As an adaptation of a beloved property, Wicked If the film hopes to impress fans, the film must include the most iconic lines from the Broadway musical. Like the source material, The two-part adaptation follows Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande), two young witches who become friends at school. before they find themselves on the path to changing the future of Oz. There have already been moments in the trailers where Elphaba and Glinda say the famous words, which is sure to excite fans.
Wicked the film faces many major challenges, the biggest of which is meeting people’s expectations, which are incredibly high thanks to the musical’s acclaim. Fan Favorite Wicked quotes are inserted into the songs themselves, this means that their inclusion should be fairly straightforward, but some of them are talked about. However, in the past, Broadway scores have been changed and swapped for film adaptations. Let’s hope director Jon M. Chu and his team understand which quotes are vital to the story and need to be preserved.
15
“Are people born evil? Or is evil being forced upon them?”
Said by Glinda
Glinda opens the musical with the number “No One Mourns for the Wicked.” during which she asks the Ozians a (verbal) question: “Are people born evil?” Fortunately, this line is heard at the beginning Wicked second trailer. Here Glinda introduces the biggest theme of the story, where Elphaba is identified as “wicked” only because she disagrees with the Wizard (played by Jeff Goldblum in the film). Glinda says this as if it is hypothetical, although she is more knowledgeable than most about the circumstances of Elphaba’s supposed moral failure.
By the end of the show, it is revealed that Glinda believes Elphaba is dead when she says so and has overthrown the Wizard and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). In his new position as leader of Oz, Glinda may hope to eventually restore Elphaba’s reputation. However, it looks like she has a long way to go as audiences at her performance continue to sing about how no one will mourn the Wicked Witch of the West.
14
“We can’t all come and go because of the bubble.”
Elphaba said
This particular phrase is unlikely to appear in the first part of the film’s release schedule unless the first film ends at some point after the show’s regular intermission. This comes courtesy of Elphaba after she and Glinda mostly broke up due to Oz thinking Elphaba was evil.
Glinda sees Elphaba carrying the broom she flies on, presumably the same broom she used to “defy gravity” the first time, and is surprised. She refers to the broom as “that old thing”, implying that riding a broom is below Elphaba’s level of using magic. Elphaba gets a little sarcastic at this line.and almost every Elphaba who has played the role on stage has imitated Idina Menzel’s original exasperated manner. It always gets a laugh from the live audience.
13
“Is this thing on?”
Said by Glinda
This particular line is not unique to Wicked. However, it is usually used to refer to a microphone when someone is speaking to an unresponsive audience. Many writers have also used this gag for various purposes.
IN WickedGlinda makes this remark about the wand she carries. Her friendship with Elphaba at school is just beginning, and Glinda offers the magical Elphaba a dress. However, Glinda’s magical talent doesn’t quite match Elphaba’s raw power, and she can’t get the wand to work. She waves her wand and jokes before deciding that Elphaba should just wear her regular dress.
This line helps show that Glinda really is always speaking up, even when it seems like she isn’t. She is very focused on her appearance and how others perceive her, even after she and Elphaba became friendly and she genuinely likes the other girl. Wanting to be beautiful and appreciated is just part of who Glinda is.
12
“If this is love, then it costs too much.”
Elphaba said
For the first time, Elphaba realizes that everyone else is wrong and she doesn’t have to work to impress them.
Many of the lyrics to the iconic song “Defying Gravity” are a fan favorite and reflect Elphaba’s ultimate transformation in the story. Her early song “Wizard and I” is heartbreaking despite its cheerful melody because this shows how much Elphaba wants to be accepted by her family and peers. Other moments in the show’s dialogue and songs demonstrate the same thing, making the moment when Elphaba says she’s tired of it all the more impactful.
Elphaba defiantly sings: “For too long I’ve been afraid / Of losing love, I guess I’ve lost / Well, if this is love, then the price for it is too high.” For the first time, Elphaba realizes that everyone else is wrong and she doesn’t have to work to impress them. Despite what everyone in Oz thinks about Elphaba, she is actually a person of extreme moral fortitude. The line she will not cross is accepting the terms of people’s adoration at the expense of others rather than herself.
11
“It’s just shoes, Elfie, get over it!”
Said by Glinda
Dorothy’s shoes are especially famous among The Wizard of Oz fans. In the film, she wears ruby red shoes. In the Broadway musical version Wickedhowever, the shoes are silver, just like in Gregory Maguire’s book and the original. Oz novels by L. Frank Baum. The shoes are taken by Glinda and given to Dorothy to help her along the yellow brick road.
In the musical The backstory is given as to why the magic shoes are so important to the Wicked Witch of the West. There is an emotional reason why Elphaba doesn’t want Dorothy to have those shoes, rather than a desire for power as implied in the film. Glinda, however, does not understand why Elphaba is even angry about shoes, demonstrating a lack of sentimentality towards certain things.
Much like Elphaba’s “bubble,” this line was originally beautifully performed by Kristen Chenoweth in the stage version, and will definitely appeal to audiences who have always thought of the green witch as a villain.
10
“Learn to live the unexamined life.”
Said by Fiero
When Prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) arrives at Shiz University, most of the students are as infatuated with him as they are with Glinda. He is equally charismatic and at home in the spotlight; he is also seemingly careless, but unintentionally introduces a new layer into ethical discourse Wicked. Fiyero’s philosophy is that “dancing through life, meaningless and carefree” will bring happiness. He is right that not caring about anything means that one will never be bothered, even if it makes life meaningless.
Fiyero begins the song by telling everyone present: “Learn to live the unexamined life.” This line is a play on the phrase “An unexamined life is not worth living.” Socrates supposedly said at his trial. Socrates argues that exploring the scientific and ethical dilemmas of the world is necessary to give meaning to life, while Fiyero believes that it is tedious. However, this line is one of the most significant in Wicked because of how Elphaba’s actions cause both Fiyero and Glind to come to an implicit disagreement with Fiyero’s old philosophy.
9
“…He doesn’t know yet.”
Said by Glinda
One of the things that complicates the friendship between Elphaba and Glinda is that Glinda is interested in their classmate Fiyero, while Fiyero becomes more interested in Elphaba. Fiyero and Elphaba even see each other behind Glinda’s back because they don’t want to hurt her feelings. He becomes one of the few people who recognize Elphaba as she really is in the play.
Before this, however, Glinda tells Elphaba that she and Fiyero are engaged. The problem is that Glinda decided that they would get married on their own without considering whether he actually wanted to marry her. When Elphaba questions their engagement, Glinda offers this answer.
While this is funny for the audience, it is also a good indicator of how self-centered Glinda is at this point in the story. She doesn’t think it’s strange to make this statement without knowing Fiyero’s feelings.
8
“She doesn’t care what anyone thinks.” “Of course he loves. She just pretends she doesn’t.”
Said by Fiyero and Glinda
New, larger size Wicked The trailer also features a version of Glinda and Fiyero’s reaction to Elphaba arriving at the party at the Oz Dust Ballroom wearing a terrible (but iconic) hat that Glinda gave her as a joke. Their slightly different comments subtly reveal the difference in why they are drawn to Elphaba. and who she will become in their lives. Fiyero is impressed and will always believe that Elphaba is fearless.
Glinda is also amazed by Elphaba’s bravery, but also feels guilty because she sees right through it and knows that Elphaba really cares what people think. At this point, Glinda realizes how hard it is for Elphaba to deal with constant rejection. This sparks Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship, and Glinda, with the best of intentions, tries to make Elphaba’s life easier by changing her appearance. However, it is Glinda who learns from Elphaba when the latter argues that it is not worth the moral cost.
7
“Let all of Oz agree that I am evil through and through.”
Elphaba said
In the end, Oz’s hatred and constant failures get to Elphaba. and she admits defeat on “No Good Deed.” Remembering Glinda’s thoughts about people who have “evil has attacked them” this will be the moment Elphaba accepts this fate, largely out of grief over Fiyero’s supposed death. It’s a dark, but also slightly ironic moment because the audience has seen everything from Elphaba’s point of view and is obliged to believe in her, even if no one else does.
However, everything “No Good Dead” is a discourse on the nature of goodness and whether it is simply an exchange for social approval. In another well-written poem, Elphaba asks herself:
“Was I really looking for good / Or was I just looking for attention? / Are these all good deeds / When they are looked at with an icy gaze?”
Elphaba believes that in her darkest hour things will never get better for her; however, she can also reject the world again, reaffirming that she is not here to please them. Everyone loves anti-heroes, and Elphaba’s descent into supposed evil comes with more philosophical moments than most.
6
“Did they have brains or knowledge? Don’t make me laugh! They were popular!”
Said by Glinda
“Popular” is one of the Wicked the best and most famous songs and, of course, Glinda coup. The musical number is disguised by an upbeat tune and Glinda’s usual playful attitude, but it says a lot about public and private personalities. Glinda doesn’t see any ethical problem with what she says because her true personality is friendliness. She also truly believes that Elphaba should learn all of this because it will help her achieve everything she wants.
In retrospect, Glinda’s remark that all politicians succeed because they are popular, not skilled, is painfully true. This is an important moment that shows Glinda’s knowledge of how Ozian politics works. even if she does not yet realize what it will cost her and her loved ones. The full film version of “Popular” has not yet been released (at the time of writing), but it is very important that this line is included.
5
“Where I come from, we believe everything that is not true. We call it history.”
Said the Wizard of Oz
For a moment, it appears that Elphaba will accept the Wizard’s offer of “redemption” during the duet “Wonderful”. He briefly calms her anger over everything that happened by saying that it’s just what everyone does, remembering Glinda’s attitude when she sings “Popular”. Oz wanted a hero, and the Wizard became one. He makes Elphaba believe that she could achieve much more if she played along with his white lies, and that the good will outweigh the bad.
The cornerstone of the Wizard’s argument is that all history is just a game of labels and perceptions. something that the academic Elphaba can defend. However, Elphaba then discovers her former teacher Dr. Dillamond (Peter Dinklage) in the Wizard’s palace, who has lost the ability to speak. Elphaba’s reconciliation with the Wizard collapses and she runs away again.
4
“Pink goes well with green.”
Said by Glinda
Green is the color most commonly associated with Wicked because the original Broadway poster and playbill featured Elphaba’s green face as well as a green background, creating a bold look against Elphaba’s black dress and hat compared to Glinda’s white. However, this is not the only dominant color in the piece.
Glinda is famous for her big pink dress. The Wizard of OzAnd Wicked maintains this color for almost all of her outfits. Pink is her favorite color. This seems to fit her playful personality. As she notes shortly after she and Ephaba become friends: “pink goes well with green“
This line strengthens their friendship and is a reminder of what the play looks like. This thought process appears to be behind much of the film’s merchandising. as almost every set of toys, clothes, food and decorations are designed to divide the audience into pink or green fans, showing which witch they are associated with. It would only make sense for Glinda to say this on screen.
3
“For the first time I feel angry.”
Elphaba said
Before “No Good Deed” Elphaba has another moment where she reflects on the fact that she is evil. Since she went on the run Elphaba never seemed to doubt whether she was right. She is convinced that the Wizard deceiving the people of Oz is wrong, an argument bolstered by his role in what happens to Oz’s anthropomorphic animals such as Dr. Dillamond. It takes a different kind of betrayal for her to question her moral integrity.
This is when she and Fiyero run away together as he has had feelings for her for a while now despite being engaged to Glinda. Elphaba should feel bad, but if she’s honest with herself, she’s too happy with Fiyero. thinking about it too much. However, Elphaba is surprised at herself and notes almost with pleasure that “stealing” Fiyero is the first time she has felt “wicked.” This is a somewhat ironic moment that touches on the theme of evil, showing how even friends sometimes hurt each other.
2
“I know that I am who I am today because I knew you.”
Said by Glinda
The core of Wicked is simply the fact that Elphaba and Glinda knew each other and changed each other, and that’s expressed sincerely in “For Good.”
However, Wicked more about Elphaba and Glinda’s relationship than Elphaba and Fiyero’s relationship. The show’s last full song before “Endgame” is the emotional ballad “For Good,” in which Elphaba and Glinda reflect on their relationship. Every lyric is important, but Glinda’s line in the first verse: “I know that I am who I am today because I knew you” this is the best summary of the song.
Much of the song is Glinda and Elphaba admitting that they don’t have much control over what happens. or whether they will ever see each other again. They even suggest that neither of them can see enough of the big picture to say whether their relationship was a good one, since they both hurt each other at one point or another. The essence Wicked it’s simply the fact that Elphaba and Glinda knew each other and changed each other, which is expressed sincerely in “For Good.”
1
“As someone told me recently, everyone deserves a chance to fly.”
Elphaba said
More no song in Wicked is as empowering as Defying Gravity. Another of Elphaba’s best lines in the song and in the entire show is her mocking the Wizard’s earlier statement that he only wants to help her. At this point, she takes back a fair amount of power as she declares that she doesn’t need the Wizard’s corrupt help – she can do everything herself.
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to fly” it is also an inspirational phrase that many Wicked fans take it to heart. “Defying Gravity” is the best moment of the show, made possible by Idina Menzel’s powerful vocals. and for the film, Broadway star Erivo. Most of the lines in this song are important to music lovers, so it is imperative that the film version of this particular number lives up to everything it represents in musical theater.