Beth Rodgers's Blog: A Fresh Perspective: A Blog by Beth Rodgers, Author of "Freshman Fourteen" - Posts Tagged "glinda"
'Wicked': A Theatrical Marvel
Last night I had the extreme pleasure of seeing the musical 'Wicked' for the second time. It was fantastic! I cannot rave enough about the show. Even though it is a Broadway musical, it stems from a novel by Gregory Maguire. The music and lyrics for the musical show are by Stephen Schwartz and the book for the musical is by Winnie Holzman. The esteem I hold these people in is quite high. They are leaders in their fields, crafting superbly enriching material that has sold out innumerable shows over the years.
'Wicked' is a theatrical marvel in that it encapsulates the prequel to the movie version of 'The Wizard of Oz,' casting the Wicked Witch, Elphaba, in a different light than many would have ever expected her to be capable of. The way we perceive her as wicked is merely the fault of circumstances that were beyond her control, and the musical seeks to outline these points, all the while introducing us to well-known characters from L. Frank Baum's original story, such as Glinda, the good witch, along with the scarecrow, the cowardly lion, and the tin man. We find out how these characters came to be, how they knew each other, what their relationships were like, and what happened after Dorothy arrived in Oz. The storytelling all combines into one fantastic feat that engages, surprises, and delights all who come to see the show.
When I teach college Composition courses, we discuss the rhetorical devices of ethos, pathos, and logos. 'Wicked' does a tremendous job incorporating these three devices without blatantly announcing their inclusion. This is the mark of writing that is sound and focused, whether it is written in an academic tone or a more creative one.
Ethos is dependent on the credibility of the person who is writing, speaking, or in some other way sharing his or her opinions. Since the vast majority of the musical revolves around Elphaba, with Glinda and other characters also present for good measure, it is easy to see ethos shining through. Elphaba's credibility is laid out in nothing but plain terms, showcasing how she was a misunderstood person who only wanted to help in situations that became beyond her control once she realized who was against her and what power they wielded to turn everyone else against her as well.
Pathos is most certainly evident in that it deals with emotion, and the feelings the characters possess for one another as well as for themselves and their plights was worthy enough for me to not only laugh, but to shed a few tears for the trials and tribulations they had to go through to have life still not turn out quite like they expected it to.
Logos deals with the evidence that helps substantiate the crediblity and emotion. The evidence is clear, showing how Elphaba went from being misunderstood to being 'wicked'. Seeing how she deals with others after being labeled as such is a testament to the character she possessed before she was labeled so negatively. It also proves that sometimes people truly can be victims of circumstances that are beyond their control.
If you haven't seen 'Wicked,' I can't recommend it highly enough. It is truly a theatrical marvel that takes the story of 'The Wizard of Oz' to new heights, including music, a compelling story, and healthy doses of the rhetorical devices that can only add to the beauty that the story already exudes. It is the writing that we can only hope to achieve as we work on our own stories, poems, essays, and other works.
Beth Rodgers is the author of Freshman Fourteen, a young adult novel. You can visit her website at www.BethRodgersAuthor.com for more information.
'Wicked' is a theatrical marvel in that it encapsulates the prequel to the movie version of 'The Wizard of Oz,' casting the Wicked Witch, Elphaba, in a different light than many would have ever expected her to be capable of. The way we perceive her as wicked is merely the fault of circumstances that were beyond her control, and the musical seeks to outline these points, all the while introducing us to well-known characters from L. Frank Baum's original story, such as Glinda, the good witch, along with the scarecrow, the cowardly lion, and the tin man. We find out how these characters came to be, how they knew each other, what their relationships were like, and what happened after Dorothy arrived in Oz. The storytelling all combines into one fantastic feat that engages, surprises, and delights all who come to see the show.
When I teach college Composition courses, we discuss the rhetorical devices of ethos, pathos, and logos. 'Wicked' does a tremendous job incorporating these three devices without blatantly announcing their inclusion. This is the mark of writing that is sound and focused, whether it is written in an academic tone or a more creative one.
Ethos is dependent on the credibility of the person who is writing, speaking, or in some other way sharing his or her opinions. Since the vast majority of the musical revolves around Elphaba, with Glinda and other characters also present for good measure, it is easy to see ethos shining through. Elphaba's credibility is laid out in nothing but plain terms, showcasing how she was a misunderstood person who only wanted to help in situations that became beyond her control once she realized who was against her and what power they wielded to turn everyone else against her as well.
Pathos is most certainly evident in that it deals with emotion, and the feelings the characters possess for one another as well as for themselves and their plights was worthy enough for me to not only laugh, but to shed a few tears for the trials and tribulations they had to go through to have life still not turn out quite like they expected it to.
Logos deals with the evidence that helps substantiate the crediblity and emotion. The evidence is clear, showing how Elphaba went from being misunderstood to being 'wicked'. Seeing how she deals with others after being labeled as such is a testament to the character she possessed before she was labeled so negatively. It also proves that sometimes people truly can be victims of circumstances that are beyond their control.
If you haven't seen 'Wicked,' I can't recommend it highly enough. It is truly a theatrical marvel that takes the story of 'The Wizard of Oz' to new heights, including music, a compelling story, and healthy doses of the rhetorical devices that can only add to the beauty that the story already exudes. It is the writing that we can only hope to achieve as we work on our own stories, poems, essays, and other works.
Beth Rodgers is the author of Freshman Fourteen, a young adult novel. You can visit her website at www.BethRodgersAuthor.com for more information.
A Fresh Perspective: A Blog by Beth Rodgers, Author of "Freshman Fourteen"
Check back often for tips on writing, including ways to deal with getting past writer's block, as well as posts by the characters of "Freshman Fourteen," Beth Rodgers' new young adult novel.
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