Why Morrible Doesn't Want To Teach Glinda Magic In Wicked

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Wicked!



Despite Glinda being one of the main characters in Wicked, Madame Morrible doesn’t want to teach her magic, and here is why. Upon arriving at Shiz University, Madame Morrible immediately takes Elphaba under her wing, much to Glinda’s dismay. Although fans of The Wizard of Oz know that Glinda will one day become Glinda the Good, one of the most powerful witches in Oz, she has no magic by the time Wicked starts, with Madame Morrible’s decision not to pick her having a massive impact on the world of the franchise.


2024’s Wicked movie adaptation is finally here, with the film being the first of a two-part adaptation of the hit Wicked musical. Wicked is surprisingly accurate to the first act of the play, with it changing very few story details and adding in a lot of explanation and extra Easter eggs and references to The Wizard of Oz. However, Wicked leaves the second half of the play entirely untouched. Because of this, new fans unfamiliar with the musical undoubtedly have a lot of questions, with many of these having to do with Madame Morrible’s plan.


Madame Morrible Wants To Teach Someone With More Obvious Magic Potential

Which Is Why She Chose Elphaba


As soon as Elphaba and Glinda arrive to Shiz University, Elphaba demonstrates her magical powers, with her causing many of the items in a room to levitate. Although Madame Morrible takes the blame for this, she immediately catches on to the power that Elphaba is capable of, with her deciding to use Elphaba for her and The Wizard’s scheme. As it turns out, Morrible wants Elphaba to cast spells in order to cover up the fact that The Wizard isn’t capable of performing magic, explaining why she is training Elphaba in secret.

Related

Wicked Part One: Everything You Need To Know

The film version of Wicked, the smash-hit Broadway musical about two Wizard of Oz witches, finally got its starry movie adaptation.

Unaware of Morrible’s evil plans, Glinda wants to be chosen as Morrible’s star student, with her being disappointed that Elphaba has been chosen instead. Elphaba’s magical potential is made immediately more obvious to Morrible due to Elphaba’s use of magic at Shiz University. While it will eventually become apparent that Glinda is capable of great feats of magic, Morrible knows she needs someone she can quickly train, explaining why she picked Elphaba over Glinda.


Morrible Doubts Glinda’s Magic Capabilities

Even Though She Will Eventually Be A Witch

While Morrible knows that Elphaba is exactly what her and The Wizard need, she doubts Glinda’s magic capabilities, with her not wanting to take Glinda under her wing. Glinda never demonstrates her magical abilities throughout Wicked, with her mostly seeming like a normal human. Because of this, Morrible has no reason to believe that Glinda is capable of the great feats of magic that her and The Wizard need.

Glinda, however, seems to think that she is capable of magic. Although she doesn’t show it, the beginning of the film proves that Glinda will eventually become a powerful witch. Thus, Glinda’s magical abilities will have to become apparent at some point, most likely in the time between Wicked and Wicked: Part Two. This isn’t just speculation, as the end of Wicked clearly sets Glinda on this path for the sequel.


Wicked’s Ending Forces Morrible To Teach Glinda How To Do Magic

Making Her Morrible’s New Tool

While Madame Morrible wants to work with Elphaba in the first Wicked movie, things go horribly wrong at the end, forcing her to teach Glinda instead. Although Elphaba refuses to work for Morrible and The Wizard, Glinda seems to be on their side, with Morrible realizing that she is far more likely to help the duo out. Because of this, Morrible will pivot and take Glinda under her wing, teaching her magic and allowing her to do the feats that their plan requires.

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba wearing glasses and looking bemused in Wicked

Related

Elphaba’s Dance With Glinda In Wicked Explained

One of the most powerful scenes in 2024’s Wicked is at the Ozdust Ballroom, and it has a lot to do with Elphaba’s unique dance.


This will lead to Glinda’s transformation into Glinda the Good, with her finally taking up the mantle that she has in The Wizard of Oz. Although Glinda will always question the morality of her role in Morrible and The Wizard’s plot, as she can be seen doing in the opening scenes of Wicked, her role in their scheme will allow her to accomplish her dreams of becoming a powerful magic user. While her magical abilities may not have been as immediately apparent as Elphaba’s, she will soon demonstrate that she can be just as powerful, with her being one of the most acclaimed witches in Wicked.