# Wicked Witch of the West — The Wonderful Wizard of Oz character guide

> Wicked Witch of the West in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the Wicked Witch, The Wicked Witch, the Witch, your, their

**First appearance:** 0003-ii-the-council-with-the-munchkins

## Snapshot

One-eyed tyrant of the western wastes, she rules the Winkies through fear and hunts trespassers with wolves, crows, and bees before ever meeting them face to face.

## Who they are

She governs a treeless, untilled country from a castle door, watching her borders with a single eye as sharp as a telescope. When Dorothy's party strays into her land, she does not parley—she whistles up wolves, then crows, then black bees, escalating because none of the intruders seem fit even for slavery. Her menace gives the middle journey its shape: every mile west is a step toward a foe who already knows they are coming.

## Relationships

### [Dorothy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wonderful_wizard_of_oz_se/characters/dorothy)

_rivalry_

The Wicked Witch of the West is Dorothy's primary antagonist, relentlessly pursuing her to steal the ruby slippers.

### [Wildcat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wonderful_wizard_of_oz_se/characters/wildcat)

_professional_

The Wicked Witch of the West commands the Wildcat (or similar creature) as a minion to do her bidding.

### [Dorothy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wonderful_wizard_of_oz_se/characters/dorothy)

_rivalry_

The Wicked Witch of the West is Dorothy's primary antagonist, relentlessly pursuing her to steal the ruby slippers.

### [Dorothy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wonderful_wizard_of_oz_se/characters/dorothy)

_rivalry_

The Wicked Witch of the West is Dorothy's primary antagonist, relentlessly pursuing her to steal the ruby slippers.

### [Wildcat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wonderful_wizard_of_oz_se/characters/wildcat)

_professional_

The Wicked Witch of the West commands the Wildcat (or similar creature) as a minion to do her bidding.

### [Wildcat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wonderful_wizard_of_oz_se/characters/wildcat)

_professional_

The Wicked Witch of the West commands the Wildcat (or similar creature) as a minion to do her bidding.

## In the story

### [The Wonderful Wizard of Oz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wonderful_wizard_of_oz_se/chapters/the-wonderful-wizard-of-oz)

The antagonist who enslaves Dorothy and is ultimately melted by water.

### [The Council with the Munchkins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wonderful_wizard_of_oz_se/chapters/ii-the-council-with-the-munchkins)

Mentioned as the remaining wicked witch who rules the West and would enslave Dorothy if she passed her way.

### [The Search for the Wicked Witch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wonderful_wizard_of_oz_se/chapters/xii-the-search-for-the-wicked-witch)

Uses the Golden Cap to summon the Winged Monkeys, enslaves Dorothy, tricks her out of a Silver Shoe, and is melted by water.

### [The Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wonderful_wizard_of_oz_se/chapters/xiii-the-rescue)

Mentioned as having been melted by Dorothy; her tyranny over the Winkies ends.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wonderful_wizard_of_oz_se/characters/wicked_witch_of_the_west
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wonderful_wizard_of_oz_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wonderful_wizard_of_oz_se/characters