I mean, take a look at her. No, not the giggly, easily-muddled Billie Burke depiction. She's considered the most powerful person in Oz, has a book that gives her real-time updates on everything that's happening, and yet she never lifts a finger to help anyone unless they ask first.
In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and The Marvelous Land of Oz, she seems to be aware of the events of the adventurers, but waits to act until they come to her. And what's with all those spies she mentions in The Marvelous Land of Oz? Who's to say they don't still work for her?
And does it seem that after Ozma comes to power, she seems to consult Glinda often? And what about Glinda seemingly acting for the good of Oz when she's been unbidden? Take the end of The Emerald City of Oz. She cloaks Oz in the Barrier of Invisibility (which doesn't really keep people from entering Oz, taking The Scarecrow of Oz into consideration) before Ozma asks. Why? It's obvious. She wants to protect Oz from outsiders...
..But the big question is, who will protect Oz from Glinda? That's the same reason she sends Queen Ann and the Oogaboo army outside of Oz in Tik-Tok of Oz! And of course she'd go rescue Ozma and Dorothy in Glinda of Oz. It gave her a heads up on some new magic, and it got some other magic-workers out of the way!
And her training the Wizard? Of course she would! He's her apprentice. She needs a follower.
Think about it, she knows everyone's strength, everyone's weakness. Something sinister in brewing in the south, and no one in Oz sees it coming...
After a few comments, I want to note that I wrote this firmly tongue-in-cheek, but I think my point is valid: if Glinda ever went bad, virtually no one could stop her.
In some ways, I see Glinda as sort of the power behind the throne for Oz. While I don't think she's exactly manipulating Ozma, I do think Ozma gives her a lot of authority.
ReplyDeleteIntriguing, ain't it? During my time in OZ, I found Glinda to be more of a companion to Ozma. In fact, all three (Dorothy, Ozma and Glind) seem to have formed a very tight and intense bond of friendship. At least that's how I see it. Sitting around the Grand Southern Courtyard of the Red Brick Palace of Glinda, with the Great Sandy Waste in the distance clearly visible, Ozma's gift to Dorothy was greeted by Glinda with much pleasure and approval.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, Glinda was found to be of great assistance to the young magician during the Journey of Many Stops.
Perhaps I misjudged the young red-haired ruler of the Quadling Country, or perhaps she represents different things to different people.
Time will tell...
I've actually had thoughts about Glinda along the lines of her being a menace, at least as far as unauthorized magicians are concerned. This may show up in writing if I ever get back to trying to write Oz stories again.
ReplyDelete