Elphaba is queer and autistic.
Nothing can change my mind about this.
There will be Wicked spoilers in this post!
I just watched Wicked last night, and I was blown away. I’ve read the book. I’ve seen the stage play. But the movie made me see Elphaba in a totally different light. I could…relate to her. And not just because of the whole “I’m green, so I’m an outcast” thing, no. Every fiber of my being was displayed onscreen, and I found myself wiping away tears as I watched.
Elphaba is clearly neurodivergent.
Her strong sense of justice, desire for fairness, and disinterest in bending to social hierarchies gives it away. She sees animals as her equals. When they feel pain, she feels pain. She also has meltdowns in the form of magical outbursts that she can’t seem to control.
Instead of hiding away in shame, Elphaba leans into her strangeness—wearing it like a cloak. Similar to how neurodivergent people may dress in vibrant colors and collect trinkets related to their special interests. But really, she’s painfully lonely. And woefully misunderstood.
Elphaba is ridiculed by her peers. She wants to be accepted, but she just can’t. So, she continues to be herself. “Proudly”. But Glinda, her roommate and biggest bully, can see through her facade. Then, in an emotional moment, Glinda changes her ways and embraces Elphaba.
I, too, have had a neurotypical person stand up and act as a shield for me after noticing my differences. It takes so much to stand apart from a taunting crowd to take up for the person the group has stamped as an “other”. So, although she initially fueled the taunting, Glinda acting as Elphaba’s shield was a huge moment. One that brought tears to my eyes.
Elphaba is queer
I’ve shared that I love people, regardless of their containers. And I feel Elphaba is the same. Personally, I yearn to be seen and understood in ways that very few people have been able to achieve. But when it does happen, it’s so…magical.
Elphaba clearly has a thing for Prince Fiyero, inspired by his display of empathy that she had only seen in herself up to that point. But she also has a deep, intimate bond with Glinda.
While watching, I understood why Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande (the two leads) have become so close. Their characters go through so much together. And it’s heartbreaking, in the end, to watch Elphaba choose the loneliness of freedom while Glinda chooses to abandon herself in the name of conformity.
Freedom comes at a cost
Neurodivergent people have it so hard in this world. To go against the grain means a lifetime of being cast out of spaces. Elphaba is demonized for standing up for what’s right and questioning the status quo. And we all know, in the end, she will be killed for it.
And most will only know her as the wicked witch. The strange, weird, and wild witch. While only the few who truly saw her would know the truth. Too afraid to speak up. Not wanting to be cast out as well.
I Live to Serve the Witch!
My dark romance novel is finally coming! She will be birthed on February 21st 🤸🏾♀️. If you haven’t already, download the free chapter, and I’ll send a direct email when the book is available to purchase. How to Escape Death is my next priority to release this quarter. Thank you to everyone who stuck by me through my terrible year and a half.
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Read my surreal novel: How to Be a Better Adult
Read my nerdy self-help book!: The Magical Girl’s Guide to Life
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