Parallels Between Disney's Frozen and the Broadway Musical Wicked

Ever since the release of Disney's Frozen, the Internet has ignited with stories, artwork, comparisons, and all out admiration at the similarities and parallels that exist between Frozen and the Broadway musical Wicked. The majority of these comparisons and parallels have been in regards to Frozen's Queen Elsa and Wicked's Elphaba (also known as The Wicked Witch of the West) or "Elsaba" as the two have become known together to their fans.

(left): Queen Elsa and Elphaba mash up.     (right): "Elsaba".

Due to their undeniable similarities, fans of both Frozen and Wicked alike have adopted both of these beloved heroines into their hearts and had their share of fun finding various ways to showcase the traits and circumstances that these two young women share.

Parallels  between Wicked and Frozen.

Starting with the most obvious of similarities between Elphaba and Elsa, both women have magical abilities, the likes of which are uncommon in both Arendale and Oz, which causes a great deal of friction, fear, conflict, and obstacles for both young women. Both of these young women are essentially shut off from the world, due to their differences. For Elphaba it was her green skin, while for Elsa it was her uncontrolled magical powers. Both of these women know how it feels to be ostracized, to not have anyone there for them. Elsa's parents died when she was a teenager, while Elphaba's mother died during her younger sister Nessarose's birth and her estranged father never supported Elphaba the way he supported Nessarose. Both Elsa and Elphaba are constantly sought after by a caring, confused, well-meaning friend (Anna and Galinda) that in essence is their complete polar opposite, but also their very best and closest friend.

Another great parallel between Wicked's Elphaba and Frozen's Elsa is their decision to run away from the world in which they lived. Both Elphaba and Elsa have a grand, show-stopping moment when they decide to leave behind the world they knew and in search of a different, far off place where they can live freely in peace, although both realize it means they will have to do it alone. Queen Elsa decides to "Let It Go" as she flees Arendale and creates her wonderful icy palace of solitude on the North Mountain. Elphaba decides to "Defy Gravity" and run away after the rumored death of her love, Fiyero, and the false string of incriminating rumors spread by Madame Morrible and the Wizard against her. The one difference here is that Elphaba attempts to convince Galinda to run away with her, while Elsa decides she must run away alone if she is to protect her little sister, Anna.

Parallels between Frozen's "Let It Go" and Wicked's "Defying Gravity".

Both of these women are incredibly self-conscious, while also being amazingly headstrong and completely independent. Both women were alienated, misunderstood, and have felt true and heart wrenching fear. Elsa and Elphaba both tried to do whatever they could to help others and to be well behaved, kind, graceful young women. Elsa was hidden away from the world by her parents in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to allow her time to take control over her magical powers. But once Elsa's powers were discovered she was immediately seen as a threat and an outcast to the kingdom of Arendale, and was eventually framed for the supposed murder of Princess Anna. Elphaba was an outcast her entire life due to her green skin. Elphaba tried to fit in and help others, but was tricked into performing magical experiments on monkeys for the Wizard, who was only using Elphaba and her powers for his own selfish gain. Like Elsa, Elphaba was also framed for crimes she was tricked into and never meant to commit. While Elsa at least had the support and attempted understanding of her parents up until her late teenage years, Elphaba literally had no one there for her the majority of her life since her mother was dead and her father wanted nothing to do with the freak that was to blame for his family's embarrassment and ridicule. 

Elsa and Elphaba are probably two of the most misunderstood female characters of all time. They both have immense capabilities of love and kindness, but ultimately fear and their desire to protect the people they care about drives them to lash out and be seen as a monster to many of the people they were only trying to protect. 

Elsa and Elphaba sitting back to back.

While Frozen has a blatantly happy ending filled with reunions, love, happiness, and acceptance of both Elsa and her powers by the citizens of Arendale, Wicked's ending isn't as blatantly cheery. At first, you almost believe that Elphaba has been killed by Dorothy, as we had previously learned in "The Wizard of Oz". But then we see the Scarecrow, whom we discover to be a transformed Fiyero, due to Elphaba's spells and chants to save him, pulling Elphaba out of a hidden trap door. We see a heartbroken Glinda mourning the loss of her best friend as she informs the joyous citizens of Oz, although, unbeknownst to Glinda, Elphaba and Glinda's former love, Fiyero, are seen retreating from Oz together in search of a land in which they both can be free and accepted and live out the rest of their lives together in peace. The overall tone of the ending of Wicked is open for interpretation, but in my opinion, it is overall hopeful and more positive than negative. While Elphaba may never again see the only person she ever considered to be her true friend, she makes it out of Oz alive and with the man she loves, who also miraculously managed to escape Oz alive. 

The roles of the characters at the ending of Wicked almost counter the ending roles of the characters of Frozen, although to be honest, this can most likely be attributed to the fact that Frozen is a Disney movie aimed at young children, rather than a Broadway musical. At the end of Wicked, the citizens are thrilled upon the news that Elphaba has been killed, Glinda is left alone, yet content due to the love of the citizens of Oz, and Elphaba, who has by this point lost her younger sister Nessarose to Dorothy's house, is finally free to live out her life with Fiyero in peace without judgement or retaliation. At the end of Frozen, the citizens of Arendale accept Queen Elsa back with open arms, it is Princess Anna who is happily in love and allowed to live her life freely with Kristoff, and Queen Elsa is left alone (romantically speaking) but is content due to the love and acceptance of the citizens of Arendale and her beloved sister, Anna. 

And last but not least, there is, of course, the fact that the incomparable Idina Menzel provided the talent for both of these magical, misunderstood beauties.

The lovely Idina Menzel.