How does Dorothy defeat the Wicked Witch of the West?

Dorothy defeats the Wicked Witch of the West accidentally: the Witch trips Dorothy, who is angry and cleaning a mess, and throws a bucket of water at her — the Witch melts away. Baum plays subversion: after long journey and monkey captivity, climax is domestic splash, not sword fight.

Water ends slavery of Winkies and yields Witch’s cap controlling winged monkeys. Teach scene as good-versus-evil without gore — and note irony that house killed East Witch at start, water West Witch at midpoint toward home. Dorothy’s shoes remain final magic.