Wicked Essay
Josh Mass
ENG283T
Professor Weaver
April 13, 2011
Response Paper on Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West In the novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, written by Gregory Maguire, why are there strong allusions to religion throughout the entire book. There are five “religions” in the Land of Oz. There is the “worship” of the Wizard, Lurlinism, Unionism, TikTokism and the Please Faith. I believe that the Wizard is worshiped like a god in the novel. The people have unwavering loyalty to him and do whatever he says without question. He has unlimited, godlike power and the public treat him as such. Lurlinism is the main religion in Oz. It is a pagan religion that is starting to fall out of favor with most of the citizens of Oz in favor of Unionism. Unionism is very much like Christianity. It is monotheistic and wanted to have as many followers as possible. For example, Frex heads to Quading Country in order to convert the people there to Unionism. TikTokism and the Pleasure Faith to me seem to be fringe religions, like scientology and pastafarianism. I believe that Gregory Maguire put these religions in the novel in order to add commentary about how the natural religion of the world is pagan and that Christian religion is a plague spreading across the world trying to convert as many people to follow it as possible. I also believe that the unconventional religions like TikTokism and the Pleasure Faith are in the novel in order to show that not everyone will follow the major religions in the world and will want to worship their own god in their own
ENG283T
Professor Weaver
April 13, 2011
Response Paper on Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West In the novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, written by Gregory Maguire, why are there strong allusions to religion throughout the entire book. There are five “religions” in the Land of Oz. There is the “worship” of the Wizard, Lurlinism, Unionism, TikTokism and the Please Faith. I believe that the Wizard is worshiped like a god in the novel. The people have unwavering loyalty to him and do whatever he says without question. He has unlimited, godlike power and the public treat him as such. Lurlinism is the main religion in Oz. It is a pagan religion that is starting to fall out of favor with most of the citizens of Oz in favor of Unionism. Unionism is very much like Christianity. It is monotheistic and wanted to have as many followers as possible. For example, Frex heads to Quading Country in order to convert the people there to Unionism. TikTokism and the Pleasure Faith to me seem to be fringe religions, like scientology and pastafarianism. I believe that Gregory Maguire put these religions in the novel in order to add commentary about how the natural religion of the world is pagan and that Christian religion is a plague spreading across the world trying to convert as many people to follow it as possible. I also believe that the unconventional religions like TikTokism and the Pleasure Faith are in the novel in order to show that not everyone will follow the major religions in the world and will want to worship their own god in their own