LogFAQs > #268888

4. No Good Deed (Elphaba)

This is yet another really powerful song that comes towards the end of the second act (one of the big three that establish character development of Elphaba). There's really two factors working to this particular song's advantage. It opens up with her trying to cast a spell in order to save Fiyero (which does save him by turning him into the well-known Scarecrow character from the original book), and eventually getting frustrated at the knowledge that she HAS no knowledge of what has become of Fiyero, regardless of her spell (she doesn't even know if it worked properly). This leads to the second part of the song, in which she thinks back on all the good she's tried to accomplish (helping her sister to walk, saving the animals, etc.), and how Fiyero saved her by sacrificing himself. She realizes that despite her efforts to be positive and helpful and working for the forces of good, the people who don't play by the rules and who are truly evil will beat her ever time, so she finally decides to accept her title of "Wicked" Witch. Now, she doesn't actually do anything nasty after that point, beyond *****ing Dorothy out (and admittedly, Dorothy did steal shoes that rightfully belonged to Elphaba). It's just great to watch that transformation and realization of a good person slowly going mad inside.

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Captain Tracy Mombaro and Agent Mirasuke Inhara: Two of the toughest, hottest furrs you'll ever meet.