Featured in the film Wicked, now showing in cinemas, the book Grimmerie draws attention to the story of the character Elphaba; understand!
“Wicked: Part 1” is now showing in Brazilian cinemas! Based on the Broadway musical of the same name, in turn inspired by the novel by Gregory Maguire“The Wizard of Oz”, “Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz”, the film presents the story of Elphaba, a character whose narrative is influenced by an iconic artifact: the Grimmerie!
After all, what is Grimmerie?
A book of spells of immense power that appears in all adaptations of the story, the Grimmerie plays a significant role in transforming the character into the famous Wicked Witch of the West, presented in “The Wizard of Oz”, a 1900 work signed by the author L. Frank Baum which received a film adaptation in the late 1930s.
Furthermore, Grimmerie is essential for unveiling the true intentions of the characters, separating heroes from villains, and is even responsible for creating the central conflict that guides the plot.
How did Grimmerie come about?
In the film, the origin and meaning of Grimmerie emerges through the extended “Wizomania” section of the song “One Short Day”, played when Elphaba and Glinda arrive in the Emerald City.
At this point, the book is presented as a creation of the Wise Wizards of Oz, whose spells were recorded before their extinction. Although the ancient language was lost over time, making it impossible for even experienced sorcerers like Madame Morrible to fully read the book, a prophecy indicates that one day someone capable of fully understanding it would emerge.
The narrative suggests that Elphaba is this prophesied figure, endowed with an innate magical potential that attracted the attention of Madame Morrible. Unlike other mystical characters like Glinda, Elphaba demonstrates extraordinary magical abilities without formal training.
[CUIDADO! O TEXTO A SEGUIR POSSUI SPOILERS DE ‘WICKED: PARTE 2’]
Now, how is it possible that Elphaba can read Grimmerie? In the musical, it, also known as the Ancient Book of Thaumaturgy and Enchantments, can be read by those with natural magical talent, thus being the origin of this power in the future Wicked Witch of the West, which should be explored in “Wicked: Part 2”, explains how she can read it.
This is because, in the second act of the play, it is shown that Elphaba is the result of a betrayal by her mother, who had relations with a mysterious man outside of marriage after drinking a green elixir — the same person responsible for causing the girl to be born with the greenish skin.
This man is originally from Earth, so Elphaba’s human and Ozian duality justifies her unique ability to read Grimmerie, as the combination caused her to be born with abilities that no other resident of Oz has, as ScreenRant explains.
Elphaba’s impulsive decision to take the Wizard’s Grimmerie marks a pivotal point in the unfolding of events in “Wicked: Part 1”, transforming her into Oz’s public enemy number one. With the book in her possession, she gains access to potent, yet dangerous and unpredictable, spells. This act causes a political and magical turnaround, setting the stage for developments in “Wicked: Part 2”, which hits Brazilian cinemas on December 27, 2025.
Read also: Wicked: After all, who is Elphaba’s real father?
Source: Recreio
