# How does Dorothy defeat the Wicked Witch of the West?

> The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

## Answer

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.

## Evidence

- [xii-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.md): Captivity and conflict in witch’s castle.
- [xiii-the-rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wonderful_wizard_of_oz_se/chapters/xiii-the-rescue.md): Water melts the Witch; friends reunited.

## Links

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