The Wicked Witch of the West is a character from Frank L. Baum's 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, famously adapted in its 1939 film-adaptation in which she was portrayed by Margaret Hamilton.
History[]
Background[]
The Wicked Witch of the West was a powerful witch in the Land of Oz, where she ruled over the western region of the Winkies while the East of Munchkinland was ruled by her likewise evil sister, the Wicked Witch of the East. The Wicked Witch of the East died when a twister dropped the house of Dorothy Gale onto her, causing the witch's ruby slippers to magically appear on Dorothy's feet while the Witch of the West wanted them for her own power. The Witch made several attempts to kill Dorothy to take the slippers, only for Dorothy to inadvertently kill the witch by throwing a bucket of water on her, melting her.
Appearances[]
The Great Movie Ride[]
The Wicked Witch of the West appears in the Munchkinland scene, recreating her first scene in the film with the tour-guide replacing Dorothy.
Le Pays des Contes de Fées[]
A castle in the Oz stories tableau is often assumed to represent the Wicked Witch of the West's castle, as it is adorned with the weathervane of a Flying Monkey.[1]
Trivia[]
- The witch was planned to appear in the unbuilt attraction Rock Candy Mountain.
- The scene of the witch disappearing in a puff of fire that was recreated in the Great Movie Ride was the same scene that permanently burned actress Margaret Hamilton while filming.
Gallery[]
