The Final Defeat of the Wicked Witch of the West

Dorothy, in a moment of anger, throws water on the Witch, inadvertently discovering her one weakness and ending her reign.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Dorothy's Captivity

The Witch's Slave The Kitchen Work Dorothy is made to work in the Witch's kitchen. She cleans pots, sweeps the floor, and feeds the fire. The Witch threatens to beat her, but dares not because of the Good Witch's kiss. The Lion's Imprisonment The Lion is kept in a yard with an iron fence. The Witch tries to starve him into submission, but Dorothy brings him food at night. They talk and plan escape, but the Winkies guard the castle. The Witch's Greed The Witch wants the Silver Shoes. She watches Dorothy to see if she ever takes them off. Dorothy only takes them off at night and when bathing. The Witch is afraid of the dark and water.

The Theft of the Silver Shoe

The Witch's Trick The Invisible Bar The Witch places an iron bar in the middle of the kitchen floor and makes it invisible. Dorothy walks across, stumbles, and falls. One of the Silver Shoes comes off. The Witch Snatches It Before Dorothy can reach it, the Witch snatches the shoe and puts it on her own foot. She laughs, saying she now has half the power. Dorothy is furious. The Bucket of Water Dorothy, in anger, picks up a bucket of water standing nearby and throws it over the Witch. She does not know what will happen.

The Melting

The Witch's End The Scream The Witch gives a loud cry of fear and begins to shrink and fall away. She says, 'In a minute I shall melt away.' Dorothy is horrified. The Explanation The Witch explains that water is the end of her. She melts into a brown, shapeless mass. Dorothy is sorry, but the Witch is gone. The Aftermath Dorothy fetches another bucket of water and washes the mess away. She picks up the Silver Shoe, cleans it, and puts it on. She is free. She runs to free the Lion and tells the Winkies they are no longer slaves. The Wicked Witch of the West is dead.

After the Monkey attack

During Dorothy's captivity

Immediately after