The narrative of Wicked, both in Gregory Maguire’s novel and Stephen Schwartz’s musical adaptation, is a complex tapestry of character development, societal critique, and magical machinations. While the story is primarily centered on the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch, the fate and transformation of Nessarose, Elphaba’s younger sister, is a crucial thread that significantly impacts the overarching plot. Nessarose’s journey is one of immense tragedy, driven by a combination of physical vulnerability, external manipulation, and a profound lack of agency. Understanding what happened to Nessa is key to grasping the motivations and consequences of many of the choices made by the central characters, and it serves as a poignant exploration of how perceived weakness can be exploited, leading to devastating outcomes.
The Seeds of Vulnerability: Nessarose’s Early Life and Circumstances
Nessarose, often referred to as Nessa, is introduced as Elphaba’s younger half-sister. From her birth, Nessa is depicted as physically frail, a consequence of her mother’s alleged infidelity and her father, the Wizard of Oz’s, less-than-stellar magical abilities. This inherent vulnerability shapes her entire existence and the way she is perceived by those around her, including her family.
The Burden of a Name and a Disability
Nessa’s early life is marked by the stigma of her supposed illegitimacy and her physical limitations. She is born without arms, a condition that necessitates constant care and support. In the land of Oz, where magical prowess and outward appearances often dictate one’s status, Nessa’s condition makes her an object of pity and, at times, disdain. Her name itself, Nessarose, carries a certain fragility, a delicate bloom that seems destined to be easily bruised. Her father, the Wizard, and her stepmother, Morrible, view her as a burden and a symbol of their family’s supposed imperfections. This perception, unfortunately, filters down to Nessa herself, contributing to a deep-seated sense of self-doubt and a longing for acceptance.
The Shadow of Elphaba’s Presence
Elphaba, with her striking green skin and prodigious, albeit often misunderstood, magical talent, stands in stark contrast to Nessa’s quiet fragility. While the sisters share a blood connection, their lives are lived in vastly different spheres. Elphaba’s burgeoning power and her ostracization by Oz’s society inadvertently shield Nessa from some of the more overt societal prejudices, but they also create a distance between them. Elphaba, though protective, is often consumed by her own struggles and her growing awareness of the injustices in Oz. This leaves Nessa largely under the care of others, particularly her father and eventually Madame Morrible, whose influence proves to be far more insidious than a simple act of caretaking.
The Puppet Master’s Grip: Morrible’s Influence and Nessarose’s Downfall
Madame Morrible, the ambitious and manipulative Chancellor of Shiz University, plays a pivotal role in Nessarose’s tragic trajectory. Recognizing Nessa’s inherent vulnerability and her lack of control over her own life, Morrible sees an opportunity to further her own agenda, using Nessa as a pawn in her schemes.
Exploiting Weakness for Political Gain
Morrible, a master manipulator, understands that by controlling Nessa, she can exert influence over the Wizard and potentially over Oz itself. She strategically positions herself as Nessa’s protector and confidante, subtly grooming her and fostering a dependency that allows Morrible to dictate Nessa’s actions and perceptions. Nessa, starved for affection and validation, readily falls under Morrible’s sway, mistaking the Chancellor’s calculated control for genuine care. This is a common theme in Wicked: the exploitation of those who are marginalized or who crave belonging.
The Illusion of Power and the Reality of Control
Morrible orchestrates a series of events designed to elevate Nessa and grant her a semblance of power, most notably through the “gift” of magical slippers. In the musical, these are ruby slippers; in the book, they are enchanted slippers that allow Nessa to walk. These gifts are not acts of kindness but rather tools of control. By providing Nessa with the means to overcome some of her physical limitations, Morrible ensures Nessa remains indebted and reliant on her. The slippers, while seemingly empowering, are a superficial solution that masks the deeper issue of Nessa’s lack of genuine autonomy. Morrible ensures Nessa believes she is powerful, while in reality, Nessa remains a puppet whose strings are expertly manipulated.
The Inevitable Climax: The Unmaking of Nessarose
Nessarose’s story reaches its tragic crescendo with her ascension to the position of Governor of Munchkinland and her subsequent demise, an event that has profound and far-reaching consequences, particularly for Elphaba. Her fate is a direct result of the machinations of Morrible and her own inability to escape the web of manipulation that has ensnared her.
The Rise to “Power” and the Seeds of Her Destruction
Under Morrible’s guidance, Nessarose is installed as the Governor of Munchkinland after the Wizard’s expulsion from Oz. This position is largely ceremonial, a title bestowed upon her by Morrible to consolidate her own power behind the scenes. Nessa, blinded by the supposed honor and the attention, believes she is finally in a position of significance. However, this “power” is fragile, built on manipulation and resentment from the very people she is meant to govern, who view her as a weak and ineffective ruler, a tool of the Wizard’s regime. Her attempts to exert authority are often misguided and fueled by Morrible’s whispered advice, leading to further alienation and resentment.
The Fatal Encounter and the “Accidental” Death
The pivotal moment in Nessarose’s story, and a turning point for Elphaba, is her death. In the musical, this occurs when Dorothy Gale, an innocent girl from Kansas, lands on Nessarose with her house, crushing her beneath it. The ruby slippers are then transferred to Dorothy. In the novel, the circumstances are more complex and arguably more tragic, involving an accidental fall and a desperate attempt by Elphaba to save her sister, which ultimately fails. Regardless of the specific execution, Nessa’s death is the catalyst for Elphaba’s transformation into the “Wicked” Witch of the West, as she is blamed for her sister’s demise by the manipulative Morrible and the fearful citizens of Oz. The loss of her sister, combined with the injustice of being scapegoated, solidifies Elphaba’s alienation and fuels her growing bitterness towards the ruling powers of Oz.
The Legacy of a Pawn
Nessarose’s life, though brief and tragically curtailed, leaves an indelible mark on the narrative of Wicked. Her story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the devastating consequences of exploiting vulnerability. She is a victim of circumstance, a pawn in a larger game, whose true potential, if it ever existed, was never allowed to flourish. Her death, whether by a falling house or a tragic accident, becomes the defining moment that pushes Elphaba further into her perceived wickedness, setting in motion the chain of events that will shape the history of Oz and the legend of the Wicked Witch of the West. The tragedy of Nessarose is not just her death, but the entirety of a life lived under the shadow of others’ ambitions and her own perceived inadequacies.
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