Elphaba: Wicked
- Nov 14, 2024
- 2 min read
Recently we explored the leadership qualities of the character Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West in the musical Wicked and Wizard of Oz, voted as one of most evil characters in the history of movies.
The musical Wicked has made a return to Melbourne, and the movie version is coming out in November.
We can learn a lot about 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 from these characters, and even though she exhibits some outstanding leadership qualities such as 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, she also gives examples of how not to behave as leader
𝟭. 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗯𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: Can be extremely stubborn, often refusing to listen to the advice or suggestions of others. This inflexibility hinder her ability to adapt to changing circumstances or consider alternative perspectives.
𝟮. 𝗜𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Isolates herself emotionally and physically from others, particularly as she becomes more disillusioned with society. This isolation can alienate potential allies and limit her ability to build strong relationships that are essential for effective leadership.
𝟯. 𝗟𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Struggles with effective communication, particularly in expressing her thoughts and feelings to others. This can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts within her leadership circle, as well as with those she seeks to lead.
𝟰. 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝘂𝗹𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: Acts impulsively without fully considering the potential consequences of her actions. This can result in unintended negative outcomes and undermine her credibility as a leader.
𝟱. 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆: While Elphaba is driven by a strong sense of justice, her methods and decisions can sometimes be morally ambiguous. This ambiguity can erode trust and confidence in her leadership, especially among those who question her motives or ethics.
Despite these flaws, it's important to note that Elphaba also possesses many admirable qualities and undergoes significant growth and development throughout the story. Her journey challenges conventional notions of good and evil, making her a compelling and multifaceted character.
Image copyright Universal Pictures
Robert Cass 🟢 🟡 / 🔵 🔴, Anthony Kandi, Simone Hambrook, Betty Trajkovski, Devon White, Annie Spiteri, Sushrut Kamath, Jason Wu
