The question of Elphaba’s green skin is a fascinating one for fans of “Wicked,” prompting much speculation about its origins within the fantastical world of Oz. Delving into the source material, we find that the reasons behind her emerald hue are not explicitly stated and differ slightly between the musical and book interpretations, leaving room for intriguing theories.
In the popular musical adaptation of “Wicked,” the narrative hints at a connection between Elphaba’s green skin and a mysterious “green elixir.” The song A Sentimental Man subtly suggests that the Wizard’s affairs might be limited, portraying him more as someone yearning for domesticity rather than a rampant seducer. Within this context, the affair between the Wizard and Melena, Elphaba’s mother, appears to be a significant, perhaps singular, event where the green elixir played a role. Adding to this intrigue, Glinda’s line, “I’ve only seen another green bottle like this and it was here in this room. You offered me a drink from it,” emphasizes the rarity and special nature of this green elixir, suggesting it might be specifically linked to Elphaba’s unusual birth. In the musical, the elixir seems more akin to a potent alcoholic beverage, implying a consensual encounter between Melena and the Wizard, with the elixir somehow triggering Elphaba’s green complexion.
However, the Gregory Maguire novel, “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” presents a starkly different and considerably darker perspective. In the book, the green elixir is far from a romantic potion; it’s depicted as a powerful drug used to incapacitate Melena, leading to a non-consensual encounter with the Wizard, essentially portraying rape. While the book implies the Wizard might be Elphaba’s father, it never definitively states that the green elixir is the direct cause of her green skin. It’s merely presented as a possible factor in the complex circumstances surrounding her birth. Furthermore, the book canon establishes that the Wizard possesses a considerable supply of these elixirs, imported to Oz, suggesting their use wasn’t limited to just one instance. This raises the question posed: if the Wizard used the elixir with other women, why aren’t there more green people in Oz?
One theory to reconcile Elphaba’s uniqueness is the possibility that Melena was already pregnant when she consumed the elixir. Although the timeline of conception is not explicitly detailed, this remains a plausible explanation within the fantastical narrative. Adding to the ambiguity, the book even introduces the outlandish suggestion that Melena might have been “fucked by elves,” highlighting the uncertainty surrounding Elphaba’s parentage and the true cause of her green skin.
Another, albeit darker, speculation is that there were other green babies born in Oz, but they were either killed or perished due to the societal stigma and fear associated with their unusual coloration. While there’s no direct evidence in canon to support this grim theory, it’s not entirely impossible within the prejudiced society depicted in “Wicked.”
Interestingly, when considering Rain, another green character in the “Wicked” universe (specifically in later books by Gregory Maguire), the green elixir is not involved. Rain’s green skin is linked to her parentage through Liir, Elphaba’s son. The common thread between Elphaba and Rain’s conceptions, though disturbing, points to non-consensual circumstances: Melena’s rape and Liir’s own conception under similar conditions. This raises a highly unsettling and speculative possibility: could trauma or non-consensual conception somehow be linked to the green skin trait, passed down genetically? However, this remains a very tenuous and ethically complex interpretation.
In conclusion, the definitive reason for Elphaba’s green skin remains ambiguous and open to interpretation. While the musical leans towards the green elixir as a catalyst in a consensual affair, and the book presents it in a far more sinister context of rape, neither explicitly confirms the elixir as the sole cause. Other factors, such as pre-existing pregnancy, the possibility of other unknown green children, or even the traumatic circumstances of conception, could all play a role in the mystery of why Elphaba is the only prominently known green person in Oz. The lack of a clear answer is likely intentional, adding to the enduring mystique and complexity of the “Wicked” narrative.
