What Wicked Teaches Us About Power, Capitalism, and the Perils of Greed
By Cece Lowry
Cinema often serves as society’s mirror, reflecting not just our shared struggles but also the illusions we create to avoid seeing the truth. Wicked—a tale transformed from Gregory Maguire’s subversive novel into a beloved Broadway musical and now a highly anticipated film directed by Jon M. Chu—offers more than a fantastical narrative. It dares us to confront the dynamics of power, privilege, and complicity, critiquing late-stage capitalism and societal greed with sharp clarity.
In a time when consumerism feels like a lifeline and the systems around us teeter on decay, Wicked resonates because it doesn’t just entertain—it reveals. Its story isn’t about a far-off land; it’s about the world we live in, the choices we make to maintain comfort, and the cost of defying illusions we’ve been taught to accept.
Setting the Scene: A Glimpse of Capitalist Greed
As I ascend the escalator to the theater, juggling a popcorn-drink-candy combo that set me back $41.57—practically the price of two tickets—I’m struck by the absurdity. Even in spaces meant to offer escapism, capitalism’s grip is unrelenting. It’s not lost on me that this experience mirrors the Emerald City in Wicked. Like Oz, today’s entertainment spaces dazzle us with spectacle while masking the systems of greed that sustain them.
This dazzling journey is prefaced by 25 minutes of previews—ads cleverly disguised as entertainment. It’s a reminder that even joy is commodified, and we’re complicit in the cycle, paying for distractions while the machinery of inequity hums on in the background.
The parallels between this and Wicked’s Emerald City are striking: a glittering utopia that thrives on illusion, dazzling its citizens into submission while hiding the exploitation beneath.
The Wizard of Oz: Illusion as Power
Jeff Goldblum’s Wizard of Oz embodies late-stage capitalism in its most theatrical form. He’s charming, magnetic, and entirely inept. His power doesn’t come from ability or wisdom but from a carefully curated spectacle, upheld by a society that would rather cling to comforting illusions than face uncomfortable truths.
Much like today’s billionaires, the Wizard benefits from a system that rewards the appearance of brilliance while obscuring the exploitative structures beneath. The film subtly poses an unsettling question: Can there ever be such a thing as an ethical billionaire? Wicked answers with a resounding no. True ethical wealth would demand self-imposed limits and collective redistribution—ideas fundamentally opposed to the tenets of capitalism.
The Wizard’s reliance on illusion mirrors our own world, where power often thrives on distraction and grandiosity, allowing systems of inequity to persist unchecked.
Glinda: The Seduction of Privilege
Glinda sparkles, not just as a character but as a symbol of the seductive power of privilege. Ariana Grande’s portrayal emphasizes Glinda’s internal conflict: she’s a product of a system that rewards charm and ambition, even when they come at the expense of others.
Glinda’s rise is rooted in complicity. She thrives because she plays the game, climbing within the system rather than questioning it. Her journey challenges us to examine our own compromises: How often do we prioritize comfort and success over truth and justice? Glinda is relatable, not because she’s heroic but because she reflects the choices many of us make to preserve our own comfort.
Elphaba: The Courage of Defiance
While Glinda represents complicity, Elphaba embodies defiance. Cynthia Erivo’s portrayal of Elphaba captures the pain and resilience of choosing to challenge the system. Her green skin—marked as “other” from the start—is a potent metaphor for those who dare to reject the roles society imposes.
Her defiance comes at a cost. In a pivotal scene (minor spoilers ahead), the Wizard and Madame Morrible manipulate Oz’s Winged Monkeys into believing that Elphaba’s spell, which unintentionally gave them wings, was a deliberate act of cruelty. This calculated deception brands her as a villain, forcing her to flee and leaving her isolated from the very world she seeks to change.
This moment illustrates a universal truth: when resistance threatens the status quo, those in power will twist it into a threat. Elphaba’s story is a reminder that standing up for truth often means becoming a scapegoat in a system desperate to maintain its illusions. Yet, her defiance is also a source of hope—a symbol of what it means to break free from the realities we’ve been conditioned to accept.
The Fragility of Reality
A central theme of Wicked is the way individuals craft their own realities, often to avoid confronting uncomfortable truths. The Wizard’s power endures because his illusion is easier to accept than the truth. Glinda flourishes because she represents an idealized version of success. And the people of Oz choose the stability of lies over the chaos of change.
This dynamic mirrors our own world, where the systems we sustain rely on collective illusions. Wicked forces us to ask: How much of what we accept as truth is shaped by our desire for comfort? And what would it take to confront the inequities that lie beneath?
Fiyero: The Cost of Awakening
Jonathan Bailey’s Fiyero offers a different kind of transformation. As a privileged elite, he begins as a detached observer, content to float through life. But his relationship with Elphaba forces him to confront the inequities around him.
Fiyero’s journey—from oblivious bystander to empathetic ally—underscores the cost of awakening. To stand with Elphaba, he must abandon the comforts of privilege and embrace the uncertainty of resistance. His story is a reminder that true solidarity demands more than acknowledgment; it requires action, even when it comes at a personal cost.
Why Wicked Matters Now
Wicked isn’t just a story about a far-off land; it’s a lens through which we can examine our own world. The Emerald City’s glimmering façade, the Wizard’s reliance on spectacle, Glinda’s complicity, and Elphaba’s resistance all reflect the tensions we navigate daily.
It’s a tale about the systems we sustain, the truths we avoid, and the sacrifices required to create a better world. At its heart, Wicked challenges us to imagine a reality beyond the illusions we cling to—one where power is questioned, and the structures that bind us are dismantled.
What Comes After Defying Gravity?
As the first part of Wicked concludes, we are left with an open question: Will we continue to accept the comforting lies that sustain inequity, or will we dare to confront the truths they obscure?
In a world that rewards conformity and punishes dissent, Wicked reminds us that progress begins with discomfort. It challenges us to imagine what might be possible if we, too, chose to defy gravity.
Perhaps the greatest power of Wicked isn’t in the story it tells, but in the mirror it holds up to our own lives.