The journey of acceptance - Glinda in Wicked

     A recent obsession of mine has been the musical movie adaptation of the Broadway performance of Wicked. In particular, the character Glinda Upland of the Upper Uplands played by Ariana Grande. Glinda goes through a major character arc during the plot of each movie. Glinda begins her story as a rich popular girl, a traditional goodie two shoes who can do no wrong and is beloved by all. She is very ignorant to the reality of the world, however, as she was raised by a rich family who taught her to shut up and be pretty. Being popular was her way of keep control, and she built her entire being around this idea of being "good".

    As the films continues, Glinda is faced with many cruel and ugly things. Political corruption, racism, and propaganda schemes. She is forced to choose between keeping her popular, comfortable life and to fight for what she truly thinks is right. She chooses to stay popular, to join the side of the political dictators in power because they align with what she was taught to be. She needs to shut up, to be pretty, and the be "good". She becomes a propaganda symbol of what "good" is. She knows it is wrong, but what can she do? She was not born for the role of making change, she was born to be a symbol of perfection. It is not until she is faced with the fact that the people she is supporting are actively trying to kill the person who means the most to her, the only person who only ever saw her for her, not the perfect facade she put forth.

    At this, she is forced to reevaluate everything she stands for. To pop her bubble of ignorance, ease, and glamour, and to face the harsh truth of the corruption around her and make a change. She pops her bubble, she chooses to learn to be good. Truly good, not just a symbol of false good. She makes a stand, she uses her influence to dispel the corrupt politicians who rule her city, and she makes a vow to the people to do better. To learn how to be good, and learn she will, for she must now face the reality of the world, not the pretty pink glamor she was taught to see.   

    Glinda's transformation shows the importance of knowing your own worth, of knowing what your values are, and to stick to them. What Glinda did was immensely difficult, she gave up a life of glamour and comfort for what was right. To some, this may seem like an easy choice, but if you are told you are no more than a pretty face, why should you believe you can change? But Glinda does, teaching the lesson of no matter how you're perceived, you can still be true to yourself and what you believe is right.

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