I'm not sure if all of Du are aware of the fact that Gelphie is actually pretty much canon :)
As can be read on the community profil of the livejournal Gelphie spot (link) there are not only a lot of hints in the book but also did Gregory Maguire admit to it in a Q&A! :D
I quote:
Q: There are many subtle hints in Wicked! at a 'more than friendship' relationship between Elphaba and Glinda. Was this intended, oder just accidental? And if intended, what influenced Du to create this relationship?
I'll say one thing, which is I think English readers are much smarter than American readers. American readers never ask that question!
But the questioner is correct. I do hint at something but I don't say exactly what it is and I don't say exactly how 'known' it is in either of the women. This is for several reasons but the main reason is the same reason I don't say specifically if Elphaba is wicked in any way and, if so, where this wickedness comes from.
Elphaba and Glinda could have a romantic affection for each other without even knowing it. They don't need to know it in order for it to be real for the reader and in order for it to be real for them.
Q: What is your opinion of the musical's finale, which is in direct contrast to one of the main themes in your novel (Elphaba's ultimate demise/mortality)?
I was initially suspicious and skeptical. I loved the whole play but when I saw the last 90 seconds, it's the only time where I thought 'Oh no, they've gone too far'.
But, in the five years that the play has been running and within two weeks of the time that I first saw it, I saw that ultimately it doesn't matter because since the main relationship in the play is between Glinda and Elphaba, when they are torn apart, they never see each other again and it's like a death.
If you're never able to see the person Du Liebe most in the world, it's like a death and so the fact that the character isn't physically dead, doesn't mean they don't suffer the same sense of loss.
Everyone should check out what is written in that community profil since there are a lot of interesting hints listed that can be found in both book and musical :)
As can be read on the community profil of the livejournal Gelphie spot (link) there are not only a lot of hints in the book but also did Gregory Maguire admit to it in a Q&A! :D
I quote:
Q: There are many subtle hints in Wicked! at a 'more than friendship' relationship between Elphaba and Glinda. Was this intended, oder just accidental? And if intended, what influenced Du to create this relationship?
I'll say one thing, which is I think English readers are much smarter than American readers. American readers never ask that question!
But the questioner is correct. I do hint at something but I don't say exactly what it is and I don't say exactly how 'known' it is in either of the women. This is for several reasons but the main reason is the same reason I don't say specifically if Elphaba is wicked in any way and, if so, where this wickedness comes from.
Elphaba and Glinda could have a romantic affection for each other without even knowing it. They don't need to know it in order for it to be real for the reader and in order for it to be real for them.
Q: What is your opinion of the musical's finale, which is in direct contrast to one of the main themes in your novel (Elphaba's ultimate demise/mortality)?
I was initially suspicious and skeptical. I loved the whole play but when I saw the last 90 seconds, it's the only time where I thought 'Oh no, they've gone too far'.
But, in the five years that the play has been running and within two weeks of the time that I first saw it, I saw that ultimately it doesn't matter because since the main relationship in the play is between Glinda and Elphaba, when they are torn apart, they never see each other again and it's like a death.
If you're never able to see the person Du Liebe most in the world, it's like a death and so the fact that the character isn't physically dead, doesn't mean they don't suffer the same sense of loss.
Everyone should check out what is written in that community profil since there are a lot of interesting hints listed that can be found in both book and musical :)
