Every witch in The Wizard of Oz depends on the version: Baum’s 1900 novel has four witches, while the 1939 film effectively has three named witch presences. The book separates the Good Witch of the North from Glinda, the Good Witch of the South; the film merges those two good-witch roles into Glinda, the Witch of the North.
That single adaptation change explains most confusion about the witches’ names, directions, and functions. The two wicked witches remain distinct in both versions, although the film makes the Wicked Witch of the West far more visually prominent.
Key takeaways
- Baum’s 1900 novel has four witches: the Good Witch of the North, Glinda the Good Witch of the South, the Wicked Witch of the East, and the Wicked Witch of the West.
- Glinda is the Good Witch of the South in the novel, but the 1939 film combines Glinda with the separate Good Witch of the North.
- The Wicked Witch of the East is already dead when Dorothy arrives in Oz; Dorothy’s farmhouse has landed on her.
- The Wicked Witch of the West is the active villain who pursues Dorothy and is destroyed when Dorothy throws water on her.
- Dorothy receives silver shoes in Baum’s book, while the 1939 film changes them into the famous ruby slippers.
Who are the four witches in the original Wizard of Oz story?
In L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel, the four witches are two good witches and two wicked witches. The Good Witch of the North helps Dorothy begin her journey, Glinda rules as the Good Witch of the South, the Wicked Witch of the East dies beneath Dorothy’s house, and the Wicked Witch of the West becomes Dorothy’s principal enemy. Baum’s original text keeps these four roles separate.
| Witch | Direction | Alignment | Role in Baum’s novel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Witch of the North | North | Good | Welcomes Dorothy, explains the East Witch’s death, protects Dorothy, and sends her toward the Emerald City. |
| Glinda | South | Good | The powerful Good Witch of the South who helps Dorothy return to Kansas. |
| Wicked Witch of the East | East | Wicked | Rules the Munchkins through bondage and dies when Dorothy’s house lands on her. |
| Wicked Witch of the West | West | Wicked | Pursues Dorothy and the magical shoes and is destroyed by water. |
Why does the movie call Glinda the Witch of the North?
The 1939 MGM film calls Glinda “the Good Witch of the North” because it merges two separate characters from Baum’s novel: the unnamed Good Witch of the North and Glinda, the Good Witch of the South. The adaptation gives one character both the opening role in Munchkinland and the late-story role of helping Dorothy get home. The film’s archival record is catalogued by the Library of Congress, while production-history material records the merger of the two good-witch roles.
This change is not a correction to Baum’s geography. It is a streamlining choice for the film. In the book, the North Witch sends Dorothy down the yellow-brick road, while Dorothy’s companions travel south later to find Glinda after the Wizard’s balloon leaves without Dorothy.
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| Question | Baum’s 1900 novel | 1939 MGM film |
|---|---|---|
| Who is the good witch Dorothy meets first? | An unnamed Good Witch of the North | Glinda |
| Where is Glinda located? | South, in the land of the Quadlings | North, in Munchkinland |
| Who starts Dorothy’s journey? | The separate Good Witch of the North | Glinda |
| Who helps Dorothy return home? | Glinda, the Good Witch of the South | Glinda |
| What kind of shoes does Dorothy receive? | Silver shoes | Ruby slippers |
Who is the Good Witch of the North?
The Good Witch of the North is an unnamed character in Baum’s first Oz novel, and she is not Glinda. She appears after Dorothy’s farmhouse lands on the Wicked Witch of the East. Her immediate purpose is to explain what has happened, protect Dorothy, and point her toward the Emerald City.
The North Witch tells Dorothy that the dead woman beneath the farmhouse had held the Munchkins “in bondage for many years” and forced them to work for her. She also explains that being a witch does not automatically mean being wicked. Speaking for herself, the North Witch says, I am the Witch of the North.
Later, she adds, But I am a good witch, and the people love me.
Both statements appear in Baum’s primary text.
The North Witch performs several practical tasks at the start of the story:
- She identifies the dead ruler as the Wicked Witch of the East.
- She explains that Oz contains four witches: two good and two wicked.
- She gives Dorothy the East Witch’s silver shoes.
- She kisses Dorothy on the forehead, leaving a protective mark that helps keep Dorothy safe from harm.
- She directs Dorothy to follow the yellow-brick road to the Emerald City.
Because the first novel does not give the North Witch a personal name, calling her “Glinda” while discussing Baum’s original book incorrectly imports the 1939 film’s merged characterization.
Is Glinda the Witch of the North or the South?
Glinda is the Good Witch of the South in Baum’s original novel and the Good Witch of the North in the 1939 film. The correct answer depends on which version of The Wizard of Oz a reader means.
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In the book, Glinda lives at the southern edge of Oz and is associated with the Quadlings. A soldier in the Emerald City tells Dorothy, The Witch of the South. She is the most powerful of all the Witches.
Dorothy seeks Glinda only after the Wizard’s balloon leaves without her. Glinda then explains how Dorothy can use the magical shoes to return to Kansas and takes responsibility for what happens to the shoes afterward. The relevant chapters are available in the book’s Glinda section.
Glinda’s importance in the novel is therefore different from the North Witch’s importance. The North Witch begins Dorothy’s quest; Glinda resolves Dorothy’s problem at the end. The 1939 film makes the story more economical by assigning both functions to Glinda.
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The Wicked Witch of the East is killed when Dorothy’s farmhouse lands on her during the cyclone’s aftermath. Dorothy does not deliberately attack the witch: Dorothy arrives in Oz, sees feet sticking out from beneath the house, and says, The house must have fallen on her.
The North Witch confirms that the dead woman was the Wicked Witch of the East.
The East Witch had ruled the eastern part of Oz and enslaved the Munchkins. Her death frees the Munchkins from her control, and her magical shoes pass to Dorothy. In Baum’s novel, those shoes are silver; the 1939 film changes them into ruby slippers to make them more visually vivid on screen. The Library of Congress exhibition on the film discusses the adaptation’s visual and storytelling choices.
The East Witch is important even though she has no sustained confrontation with Dorothy. She establishes the story’s political stakes: Dorothy’s arrival has accidentally ended an oppressive regime. She also supplies the shoes that drive much of the later plot.
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Who is the Wicked Witch of the West?
The Wicked Witch of the West is the principal active villain in Baum’s story. She wants Dorothy’s magical shoes, believes the shoes will increase her power, and repeatedly tries to capture Dorothy and separate her from her companions.
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- Learning that Dorothy possesses the shoes.
- Watching and threatening Dorothy’s group.
- Commanding the Winged Monkeys.
- Capturing Dorothy and separating her from the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion.
- Trying to take the shoes for herself.
Dorothy finally defeats the West Witch by throwing water on her. The witch melts away, making water the specific mechanism of her destruction. Baum’s novel does not establish that water is a universal weakness shared by every witch in Oz; the water episode belongs specifically to the Wicked Witch of the West.
The 1939 film intensifies the West Witch’s visual identity. Margaret Hamilton’s performance, green makeup, black costume, broomstick, castle, and repeated pursuit make the character one of the film’s most recognizable figures. The film preserves her basic function as Dorothy’s active witch antagonist while making her presence more immediate and theatrical.
What is the difference between the two wicked witches?
The Wicked Witch of the East is a defeated oppressor whose death occurs before Dorothy understands the political situation in Oz. The Wicked Witch of the West is a continuing threat who actively hunts Dorothy and tries to seize the shoes.
| Feature | Wicked Witch of the East | Wicked Witch of the West |
|---|---|---|
| When Dorothy encounters her | After the witch has died | While the witch is actively pursuing Dorothy |
| Relationship to the Munchkins | Rules and enslaves them | Rules the western region and commands the Winged Monkeys |
| Connection to the shoes | Owns the silver shoes before Dorothy receives them | Wants to take the shoes from Dorothy |
| How she is defeated | Dorothy’s farmhouse lands on her | Dorothy throws water on her |
| Narrative function | Creates the opening mystery and transfers the shoes | Provides the story’s sustained witch-centered conflict |
Are Dorothy’s slippers silver or ruby?
Dorothy’s footwear is silver in Baum’s original novel and ruby in the 1939 film. The change belongs to the film adaptation, not to the original story, so both answers are correct when the version is identified.
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The silver shoes first belonged to the Wicked Witch of the East. The Good Witch of the North gives them to Dorothy, and the shoes later become central to Glinda’s solution for getting Dorothy home. The film’s ruby slippers retain that story function but replace the book’s silver color with a more striking cinematic image. Official film and Oz merchandise continues to emphasize the ruby-slipper version, including licensed Wizard of Oz collectibles.
Readers who want to check the North/South distinction, the shoes’ original color, and the order of the witches’ appearances can read Baum’s original The Wonderful Wizard of Oz book. A book edition should be treated as a way to consult the novel, not as evidence that the novel uses the film’s Glinda characterization.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who is the real villain in The Wizard of Oz?
The Wicked Witch of the West is the main active villain in both Baum’s novel and the 1939 film, but the Wicked Witch of the East is also a genuine villain in the book because she enslaves the Munchkins. The East Witch’s story ends before Dorothy can confront her; the West Witch’s story supplies the extended pursuit and final battle.
The Wizard is a separate moral complication rather than one of the four witches. He misleads Dorothy and her companions about his powers, but the witch structure remains clear: the East Witch is the dead oppressor, the West Witch is the active witch antagonist, and the two good witches guide Dorothy at different points in the novel.
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How should later adaptations be understood?
Later adaptations may rename, merge, relocate, or reinterpret the witches. Those versions should be treated as separate continuities rather than used to overwrite the distinction in Baum’s novel or the 1939 film.
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For the original book, use this rule: the unnamed Good Witch of the North is separate from Glinda, and Glinda is the Good Witch of the South. For the 1939 film, use this rule: Glinda is the Good Witch of the North because the film combines the two good-witch roles. That two-version distinction answers most apparent contradictions about the witches.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many witches are in The Wizard of Oz?
Baum’s original 1900 novel has four witches: the Good Witch of the North, Glinda the Good Witch of the South, the Wicked Witch of the East, and the Wicked Witch of the West. The 1939 film merges the two good-witch roles, so it effectively presents three named witch presences.
Is Glinda the Witch of the North or the South?
Glinda is the Good Witch of the South in Baum’s original novel. Glinda is called the Good Witch of the North in the 1939 film because the movie combines her role with the separate Good Witch of the North.
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What happened to the Wicked Witch of the East?
The Wicked Witch of the East is killed when Dorothy’s farmhouse lands on her. The witch had enslaved the Munchkins, and her silver shoes pass to Dorothy after her death.
Are Dorothy’s slippers silver or ruby?
Dorothy’s shoes are silver in Baum’s novel and ruby in the 1939 film. The ruby slippers are a famous film adaptation of the book’s silver shoes.
Who is the real villain in The Wizard of Oz?
The Wicked Witch of the West is the main active villain because she pursues Dorothy, wants the magical shoes, commands the Winged Monkeys, and is destroyed when Dorothy throws water on her. The Wicked Witch of the East is also wicked, but she is already dead when Dorothy encounters her.
The Bottom Line
The clearest answer is four witches in Baum’s 1900 novel, but three named witch presences in the 1939 film. The book separates the Good Witch of the North from Glinda, the Good Witch of the South; the film merges them into Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. The Wicked Witch of the East dies beneath Dorothy’s house, while Dorothy defeats the Wicked Witch of the West with water.
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