From “Wicked: The Life & Times of the Wicked Witch of the West—Theme of Gender” on Shmoop:
“Wicked is all about strong female characters: Elphaba, Glinda, Nessa, Sarima, Melena, Dorothy, Nanny, Nor, Morrible, Princess Nastoya… This legacy actually comes from L. Frank Baum himself, as [Gregory] Maguire explains:
“‘It was Baum who set up the powerful princesses of Glinda, the witches, and Ozma as the real wielders of power in Oz, and the Wizard was just a sham. Baum was an early and ardent feminist, as anyone who has read his biography knows. I think he’d have been delighted that Elphaba and Glinda (both in the musical Wicked and in my novels) are figures of power to admire, to emulate—and yes, as in any powerful figure, to question.’”
Related: The Wizard of Oz VS. Wicked.
It’s All About Popular… Lar, Lar, Lar, Lar!
Women in Fiction: Are Our Favourite Fictional Females Actually Strong, or Stereotypes?
Women in Fiction: My Favourite Fictional Females.
“With a Gun Between Her Legs” Take 2.
Elsewhere: [Shmoop] Wicked: The Life & Times of the Wicked Witch of the West—Theme of Gender.
[USA Today] Wicked Author Gregory Magurie Casts His Spell.
Image via Johnny Jet.
The Scarlett Woman 
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