The new movie adaptation of the beloved musical Wicked is already delighting audiences and critics and garnering positive reviews. Wicked boasts a talented cast of singers and actors who bring to life a new iteration of the musical’s characters. The Wicked movie was based on the book by Gregory Maguire, and deals with more complex topics than The Wizard of Oz, including prejudice and identity.

Wicked follows Elphaba as she goes to college and learns to harness her powers. However, at the same time, she realizes that something much more sinister is happening to the talking animals of Oz. Though it is unclear what is occurring at first, Wicked eventually does reveal why the animals are disappearing and forgetting how to speak, and by Wicked‘s ending, Elphaba makes the difficult choice to do what she feels is right to change their fate.

Animals Are Being Taken Away By The Wizard & Madame Morrible

They Are Revealed As The Villains In Wicked: Part 1

When Elphaba first arrives at Shiz University, she is excited to start her magical training under the dean of sorcery, Madame Morrible. In this process, Madame Morrible learns just how powerful Elphaba is and begins to manipulate her. Throughout Wicked, the animals of Oz begin to disappear or lose their ability to speak, and Elphaba is one of only a few people to advocate for them. When Elphaba finally gets a chance to meet the Wizard, she realizes that the Wizard and Madame Morrible were behind the animals losing their humanity all along.

The Wizard and Madame Morrible’s plan also relied on Elphaba because the Wizard never had any magic of his own. Though Madame Morrible does have powers, she knew that she would not be able to complete their plan on her own. They needed Elphaba to read from the grimmerie to finally fulfill their plan of subjugating the animals and completely controlling Oz.

Is Madame Morrible Using Magic To Make Animals Forget How To Speak?

It Seems Likely That She Is Using Her Powers

Though Wicked does not explicitly state how exactly Madame Morrible is taking away the animals’ ability to speak, it seems safe to assume that she is using her magic. Since the plan to subjugate the animals was formed by her and the Wizard, and he does not have any powers, Madame Morrible is the driving force behind the change. Additionally, from her position of power at Shiz University and partnership with the Wizard, she would have the knowledge of the animals of Oz to force this change.

When Elphaba reads from the grimmerie, Madame Morrible takes the final steps to control the animals altogether and give the Wizard complete control over Oz.

While animals disappear and lose the ability to speak throughout Wicked, including Elphaba’s teacher and mentor Dr. Dillamond, Madame Morrible is not able to fully enact the final stages of her plan until she takes advantage of Elphaba’s powers as well. When Elphaba reads from the grimmerie, Madame Morrible takes the final steps to control the animals altogether and give the Wizard complete control over Oz. In the process, Wicked shows how Elphaba will become the Wicked Witch of the West in the sequel through Madame Morrible’s actions.