Everything to Know About the Grimmerie Spellbook in Wicked

Everything to Know About the Grimmerie Spellbook in Wicked

As a film enthusiast with a penchant for musicals and a soft spot for fantasy tales, I must say that the new adaptation of Wicked has left me spellbound! The Grimmerie, this ancient tome of enchantments, is a fascinating addition to the story, adding depth and mystery to the world of Oz.


In order to defy gravity, you’re first going to need to learn how to read the Grimmerie.

In the Wicked movie now showing in cinemas, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) make their way to the Emerald City for Elphaba’s meeting with the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum). Before this, we’ve witnessed both students from Shiz experimenting with magic. Although Glinda struggles to master it, it’s evident that Elphaba possesses an innate knack—one she finds difficult to harness. However, when she lays her hands on the Grimmerie, a renowned spellbook, she learns to channel her magic effectively, soon revealing powers greater than any in Oz.

In Jon M. Chu’s two-part movie adaptation of Wicked, the first installment concludes at the musical’s intermission, right after Elphaba performs “Defying Gravity.” However, it’s clear that Elphaba’s ability to read the Grimmerie has already made her a formidable adversary for the Wizard and Madame Morrible, portrayed by Michelle Yeoh. Instead of using the book to aid their plan to control Oz’s animals and blame them for the kingdom’s troubles, Elphaba chooses not to collaborate, which ultimately triggers the malicious smear campaign against her that we come to know as “wicked.

As a devoted cinephile, I must say that the movie version delves deeper into the Grimmerie’s lore compared to the stage show. This intricate exploration is drawn from Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.” This book served as a loose inspiration for the 2003 musical, which in turn was based on. Interestingly, both the book and the musical are reimagined origins of the antagonist from L. Frank Baum’s 1900 classic, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” and its iconic 1939 film adaptation.

The origin of the Grimmerie

Everything to Know About the Grimmerie Spellbook in Wicked

In the film adaptation of Wicked, during the song “One Short Day” when Elphaba and Glinda are sightseeing in the Emerald City, they pause to observe a performance of “Wizomania,” just as in the stage play. But in this instance, the “Wizomania” segment of the song is extended to feature brief appearances by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, the Tony-winning actresses who originated their roles in Wicked on Broadway.

In the fictional series “Wizomania,” a duo recounts the tale of how the Wizard came to power in Oz and delves into the origins of the Grimmerie, an old, enigmatic book filled with spells. It’s said that this book is almost unreadable by anyone in Oz. A prophecy was made, stating that a mighty individual would appear at Oz’s most critical moment who could understand the cryptic language of the Grimmerie and save its people. The inhabitants of Oz assume the Wizard is this savior, but it’s soon disclosed that he has deceived them about his abilities. Only Elphaba possesses the skill to decipher the mysterious text of the Grimmerie.

In Maguire’s book, it’s mentioned that the Grimmerie, an ancient magical text, was once transported to Oz by a mighty sorcerer from our world long ago. Elphaba’s ability to comprehend it is due to—spoiler for Wicked: Part Two—the Wizard (who hails from Earth as well) being her biological father, which has bestowed (or burdened) her with extraordinary magical abilities. However, despite his Earthly origin, the Wizard is a fraud with no genuine magic, rendering him incapable of utilizing the book on his own.

How the Grimmerie works

Everything to Know About the Grimmerie Spellbook in Wicked

For the first time in both the Broadway musical and movie, Elphaba employs magic from the Grimmerie without fully comprehending the repercussions of her actions. The Wizard and Madame Morrible persuade her to bestow levitation upon Chistery, the monkey captain of the guard, at their behest. Reading a spell, she unwittingly triggers a transformation that forces not only Chistery but also all the palace’s monkeys to sprout wings in a painful process. Contrary to her intentions, these flying monkeys are now able to levitate, but it is evident that this was not what Elphaba intended and serves as a wake-up call for her, revealing that she has been deceived into executing an enchantment with long-lasting effects that cannot be reversed.

Towards the movie’s finale, Elphaba repeats a magic spell to construct a flying broomstick, implying she might be mastering the Grimmerie better. However, as Wicked Musical fans understand, the unpredictable nature of the book, where intentions and results often differ, leads to more troubles for Elphaba in subsequent events before the heartrending climax.

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2024-11-22 16:06

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