionally, their pet dragon escapes and nibbles on your prize-winning roses. Now, you're a nice person, you try to be understanding. You offer them earplugs, you suggest a leash for the dragon. But deep down, a little part of you, a very quiet and polite part, sometimes dreams of a little… peace and quiet. That's a tiny, simplified glimpse of what Glinda might have felt.
Elphaba's life was a whirlwind of misunderstood intentions and epic adventures that often involved… let's just say, unconventional methods.
Elphaba, bless her green heart, was a force of nature. She was brilliant, she was passionate, and she was absolutely terrible at playing by the rules. Glinda, on the other hand, was the queen of rules. She was the embodiment of grace, diplomacy, and knowing exactly which tiara to wear for every occasion. They were like oil and water, or perhaps more accurately, like a perfectly brewed cup of tea and a fizzy, experimental potion that tends to explode.
Their paths were just so different. Glinda's world was one of shimmering gowns, respectful bows, and making sure everyone felt included (as long as they weren't trying to melt her with a bucket of water). Elphaba’s world was one of secret laboratories, flying monkeys, and confronting deep-seated injustices. While Glinda was hosting elegant balls, Elphaba was likely in a dusty tower, deciphering ancient scrolls or attempting to unionize the Munchkins.
So, when Elphaba's… departure… happened, it wasn't necessarily a gleeful "Hooray! My rival is gone!" for Glinda. It was more like a collective sigh of relief that rippled through the entire Emerald City. It meant an end to the chaos that often followed Elphaba. It meant no more frantic calls about rogue winged creatures or unexplained green smoke billowing from the west.
Plus, let's not forget the sheer exhaustion involved in trying to keep up with Elphaba. Glinda, despite her inherent goodness, was also a very practical person. She had a kingdom to run! She had important things to do, like perfecting her glitter dispersion techniques and ensuring the optimal sparkle level of her wand. Dealing with Elphaba's dramatic escapades was a full-time job, and frankly, Glinda probably deserved a promotion and a very long vacation after years of it.
There’s also a heartwarming angle to consider. Think about how much Elphaba suffered. Her life was a series of misunderstandings and heartbreaks. While Glinda was loved and admired, Elphaba was feared and ostracized. For Glinda, seeing Elphaba finally at peace, free from all that pain and struggle, might have been a source of quiet, profound joy. It's not the kind of joy you broadcast with trumpets and confetti, but the deep, satisfied feeling of knowing someone you, in your own way, cared about, has finally found rest.
It’s about the absence of worry. Glinda worried about Elphaba. She worried about the consequences of Elphaba's actions, and she worried about Elphaba herself. When Elphaba was gone, that worry lifted. Imagine never having to brace yourself for the next unexpected magical mishap. That’s a kind of freedom that anyone, even a good witch, can appreciate.
So, the next time you think of Glinda's smile after Elphaba's exit, don't picture a villain basking in triumph. Picture someone who can finally breathe easy. Someone who can tend to her roses without fear of dragon nibbles. Someone who knows that even the most complicated, green-skinned witches eventually deserve a peaceful ending. And in that peaceful ending, Glinda found her own kind of happy.