If you walked into a theater or sat down to watch the movie without knowing a single thing about Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, you might assume the story is about two girls. You’d be mostly right. But if you’re asking who is the main character in Wicked, the answer isn't a split 50/50. It’s Elphaba Thropp. She’s the girl with the green skin, the one who eventually becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. She’s the heart, the soul, and the literal engine of the plot.
Honestly, it’s kind of a trick question because the marketing focuses so heavily on the friendship. You see the pink and the green everywhere. You see Glinda (the Good) and Elphaba. But if you look at the narrative arc—the "Hero’s Journey" if we’re being all academic about it—Elphaba is the one driving the car. Glinda is often the one reacting to it.
The Elphaba Centricity: Why She Owns the Story
Most people know Wicked through the massive Broadway musical that’s been running since 2003. In that version, the story begins and ends with Elphaba’s birth and her eventual "disappearance." She is the protagonist. A protagonist is the character whose choices move the story forward. When Elphaba decides to go to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard, the story moves. When she decides to go rogue and "defy gravity," the entire political landscape of Oz shifts.
Glinda is the deuteragonist. That’s a fancy way of saying she’s the second most important person. She has a huge arc, sure. She goes from being a self-absorbed, shallow blonde to a leader who understands the cost of power. But her transformation is a result of her proximity to Elphaba. Without the green girl, Glinda is just another popular student at Shiz University.
Think about the structure. We follow Elphaba’s perspective through her childhood trauma, her isolation, and her radicalization against the Wizard’s regime. She’s the one fighting for Animal rights (with a capital A). She’s the one who takes the risks. If you removed Glinda, you’d still have a story about a revolutionary. If you removed Elphaba, you wouldn’t have a story at all.
The Maguire Novel vs. The Musical: Different Shades of Green
In the original book by Gregory Maguire, the focus is even more intensely on Elphaba. It’s a dense, political, and fairly dark philosophical exploration. The book spends a lot of time on her genealogy and her time in the underground resistance. Glinda actually disappears for huge chunks of the novel.
In the stage play and the Jon M. Chu-directed films, they beefed up Glinda’s role. Why? Because you need a foil. You need that chemistry. Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel set the template for this "two-hander" feel, but even Menzel—who won the Tony—was the one playing the lead. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo continue this in the films, but the narrative weight still sits on Erivo’s shoulders as Elphaba.
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It’s about the "Wicked" in the title. The title refers to her. It’s an origin story. When we ask who is the main character in Wicked, we are asking whose life we are witnessing from the inside out.
The Glinda Argument: Is It Actually Her Story?
Some fans argue that Glinda is the actual narrator. In the musical, the show starts with Glinda floating down in her bubble, asking the Ozians, "Let us examine things, shall we?" Since she is the one recounting the events to the public, you could argue the entire play is her memory.
But being the narrator doesn't make you the main character.
Glinda is the lens through which the world sees Elphaba. She provides the context. She’s the "public" face of the story, whereas Elphaba is the private reality. Glinda’s journey is about learning that "good" is a performance. Elphaba’s journey is about realizing that "wicked" is a label forced upon those who speak truth to power.
Why the Distinction Matters for the Plot
If you don't recognize Elphaba as the primary lead, the ending of the story loses its punch. The whole point of the finale is Elphaba’s sacrifice and her decision to live in the shadows.
- Elphaba starts as an outcast.
- She finds a brief moment of belonging.
- She discovers the Wizard (played by Jeff Goldblum in the 2024/2025 films) is a fraud.
- She chooses her morals over her reputation.
That is a classic protagonist trajectory. Glinda, meanwhile, chooses her reputation over her morals for a long time before finally trying to change things from the inside. It’s a great arc, but it’s a supporting one.
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The Complexity of the Wizard as an Antagonist
The Wizard is the antagonist, but he’s not a cackling villain in a cape. He’s a politician. He’s a guy who got in over his head and started using scapegoats—the Animals—to keep the people of Oz united.
Elphaba’s conflict with the Wizard is what defines the second half of the story. This is another reason why she is the main character. The central conflict of the story is Elphaba vs. The System. Glinda is stuck in the middle, trying to play both sides until she simply can't anymore.
Understanding the "Wicked" Perspective
Maguire’s whole goal was to show that the "Wicked Witch" was a victim of history being written by the winners. If Glinda is the one who writes the history, then Elphaba is the history itself.
It’s sort of like Hamilton. Is Alexander Hamilton the main character? Yes. But Aaron Burr is the one who tells us the story. We see Hamilton through Burr’s eyes, just as we see Elphaba through Glinda’s.
Practical Takeaways for Fans and Newcomers
If you’re heading to see the movie or a local production, keep your eyes on the choices Elphaba makes. Every major plot point is sparked by her.
- The Grimmerie: Only Elphaba can read the ancient book of spells. This "chosen one" trope firmly plants her as the lead.
- Fiyero: Both women love him, but his ultimate transformation (becoming the Scarecrow in most versions) is tied directly to his devotion to Elphaba.
- Nessarose: The story of the Wicked Witch of the East (Elphaba’s sister) serves to complicate Elphaba’s life, not Glinda’s.
Essentially, who is the main character in Wicked comes down to who changes the world. Elphaba changes the world. Glinda just lives in the one Elphaba left behind.
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How to Engage With the Story Better
To really get the most out of Wicked, you have to look past the "Defying Gravity" spectacle. Look at the way the characters handle the loss of their idols. Elphaba loses her faith in the Wizard. Glinda loses her faith in the system.
If you want to dive deeper, read the original Maguire novel, but be warned: it’s much "crunchier" and less magical than the stage version. It treats the question of being "main" or "supporting" with much more cynicism. In the book, characters drift in and out of Elphaba’s life like ghosts.
The next time someone tries to tell you it’s a story about two equal leads, you can politely disagree. It’s a story about Elphaba Thropp. Glinda is just the best friend who lived to tell the tale.
Next Steps for Your Oz Obsession:
If you’ve already seen the first part of the cinematic adaptation, your next move should be exploring the original 1939 Wizard of Oz film again. Seeing it through the lens of Elphaba as the protagonist completely changes how you view the "villain" in the pointed hat. You’ll start noticing the small details, like why she’s so obsessed with the slippers (they were her sister’s) and why she’s actually angry at Dorothy (who essentially committed vehicular manslaughter with a house).
Also, check out the "Original Broadway Cast" recording. Listen to the lyrics of "The Wizard and I" carefully. It lays out the entire character motivation in under five minutes. Elphaba isn't looking for evil; she's looking for a father figure and a place to fit in. That’s what makes her the most compelling, and undeniable, main character in the franchise.