If you close your eyes and think of Glinda the Good Witch of the North, you probably see a giant pink bubble. You see Billie Burke’s iconic smile from 1939 or maybe Ariana Grande’s high-fashion pink tulle in the recent Wicked movies.
But honestly? That version of Glinda is basically a remix.
In the original books by L. Frank Baum, the "Good Witch of the North" and "Glinda" weren't even the same person. It’s wild how one movie from nearly a century ago totally rewrote the DNA of a character, turning a minor supporting player into a global pop culture goddess. If you really want to understand who Glinda is—and why she’s actually way more complicated than just "the nice one"—we have to look at the messy history of Oz.
The Big Identity Crisis: North vs. South
Here is the truth: In the original 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Glinda is actually the Good Witch of the South.
The Witch of the North is a completely different lady. She’s an older, eccentric woman with white hair and a hat with little tinkling bells. She’s the one who gives Dorothy the silver shoes (yep, they were silver, not ruby) and the protective kiss on the forehead. She shows up in chapter two, sends Dorothy on her way, and then basically disappears for the rest of the book.
So why do we call Glinda the Witch of the North?
Blame MGM. When they were making the 1939 film, they realized they had too many characters. To keep the plot moving, they merged the two good witches into one. They took the name "Glinda" from the South and the "North" geography from the other lady. They also gave her the job of the "Queen of Field Mice" from the books. Basically, the movie version of Glinda is a "super-witch" who does the work of three different people.
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Is Glinda Actually... Kinda Shady?
People have been debating this for decades. If Glinda is so powerful, why did she let a little girl from Kansas walk through a forest of flying monkeys and poppy fields just to find a guy who turned out to be a fraud?
In the 1939 movie, Glinda says at the end, "You've always had the power to go back to Kansas."
Dorothy's response is basically, "Then why didn't you tell me?"
Glinda's excuse is that Dorothy wouldn't have believed her. It sounds a bit like she’s gaslighting a teenager, right? But in the books, the logic is actually better. The Witch of the North genuinely didn’t know how the shoes worked. She was powerful, sure, but she wasn't all-knowing. It wasn't until Dorothy met the real Glinda in the South at the very end of the story that the secret of the silver shoes was revealed.
The "Wicked" Evolution
Then came Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked, which eventually became the massive Broadway musical and the 2024-2025 films. This version of Glinda (or "Galinda") is a total game-changer.
She starts as this "popular" girl at Shiz University. She’s shallow. She’s performative. She’s obsessed with her hair and her social standing. But the story asks a really heavy question: Are people born wicked, or is wickedness thrust upon them?
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In Wicked, the title "Glinda the Good" isn't a badge of honor she earned by being a saint. It’s a political brand. She becomes a symbol of the Wizard's regime because it's easier to be "good" and popular than it is to be a revolutionary like Elphaba.
Why the New Glinda Matters
- She’s human: She makes mistakes, feels jealousy, and regrets her choices.
- She’s a politician: She understands how to use "the bubble" and the pink dresses to keep the public calm while the world falls apart.
- She’s lonely: By the time she becomes "The Good Witch of the North," she has lost her best friend and her first love.
Ariana Grande’s portrayal in the recent films leans heavily into this. You see the cracks in the porcelain. You see a girl who is desperately trying to convince herself that she's doing the right thing, even when she knows the Wizard is a liar.
Glinda’s Secret Origins
Did you know Glinda was based on a real person? L. Frank Baum was reportedly inspired by his mother-in-law, Matilda Joslyn Gage.
Gage was a famous suffragist and abolitionist. She actually co-authored the History of Woman Suffrage with Susan B. Anthony. She was a powerhouse. She even wrote about how "witches" in history were often just independent women, scientists, and healers who were targeted by the patriarchy.
When you know that, Glinda stops looking like a "fairy godmother" and starts looking like a ruler. In the later Oz books, Glinda is a legit sorceress-scientist. She has a "Great Book of Records" that tracks everything happening in the world. She’s the one who eventually helps Princess Ozma take her rightful place on the throne. She isn't just "good"—she’s the smartest person in the room.
The Myth of the "White Witch"
A common misconception is that Glinda is a "White Witch" in the traditional European sense. While she wears white or pink, Oz isn't that simple. In Baum’s world, magic isn't inherently good or bad; it’s about how you use it.
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Even the "Good" witches in the books can be a bit scary. They command armies. They use powerful enchantments. Glinda herself has a room full of magical tools that would make most people’s heads spin. She’s an immortal being who knows how to keep herself young forever. Honestly, that’s kind of intimidating.
Actionable Insights: How to Spot the Real Glinda
If you’re a fan or a writer looking at this character, here is how you can tell which "version" of Glinda you’re dealing with:
- Check the shoes. If they are silver, you’re in book territory. If they are ruby, you’re in the movie world.
- Look for the bubble. The bubble travel is almost exclusively a movie/musical invention. In the books, Glinda usually travels in a much more grounded (though still magical) way.
- The Name Test. If she’s called "Galinda with a Ga," you’re definitely in the Wicked prequel era.
- The Location. Remember, the North was originally the territory of an unnamed old woman. Glinda only "moved" there for the 1939 script.
To really appreciate Glinda the Good Witch of the North, you have to stop seeing her as a two-dimensional saint. She is a survivor. Whether she’s the wise sorceress of the books or the heartbroken politician of the musicals, she represents the complicated middle ground of trying to do your best in a world that isn't always fair.
Next time you see that pink dress, remember: there is a lot of weight behind those sequins.
Explore the original text of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (it's in the public domain!) to see the massive differences between the book and the Billie Burke version. You might find that the "original" Oz is a lot weirder—and more interesting—than you thought.
Track the evolution of the "Good" label by watching the first Wicked film followed immediately by the 1939 classic. It changes the entire context of why she’s floating in that bubble to begin with.