Wicked Witch of the East

Wicked Witch of the East
Oz character
The Wicked Witch of the East as pictured in The Tin Woodman of Oz—illustration by John R. Neill (1918)
First appearanceThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
Created byL. Frank Baum
Portrayed by
In-universe information
Alias
SpeciesHuman (witch)
TitleThe Wicked Witch of the East
OccupationRuler of the Munchkin Country
(at time of death)
NationalityOzian of Munchkin descent
The extent of the Wicked Witch of the East seen in The Wizard of Oz as recreated in Disney's The Great Movie Ride.

The Wicked Witch of the East is a fictional character created by American author L. Frank Baum. She is a crucial character but appears only briefly in Baum's classic children's series of Oz novels, most notably The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900).[1]

The Wicked Witch was a middle-aged, malevolent woman who conquered and tyrannized the Munchkin Country in Oz's eastern quadrant, forcing the native Munchkins to slave for her night and day. Her charmed Silver Shoes (changed to ruby slippers in the 1939 film musical) held many mysterious powers and were her precious possession. The Witch is killed when Dorothy Gale's farmhouse lands on her at the start of the first book. Her body turns to dust, leaving behind the magical shoes to be passed to Dorothy.

  1. ^ Snow, Jack (1988). Who's Who in Oz (2nd ed.). Chicago, Illinois: Reilly & Lee. p. 236. ISBN 978-0872261884.