#also based SOLELY on the movie lol ive not read the book and i dont remember if the stage version even has this bit ��🏽‍♀️

[cryptidapprentice]

maybe an unpopular opinion but i like to think glinda WANTED to throw that torch in No One Mourns The Wicked HEAR ME OUT

they come out w a GIANT EFFIGY of her misunderstood best friend!! They're celebrating her death!!! And she's looking at this thing, and handed the torch and maybe she's thinking that she'd love to tear down the misrepresentation of her old friend, that maybe taking down this effigy will allow the people their peace and celebration, while allowing her friend to rest.

Like, burning the effigy is almost releasing elphaba of the wickedness that was thrust upon her.

(and also maybe glinda just wanted to get rid of that thing asap because of how fucked it was 🤷🏽‍♀️)

The whole song she's acting like she's just as happy as the rest of them, I can see the effigy being a last straw of sorts. So she's not burning her friend, she's burning the people's awful perception of her.