Who Is the Wicked Witch of the East?

The Wicked Witch of the East is a fictional antagonist from L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, best known as the tyrannical ruler of the eastern region of Oz whose death occurs at the very start of the story when Dorothy’s house lands on her during a cyclone, an event that frees the Munchkins from oppression, transfers the Witch’s powerful enchanted silver shoes to Dorothy, and sets the entire journey of the Wizard of Oz into motion.

Table of Contents
Who Is the Wicked Witch of the East in L. Frank Baum’s Original Novel
The Wicked Witch of the East and the Political Structure of Oz
The Silver Shoes and the Witch’s Lasting Power
Wicked Witch of the East vs Wicked Witch of the West
The Wicked Witch of the East in Movies and Modern Retellings
The Symbolic Meaning of the Wicked Witch of the East
Why the Wicked Witch of the East Matters to the Wizard of Oz

Who Is the Wicked Witch of the East in L. Frank Baum’s Original Novel

In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the East is never shown alive, yet her presence dominates the opening chapters of the book. She ruled over the Munchkins, forcing them into lifelong servitude through fear and magical authority. Baum intentionally avoids dramatizing her cruelty through scenes of violence or confrontation. Instead, readers learn who she was by observing the immediate relief and joy of the Munchkins once she is dead. Their reaction makes it clear that her rule was harsh, absolute, and deeply feared. This method of storytelling turns the Witch into a symbol of systemic oppression rather than a theatrical villain. Her wickedness is not defined by spectacle but by control, which makes her one of the most quietly powerful figures in the Oz universe despite her lack of direct involvement in the story.

The Wicked Witch of the East and the Political Structure of Oz

The Land of Oz is divided into four major regions, each aligned with a cardinal direction and governed by a powerful ruler. The Wicked Witch of the East controlled the eastern quadrant, making her one of the four dominant political forces in Oz. Her rule demonstrates that Oz is not a purely magical utopia but a land shaped by unequal power and injustice. While Good Witches exist in the North and South, they do not directly intervene in the East while the Wicked Witch remains alive, suggesting that her authority was respected or feared even by benevolent forces. Her sudden death creates an immediate shift in power, freeing the Munchkins and allowing good magic to reassert itself. This political change establishes a recurring theme in Oz: wicked rulers maintain power until something disrupts the system, even if that disruption comes by accident rather than rebellion.

The Silver Shoes and the Witch’s Lasting Power

The most important object associated with the Wicked Witch of the East is the pair of enchanted silver shoes she owned. These shoes are among the most powerful magical artifacts in Oz, capable of transporting their wearer anywhere in the world. Despite possessing them, the Witch either did not know how to use their full power or failed to recognize their true importance. When Glinda places the silver shoes on Dorothy’s feet, the Witch’s power symbolically passes from an oppressive ruler to an innocent child. The shoes protect Dorothy throughout her journey and ultimately provide the means for her return home. This transfer highlights a central idea in Baum’s work: power does not belong to those who seek dominance, but to those who possess kindness, humility, and moral clarity. Even in death, the Wicked Witch of the East influences the fate of Oz through the magic she left behind.

Wicked Witch of the East vs Wicked Witch of the West

Although they are often mentioned together, the Wicked Witch of the East and the Wicked Witch of the West serve very different roles in the story. The Witch of the West is an active antagonist who relentlessly hunts Dorothy, commands dangerous creatures, and directly confronts the heroes. The Witch of the East, by contrast, represents institutional evil rather than personal obsession. Her cruelty is embedded in governance rather than action. She does not chase, threaten, or negotiate. She simply rules. This distinction makes her a more abstract but arguably more realistic villain, representing the kind of oppression that becomes normalized over time. While the Witch of the West drives the story forward through conflict, the Witch of the East explains why that conflict matters in the first place.

The Wicked Witch of the East in Movies and Modern Retellings

In the 1939 film adaptation The Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the East is visually reduced to a pair of striped stockings sticking out from beneath Dorothy’s house. This portrayal turns her death into a brief visual joke, minimizing her narrative importance. The film also replaces her silver shoes with ruby slippers, a change made for Technicolor that permanently reshaped Oz mythology in popular culture. Later adaptations, particularly the novel and musical Wicked, dramatically reimagine her character. In Wicked, she is known as Nessarose, a tragic and politically complex figure whose descent into tyranny is shaped by personal insecurity, physical disability, and a desperate desire for control. These modern interpretations transform the Wicked Witch of the East from a symbol into a fully realized character, offering a more nuanced explanation for how power can corrupt.

The Symbolic Meaning of the Wicked Witch of the East

Symbolically, the Wicked Witch of the East represents entrenched authority that collapses without warning. Her death is not heroic, strategic, or earned through battle. It is sudden and accidental. This reinforces the idea that oppressive systems are often more fragile than they appear. Some scholars interpret her as a metaphor for outdated power structures at the turn of the twentieth century, while others view her simply as a moral constant in a children’s story. Unlike modern villains who demand psychological depth, the Wicked Witch of the East functions as an unquestioned force of wrongdoing. Her purpose is not to be understood but to be removed, clearing the way for freedom and moral balance to return.

Why the Wicked Witch of the East Matters to the Wizard of Oz

Despite never appearing alive, the Wicked Witch of the East is essential to the story of The Wizard of Oz. Her death launches Dorothy’s journey, liberates the Munchkins, introduces the silver shoes, and proves that wickedness can be defeated. She establishes the stakes of the world Dorothy has entered and provides the first evidence that Oz is governed by moral consequences. The Wicked Witch of the East matters not because of what she does on the page, but because of how completely her fall reshapes the land of Oz. She is a reminder that some of the most influential characters in literature are those whose presence is felt long after they are gone.