4. No Longer Second Guessing Good
What truly makes a decision a good one?
We often define something as “good” just because everyone goes along with it. But does society going along with something make it good? From routines and rituals, to even society defining an action/person as good or bad. As far as people go there are numerous people in history that were societally accepted as good and we DO NOT have the same opinion now. Within Wicked we see this multiple times from Elphaba seeing behind the curtain of the wizard and no longer defining him as good. To Glinda dancing with Elphaba in the Oz Dust. Society “defined” that interaction as the good decision for no one do dance with Elphaba. Society “wants” to ridicule her and let her stay an outcast. It is socially defined that anyone to break this “rule” would be committing “social suicide”. Glinda went against society to dance with Elphaba. Glinda could have left her alone because that is what society decided in that instance, but even she knew that was not right.
Outside of society saying something is good there is the internal struggle of longing for something makes the decision feel good. Sometimes, the thing we long for most is not what will lead us to who we are meant to become. Elphaba’s heart’s desire was simply to be accepted. To not be the outsider. To not be green (wavering back and forth here but also alludes that once she meets the wizard he will “degreenify” her). She wanted to belong. She wanted to be loved. That is such a painfully human desire. But when the moment came to share, her heart’s desire she had to choose between her wish of belonging and doing what was right, she chose to speak up for the animals. Giving up the very thing she has always hoped for. Her truest strength is not magic. It’s compassion with conviction.
At the most challenging intersection in life is to go against both society and what you have always longed for. Elphaba is offered everything she has ever wanted: acceptance, admiration, and a place in society. The Wizard invites her to stay before she truly knew how bad he was. She could have gone back. She still could have stayed with him and claimed her place in society. She could have chosen the easy path. A life without resistance, a life without exile. But she turns away from it, she doesn’t just realize that she doesn’t want the life set forth by staying with the wizard, but she even expounds in saying she cannot want it anymore. She is not just giving up on a “good” life. She has changed and knows that she cannot play the wizard’s game. She knows his truth and has to go her own way to protect the animals and all the citizens from the wizards lies.
That may even be more powerful than her magic, hew will and power to do what is right, even when it costs everything.
So here is the real question, What are you willing to give up to do what’s right?
Not what is easy.
Not what makes you liked.
Not what is applauded.
But what is right.
Elphaba chose integrity over acceptance.
She chose truth over belonging.
She chose courage over comfort.
Most of us won’t face choices as dramatic as a movie, but we all face moments where we must decide:
Do we want to be seen as good, or do we want to be good?
Because those are not always the same thing.