Who Was The Wicked Witch Of The East

Let’s talk about the Wicked Witch of the East. You know her, but you don’t. She’s the one under the house. The one with the striped stockings.

She’s been dead for decades. Yet, she’s everywhere in Oz. Who was this mysterious villain?

The Famous Feet

First, let’s get this straight: she’s famous for her feet. That’s a weird legacy. Dorothy’s house lands on her, and all we see are her ruby slippers—well, silver slippers in the book.

Her feet curl up. They shimmer. Then they vanish. It’s an iconic death scene, but we learn nothing about her personality.

She’s just “the witch under the floorboards.” Talk about a bad day at work.

Her Name? Not Nessarose (At First)

In L. Frank Baum’s original 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, she has no name. She’s literally called “the Wicked Witch of the East.” That’s it.

Later, in the 1939 movie, she’s still unnamed. But fans gave her a nickname: “The Striped Witch.” Because of her stockings, obviously.

It wasn’t until Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked that she got a real name: Nessarose. Suddenly, she had a backstory, a sister, and a tragic life.

Fun Fact: She’s Related to Elphaba

Yes, that green witch everyone loves? Elphaba is her sister. Nessarose, the Witch of the East, is the one in the wheelchair in Wicked the musical.

She’s not just a villain. She’s a complicated character—a controlling, insecure ruler. She even makes the Munchkins her slaves. Yikes.

But in the original story, she’s just “the bad one with the red shoes.” That’s part of the fun: how a character can grow from a footnote to a full-blown personality.

Why Was She “Wicked” Anyway?

Baum never really explains. He says she “enjoyed making the Munchkins miserable.” That’s it. No backstory, no trauma. She’s just evil because the plot needs her to be.

Also, she had a magical Golden Cap. This cap let her control the flying monkeys. And what did she use them for? General terror.

She also kept the Munchkins in chains. Not exactly a warm and fuzzy ruler.

The Funniest Part: Her Magic Was Weak

Compared to the Witch of the West, the East Witch was a total lightweight. She couldn’t even save herself from a falling house.

In fact, the book says she was so surprised by the house that she didn’t even scream. She just … squish. That’s kind of hilarious.

Imagine being a powerful witch, and your big finale is becoming a floor mat. Rough gig.

What About the Ruby Slippers?

Here’s a quirky detail: in the book, the slippers are silver. The movie changed them to ruby to show off Technicolor. Classic Hollywood.

But the witch owned them. They were her prized possession. She wore them everywhere, even to bed. Probably.

They had a magical charm. They could teleport you, or protect you. She never used them to escape the house, though. Oops.

Fun Fact: She Was Also a Slave Owner

The flying monkeys weren’t happy helpers. She enslaved them with the Golden Cap. In the book, the monkeys explain this in a very dramatic monologue.

So she’s not just a shoe fanatic. She’s a colonial oppressor with a thing for footwear. That’s a pretty dark punchline for a kids’ story.

But again, Baum didn’t dwell on it. He just said, “She was mean.” Moving on.

Her Castle? A Mess

We never see her castle in the movie. In the book, it’s described as “dark and damp.” She had no guards, no servants—except those reluctant monkeys.

She hoarded treasure, too. Gold, jewels, and a lot of shoes. The Munchkins gave her tribute, but she was still broke in the friend department.

Lonely, ruthless, and flat as a pancake. That’s her legacy.

Why We Still Talk About Her

Because she’s a blank canvas. A character so underdeveloped that we can project anything onto her. She’s a joke, a symbol, a tragic figure.

Every retelling of Oz gives her a new spin. Wicked made her disabled and pitiful. The 2013 film Oz the Great and Powerful made her a schemer. Each version is a fun experiment.

She’s the ultimate supporting villain. She dies in the first act, but her shoes drive the entire plot. How iconic is that?

Final Thoughts: Pop Culture’s Favorite Dead Witch

So who was the Wicked Witch of the East? She’s a shoe maven. A monkey overlord. A cautionary tale about standing under falling houses.

She’s nobody and everybody. And that’s exactly why she’s fun to talk about. Next time you see a pair of ruby slippers, give a little wink. You know the woman who wore them—even if you don’t know her name.

And remember: if your house ever starts to shake, run. Don’t try to use magic. Just run.