Wicked Essay - “Another Way” (Fiyeraba)

Wicked Essay - “Another Way” (Fiyeraba)

ALERT! CONTAINS A FEW SPOILERS

“It’s not lying, it’s looking at things another way.” -Fiyero

Ok it’s time to discuss this line and more of Fiyero’s lines in the show and why he loves elphie and thinks she is beautiful.

Some argue that this line is calling Elphaba “ugly” because he doesn’t directly say “you’re beautiful” and has to look at her another way. However, looking at elphaba another way is a POSITIVE THING! This line is necessary because it is the ENTIRE POINT OF THE MUSICAL - seeing the Witches of Oz from a different perspective instead of Glinda = good and Elphaba = Wicked. By the end of the show, the audience sees the “wicked” witch in a completely different way than she is portrayed in Oz. After getting the full story, we don’t see her as a wicked witch but a strong, independent, intelligent young woman with gorgeous emerald skin. WE SEE HER IN ANOTHER WAY!

Ok now getting back to Fiyero. He is the only person who doesn’t comment on Elphaba’s green skin. Yes he says “maybe the driver saw green and thought it meant go” but this line was not in the original show when the musical first opened. The scene was added in later so the characters can meet, but he doesn’t freak out or runaway.

More lines of Fiyero’s regarding Elphaba:

“She doesn’t give a twig what anyone else thinks” - Ozdust Ballroom

—

Morrible: You’ve been on the hunt for the wicked witch.

Fiyero: Well I don’t think of her has a wicked witch.

...

Fiyero (To Glinda): you can’t leave because you can’t resist this.

Glinda: Well who could?

Fiyero: You know who can and who has.

-Thank Goodness scene

These lines reveal a lot!

Fiyero outright states to the public that he does not think of her as a wicked witch. He thinks of her in ANOTHER WAY! He loves the fact that she is different, not only in physical appearance but also socially and in her personality. He is attracted to her feisty side and admires how she rejects the crowd and doesn’t care what anyone else thinks. He likes how she will fight for what’s right even if it makes waves in society, whereas Glinda wants to appear cooperative and remain well-liked by the ozians. (I’m not bashing Glinda. I actually think Glinda is such a complex and amazing character and someday I will write an entire essay on her journey). He sees her green skin not as “an outward manifestorium of her twisted nature” as quoted by Morrible, but as something mysterious and beautiful that sets her apart. Again, he sees her in ANOTHER WAY than the rest of Oz sees her. Elphaba has been conditioned to believe that her green skin is “bad” and therefore not beautiful, but Fiyero sees it differently. In this scene, he refuses to say anything nasty about her even though the public will applaud him for it. He storms out, unable to tolerate the mean comments and rumors about the woman he loves.

Now we have “Popular” and the lion cub scene right after. Glinda tells Elphie “You’re Beautiful” only after she gives her a makeover (but Glinda is so innocent here because that’s all she knows.) In the next scene Fiyero notices but tells her she doesn’t have to be galindafied (Again, I’m not bashing Glinda. I love her character) because he likes her the way she is and she doesn’t have to blend in with the rest of the popular girls at Shiz to be attractive to him.

“Come be how you want to, and see how bright we shine” -ALAYM. They can be themselves with each other and it’s just so sweet 🥲

Ok I’m done. Let me know what you think. Agree? Disagree? Want to add something? Awesome. Thank you for coming to my TED talk. I’m obviously way too invested in these fictional characters 😂