Glinda

Glinda (or Glinda the Good) is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. She is the chief sorceress of Oz.

The Classic Books

Glinda is referred to as "The Witch of the South" in the beloved 1900 book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. In this story, Glinda lives in a palace at the southern border of the Quadling Country where she is attended to by one hundred maidens (twenty-five from each country of Oz).

Besides a vast knowledge of magic, Glinda also has, for her use, various magic tools, charms, and instruments. Through the Great Book of Records in her palace, Glinda can track everything that goes on in the world from the instant it happens.

The 1939 Movie

In the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, Glinda is called "The Good Witch of the North". The character, played by actress Billie Burke, is seen in a large pink gown and wears a regal crown. Glinda acts as an advisor to young Dorothy Gale who wishes to return to her home in Kansas.

Modern Works

In Gregory Maguire's revisionist novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Glinda is initially called "Galinda," but she drops the first 'a' in her name in the middle of the story. Her character is seen extensively in the first half of the novel, but is mostly absent towards the end. In the novel's Broadway musical adaptation Wicked, G(a)linda is a more major character. In fact, the musical is mainly about the friendship between G(a)linda and Elphaba (the young woman who becomes the infamous Wicked Witch of the West). In both Maguire's novel and the musical, G(a)linda is a beautiful and very popular young girl.