Audiences Say They See A Lot Of Political Symbolism In The New ‘Wicked’ Musical

From the 1900 novel to the iconic 1939 film on which it was based and throughout a long line of retellings in the decades since, “The Wizard of Oz” has always had a knack for speaking to the political and cultural issues of the time.

And now that fans have had a chance to start digesting the new “Wicked” movie, many of them say there’s some clear allegory woven into the story.

Familiar themes

Like most versions of the story first told by L. Frank Baum, the new musical touches on issues like manipulation and abuse of power. And “Wicked” itself, which dates back nearly three decades to a Gregory Maguire novel, digs deeper into political themes like fascism and authoritarianism.

While those topics are not unique to any particular time period, some viewers say they see clear connections between some of the characters and real-life political leaders.

Of course, what a person might read into any story has a lot to do with his or her own beliefs — but a number of social media users are outlining perceived similarities to the recent presidential election. Specifically, some fans believe the Wicked Witch’s characteristics align with Kamala Harris while the Wizard reminds them of Donald Trump.

Too much imagery?

It’s worth noting that “Wicked” isn’t being marketed as some sort of commentary on modern American politics. Nevertheless, since such symbolism has been ingrained into the story for generations, it was bound to become part of the discussion.

And while some fans see it as a master class in using art to deliver a warning about oppressive leaders, others (even some who might agree with the message itself) worry that a heavy-handed approach might turn off viewers rather than persuade them.

Chris Agee December 2nd, 2024

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