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The Wizard of Oz
The Wicked Witch of the West is the closest character the novel has to an antagonist, though she only appears in person in one chapter. Despite her limited appearances, the Wicked Witch makes a strong impression on Dorothy and company with her utter cruelty and malice. More than any other character in Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West represents pure evil of the sort usually only found in fairy tales. She serves as an intimidating obstacle for Dorothy and her friends, as the Wizard of Oz refuses to grant their requests until the Witch is dead. Just like when Dorothy killed the Wicked Witch of the East by happening to land on her upon arriving in Oz, Dorothy kills the Wicked Witch of the West by mistake by pouring water over her, which dissolves the Witch. This highlights Dorothy’s childlike innocence, especially when contrasted with the Witch’s pure, brutal evil.
The Wicked Witch of the West Quotes in The Wizard of Oz
The The Wizard of Oz quotes below are all either spoken by The Wicked Witch of the West or refer to The Wicked Witch of the West. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 2: The Council with the Munchkins
Quotes
‘But I thought all witches were wicked,’ said the girl, who was half frightened at facing a real witch.
‘Oh, no, that is a great mistake. There were only four witches in all the Land of Oz, and two of them, those who live in the North and the South, are good witches. I know this is true, for I am one of them myself, and cannot be mistaken.’
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Chapter 12: The Search for the Wicked Witch
Quotes
‘We dare not harm this little girl,’ he said to them, ‘for she is protected by the Power of Good, and that is greater than the Power of Evil. All we can do is to carry her to the castle of the Wicked Witch and leave her there.’
‘I’m very sorry, indeed,’ said Dorothy, who was truly frightened to see the Witch actually melting away like brown sugar before her very eyes.
‘Didn’t you know water would be the end of me?’ asked the Witch, in a wailing, despairing voice.
‘Of course not,’ answered Dorothy. ‘How should I?’
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Chapter 13: The Rescue
Quotes
When, at last, he walked into Dorothy’s room and thanked her for rescuing him, he was so pleased that he wept tears of joy, and Dorothy had to wipe every tear carefully from his face with her apron, so his joints would not be rusted. At the same time her own tears fell thick and fast at the joy of meeting her old friend again, and these tears did not need to be wiped away.
Chapter 15: The Discovery of Oz, the Terrible
Quotes
Of course each one of them expected to see the Wizard in the shape he had taken before, and all were greatly surprised when they looked about and saw no one at all in the room. They kept close to the door and closer to one another, for the stillness of the empty room was more dreadful than any of the forms they had seen Oz take.
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The Wicked Witch of the West Quotes in The Wizard of Oz
The The Wizard of Oz quotes below are all either spoken by The Wicked Witch of the West or refer to The Wicked Witch of the West. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 2: The Council with the Munchkins
Quotes
‘But I thought all witches were wicked,’ said the girl, who was half frightened at facing a real witch.
‘Oh, no, that is a great mistake. There were only four witches in all the Land of Oz, and two of them, those who live in the North and the South, are good witches. I know this is true, for I am one of them myself, and cannot be mistaken.’
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 12: The Search for the Wicked Witch
Quotes
‘We dare not harm this little girl,’ he said to them, ‘for she is protected by the Power of Good, and that is greater than the Power of Evil. All we can do is to carry her to the castle of the Wicked Witch and leave her there.’
‘I’m very sorry, indeed,’ said Dorothy, who was truly frightened to see the Witch actually melting away like brown sugar before her very eyes.
‘Didn’t you know water would be the end of me?’ asked the Witch, in a wailing, despairing voice.
‘Of course not,’ answered Dorothy. ‘How should I?’
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13: The Rescue
Quotes
When, at last, he walked into Dorothy’s room and thanked her for rescuing him, he was so pleased that he wept tears of joy, and Dorothy had to wipe every tear carefully from his face with her apron, so his joints would not be rusted. At the same time her own tears fell thick and fast at the joy of meeting her old friend again, and these tears did not need to be wiped away.
Chapter 15: The Discovery of Oz, the Terrible
Quotes
Of course each one of them expected to see the Wizard in the shape he had taken before, and all were greatly surprised when they looked about and saw no one at all in the room. They kept close to the door and closer to one another, for the stillness of the empty room was more dreadful than any of the forms they had seen Oz take.
