Elphaba is the novel’s central protagonist. Though she is not a typical “good” character, her complex characterization makes her a relatable protagonist. Elphaba is a victim of society’s expectations. She is born with green skin and sharp teeth, and she behaves oddly her entire life because people treat her as other. Elphaba’s poor treatment by her family and community plays into the broader issues of racism, sexism, and tribalism that exist throughout Oz. Elphaba is emotionally abused by her parents, and she works her entire life to overcome her internalization of this abuse. But despite her strength and intelligence, Elphaba’s psychological scars lead her to live a life of loneliness, bitterness, and violence.

Elphaba is capable of great feats of love, but her attempts at love often bite her back, so she is unable to truly be vulnerable with other people. For example, even though Liir is her son, the product of her love with Fiyero, Elphaba can only ever give him a roof to live under. She never truly connects with him, and thus Elphaba repeats the cycles of abuse that she learned from her own parents. There are people who truly like and respect Elphaba, such as Glinda and Boq, but Elphaba dismisses these people to pursue a grander political mission for Animal Rights.