What is Grimmerie? Wicked’s Magical Book Explained

The following contains spoilers for Wicked: Part 1, now playing in theatersThe Grimmerie is one of the most important artifacts in Wicked: Part 1and has a vital role to play in Elphaba’s overarching story. Adapted from the Broadway musical of the same name (which in turn was based on the novel by Gregory Maguire), Evil tells the story of how well-intentioned Elphaba becomes the Wicked Witch of the West since The Wizard of Oz. An important aspect of her journey revolves around the Grimmerie, a powerful book of spells that appears in all three versions of the story and heavily influences the secrets about Elphaba’s past, present, and future.

In Wicked: Part 1the Grimmerie ends up being a crucial key to revealing which of the EvilThe cast of characters is both heroic and secretly villainous, establishing the central conflict that drives the rest of the story. If the film’s Grimmerie continues to be as important as the musical’s version, then its presence sets up a lot of important elements for the upcoming film. See how Grimmerie influences the end of Wicked: Part 1how it compares to other versions of the story and how it provokes Wicked: Part 2.

Grimmerie’s History and Role in Wicked Explained

Wicked: Part 1 Reveals the tradition surrounding the Gremmerie

The Grimmerie is a powerful magical artifact in Eviland plays a pivotal role in Elphaba’s evolution from a well-meaning young woman to the unfairly reviled Wicked Witch. The Grimmerie is established as a powerful book full of ancient spells, the lore of which is established during the extended “Wizomania” section of the song “One Short Day”. The music plays as Elphaba and Glinda arrive in the Emerald City, with the new universe piece revealing the entire story of the book. Grimmerie was created by the Magical Wise Men who lived in Oz a long time agolong before the events of Evil.

Before they passed away, the Sages transcribed their magic into a book, which became the Grimmerie. However, their ancient language was lost over the years, making magic inaccessible for generations. Even powerful sorcerers like Madame Morrible can only translate a few words. However, the Sages also left a prophecy that someday a powerful magical figure would be able to naturally read the Grimmerie and use its powers once again. The people of the Emerald City believe this was the Magicianwho bluffs his way into a position of power by claiming he can read the book.

Why Elphaba can read the Grimmerie

Elphaba’s true origins may be tied to her ability to read Grimmerie

It appears that the prophesied magical figure is actually Elphaba, whose raw magical potential caught Madame Morrible’s attention in the first place. Because of this natural power, Elphaba stands out from the other mystical figures in the Land of Oz. Although Glinda eventually receives a training wand, she does not display any natural abilities that can match Elphaba. Even an experienced and trained figure like Madame Morrible seemingly pales in comparison to Elphabawhose lack of control gives Morrible an opportunity to train and manipulate her as a tool for the plans she and the Wizard have for Oz.

It’s never exactly clear where Elphaba’s magical potential comes from as she is able to read the book naturally, which could be revealed in Wicked: Part 2. It potentially had something to do with the mysterious serum that Elphaba’s mother took from the stranger, which could also have been the reason for Elphaba’s green skin. Her magical potential could also be linked to the man who seduced her mother. Elphaba’s ability to read Grimmerie makes her a vital figure in the world of Oz, as she appears to be one of the only people alive who can read Grimmerie.

How Wicked defines Grimmerie’s role in Wicked 2

Catching the Grimmerie makes Elphaba Oz the number one target

Grimmerie ends up being an important aspect of Wicked: Part 1Elphaba’s ending, when Elphaba’s impulsive decision to remove him from the Wizard so she can try to reverse his actions in Oz, sets up the film’s climax. Taking the book causes Morrible to proclaim Elphaba an enemy of the state, cementing Oz’s view of Elphaba as a Wicked Witch. As she took the book with her, Elphaba has access to many other powerful spells and enchantments. However, as she discovered when she accidentally cursed the monkeys with wings, spells can have terrible, unforeseen complications.

Grimmerie will likely play a vital role in Wicked: Part 2as efforts to recover it could become a determining factor in the story. Elphaba being the only one who can read the book may cause the Wizard and Morrible’s forces to stop using lethal measures against her, at least at the beginning of the story. Elphaba’s efforts to learn more about Grimmerie could also create other dangerous spells to cast.reflecting how the book is used in the musical to transform characters into new forms. Grimmerie could become one of the Evilthe most important elements.

How The Grimmerie In Wicked Compares to the Book and the Musical

Grimmerie appears in all three versions of Evil

The Grimmerie is an important artifact in the original version of the novel Evilas well as the Broadway musical that inspired the new film. In the original Evil novel, the Wizard is actively searching for the Grimmerie, who has been hidden in the mystical realm by a mysterious sorcerer. The book ends up in Elphaba’s possession. Unlike the film version of Grimmerie, the version of Evil novels cannot be read by anyone born in Oz, which means that the human/Ozian hybrid Elphaba can decipher parts of them. The book remains important throughout all four novels.

THE Evil musical uses Grimmerie in a similar way to how it is portrayed in the film. Known as the Ancient Book of Thaumaturgy and Enchantments, the Grimmerie is a powerful magical book that only those with natural magical talent can read. In the musical, it is eventually revealed that Elphaba’s status as half-human and half-Ozian was used to justify how she could read the book, an element that will likely be revealed in the sequel. All of this suggests that Grimmerie will continue to be a crucial part Evilthe story as it progresses to part 2.

Source: Poster