4 reactions to spiritual, allegorical concepts in 'Wicked: For Good'

The Jewish Chronicle 

In a piece for The Jewish Chronicle, John Nathan highlighted the parallels between the banishment of talking animals in the “Wicked” universe and the real historical oppression of Jews during the Nazi regime. 

“Yes, the old allegorical reference beloved by every director with an instinct for social justice is clear and present here,” Nathan wrote. “But it is handled with wit and sensitivity by a storytelling bravura.”

Following the release of “Wicked: For Good,” The Jewish Chronicle wrote in a Nov. 21 Facebook post that the film’s story is “incredibly Jewish,” directing readers to an opinion piece published last year about the first movie. 

In the op-ed, writer Hen Mazzig recalled that he first saw the stage version of “Wicked” when he was 22, and recently discharged from the Israeli Army. Following several more viewings, Mazzig realized why the musical, which he described as a “profound allegory,” resonated with him. 

“Beneath its spellbinding melodies lies a narrative as old as humanity itself, the story of scapegoating, dehumanization, and the moral cost of branding someone as 'other,’” Mazzig wrote. “It is, in essence, a deeply Jewish story.”

He noted that the character of Elphaba, the “Wicked Witch of the West,” is ostracized from society for her green skin, later becoming a scapegoat for all of Oz’s problems, which Mazzig contended “mirrors the Jewish experience across millennia.”

Throughout the story, characters like The Wizard and Madame Morrible spread lies about Elphaba through propaganda, tactics that Mazzig likened to Nazi Germany. In “Wicked,” talking animals are dehumanized to the point where one such creature is dragged away by authorities with little protest from others, which Mazzig noted is another reflection of the Jewish experience. 

“But ‘Wicked’ does not merely chronicle the dangers of othering,” the writer continued. “It is also a call to action. Elphaba’s refusal to conform — despite ostracism and vilification — reflects a moral clarity that resonates deeply with Jewish values. Her story is a reminder: morality is not a popularity contest.” 

Mazzig argued that this lesson is particularly relevant to today’s society, citing a resurgence of antisemitism, which has been fueled by misinformation on social media and political opportunism. 

“The arrival of ‘Wicked’ on the big screen, under the stewardship of producer Marc Platt, a proud Jew, feels almost providential,” the opinion piece states. “Its message, that justice requires courage and resilience, could not be more timely.”

“At a moment when Jews are vilified for standing up for themselves, Elphaba’s story is our story,” he added.

“So, let us take a page from her book. Be bold. Be righteous,” Mazzig declared. “Be unyielding in the face of lies. Because if ‘Wicked’ teaches us anything, it is this: silence is complicity. The fight for truth, though lonely, is the only fight worth having.”