Awhile back on the Juggler, Juggler Reader Bellatrix was expressing the same frustration that so many current Witches and Pagans feel, at the dearth of positive images of Witches and Pagans in Pop-Culture. (The frustration is similar to that experienced by Gays and Lesbians throughout the better part of the 20th century; the difference is that the maligned image of Witches and Pagans literally dates back to the Middle Ages, and is, I guess, kind of enshrined in certain Dominant Culture doctrines.) Anyway, Bellatrix’s comments set me to thinking, and I decided to feature the Good Witch Series, playing up specific Good Witches whose positive portrayals serve as inspirational models in the Zeitgeist.
The fascinating thing, since the 20th century, is the development of cinematic story-telling: Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and the Harry Potter series all represent bold experiments in the developing field of movie Fable-Making. Arguably still the best example of movie-Faerey-Telling is MGM’s 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. Somewhere behind the moon, beyond the stars- somewhere over the rainbow, there is a wonderful Land called Oz: which is seemingly governed by a Gracious (and slightly Campy) Goddess-Like Lady, a Good Witch named Glinda who apparently glides serenely over the land in a pink bubble, landing and alighting whenever and wherever there is trouble or need.
As in Cinderella, she seems to be revealing herself as a Faerie-Godmother to her chosen Child Dorothy: whom she sends upon a Joseph Campbell-like Journey of Discovery down a Yellow Brick Road. The journey is dangerous, through a dark woods that gets darker before it gets brighter, and a Wicked Witch is harassing her steps. Finally she must face the Evil Hag in the Witch’s Castle of Doom- she must face her own mortality (“See this? That’s how long you have to live! And it isn’t very long!”) But she learns that she has the Power within herself, and through her decisive throwing of water upon the Wicked Crone, she learns that she can free herself from fear, and act in a way that is a benefit to others. These lessons learned, the Good Witch Glinda (who has apparently been guarding Dorothy’s journey all along) reappears in her signature pink bubble, to wave her Magickal Staff graciously, ending the anxiety and trauma that has gone before. Her Goddess-like status is signaled by the respectful obeisances of the people of Oz, and her Goodness is shown by the affectionate love the Munchkins show her.
Actress Billie Burke was an inspired choice for Glinda. Possessing a light, silvery speaking voice and an ethereal, slightly distracted manner, she seemed formed out of the air itself; the complete serenity of her presence suggests the Blissful Lady of Grace and Total Love, Kwan Yin. Her archetypal (and campy) appeal is such that- at every West Village Halloween Parade of which I know- some Drag Queen is drifting around costumed as her, serenely spreading happiness and joy. Surely one of the Goodest of Good Witches is Glinda the Good.
I preferred the good witch of the original book.
Three were men and one a woman, and all were oddly dressed. They wore round hats that rose to a small point a foot above their heads, with little bells around the brims that tinkled sweetly as they moved. The hats of the men were blue; the little woman’s hat was white, and she wore a white gown that hung in pleats from her shoulders. Over it were sprinkled little stars that glistened in the sun like diamonds. . . . the little woman was doubtless much older. Her face was covered with wrinkles, her hair was nearly white, and she walked rather stiffly. . . .
As for the little old woman, she took off her cap and balanced the point on the end of her nose, while she counted “One, two, three” in a solemn voice. At once the cap changed to a slate, on which was written in big, white chalk marks: “LET DOROTHY GO TO THE CITY OF EMERALDS”
The little old woman took the slate from her nose, and having read the words on it, asked, “Is your name Dorothy, my dear?” . . .
“Won’t you go with me?” pleaded the girl, who had begun to look upon the little old woman as her only friend.
“No, I cannot do that,” she replied, “but I will give you my kiss, and no one will dare injure a person who has been kissed by the Witch of the North.”
She came close to Dorothy and kissed her gently on the forehead. Where her lips touched the girl they left a round, shining mark, as Dorothy found out soon after. . . .
The Witch gave Dorothy a friendly little nod, whirled around on her left heel three times, and straightway disappeared, much to the surprise of little Toto, who barked after her loudly enough when she had gone, because he had been afraid even to growl while she stood by. But Dorothy, knowing her to be a witch, had expected her to disappear in just that way, and was not surprised in the least.
Of course, in the books, it was the Witch of the South who was young and beautiful and named Glinda. They conflated the two characters and left out the journey to the Quadlings entirely. . . which is fine, but I still like the grandmotherly figure better.
(And that ridiculous crown always irritated the crap out of me. >:-)
I have to admit, upon hearing the line “Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?” (or, at least, experiencing it in some form, since I don’t remember when I actually heard it he first time) I thought that was very logical.
I mean, really, Dorothy, why are you so ignorant? Isn’t it so totally obvious witches would come in both good and bad varieties?
(Maybe the fundamentalists were right. XD Soon, your dreams are filled with good magic and forces in the world, and next…)
Hey both Keith and Pagan Puff Pieces: thanks for your really insightful comments. Yes, thank you, PPP, Witches come in both Good and Bad, and may Dreams be filled with Good Magicke.
Keith- thank you so much for contributing from the book: it has been years since I read it, but- wow- the Witch of the North is kind of Shamanic, isn’t she? “She whirled around on her left heel three times, and straightway disappeared.”
Anything to do with one foot (according to at least Carlo Ginzburg, in Ecstasies) counts as an Archetypal Sign of Shamanism, as One Foot archetyply represents (in some Universal Archetypal Form: witness Rumplestilskin hopping on one foot) anyone who has Journeyed Between the Worlds.
Doing anything three times is a significant act in (at least) English Folklore Tradition. Witness: the Three Sisters in Macbeth.
Whirling around, or spinning in a Circle, is a device associated with Witches in Elizabethan/ Jacobean Witch Plays: witness again Macbeth, or Jonson’s Sad Shepherd or Masque of Queens.
All of this- spinning around on her left heel three times- causes a Supernatural Reaction: she disappears.
Now all of a sudden, I would love to know how Mr. Baum put all this Folklore-Mythology together.
Baum was a Theosophist, so it’s entirely possible he’d had some exposure to anthropological literature on shamanism that existed at the time, I suppose.
The spell that summoned the flying monkeys also had three parts, and was performed standing on first one foot, then the other, then both together. I still know the spell.* Pity I don’t have the magical cap required to make it work. Flying monkeys would be cooool. >:-)
*Yes, really; I’m that guy. I can quote incantations from Bewitched, from beloved children’s books, from mid-’80s comic books, Buffy, Charmed, etc. ad nauseum. Most of them are ridiculous, of course (although every so often you run across a phrase or two worth swiping and adapting for actual use), but the rhymes and/or cadences stick in my head. It’s a mildly amusing party trick, if you’re at the right party. If I ever find a man who can compete, I’ll marry him on the spot.
Honestly, I always saw Glenda as a rather evil character. She puts Dorothy through this trama and endangers her life, why? So she can learn to appreciate a place where people don’t try to kill her? It makes for a better story, but the title of “good” witch I feel is undeserved.
Cool series! Thanks for taking it on!
> Of course, in the books, it was the Witch of the South who was young and beautiful and named
> Glinda. They conflated the two characters and left out the journey to the Quadlings entirely. . . which
> is fine, but I still like the grandmotherly figure better.
To be fair, Billie Burke in the film was in her mid-fifties when The Wizard of Oz was shot. That’s not exactly young (though for films at the time, she was exceptionally beautiful for her age, which tends to connote a youthfulness). I do agree that the book was the better and more interesting story, on all sorts of levels, though, and the clearly aged North Witch of Baum’s creation had a charm that you don’t tend to see in Old Witches of the movies –but that’s more ageism than anti-witchcraft sentiment.