Magic practitioner in The Oz Series
Witch of the North
Also known as the Good Witch of the North, the Good Witch who ruled that part of the Land of Oz.
A little, wrinkled, white-haired old woman in a white star-sprinkled gown, one of the two good witches of Oz; friend of the Munchkins, she greets Dorothy, gives her the protective kiss, and sends her to the Emerald City.
Appears in 6 chapters, first in chapter 2, last in chapter 84.
This encyclopedia covers chapters 1 to 100 of the story and shows the world as it stands at chapter 100, so it contains spoilers up to that point. To read it spoiler free, one chapter at a time, open the interactive codex.
What the story establishes
| Affiliation | One of the two good witches of Oz, dweller and power of the North, and a declared friend of the Munchkins — summoned at once by their swift messenger when the East Witch died. (as of ch. 2) |
| Age | Very old; wrinkled with nearly white hair. (as of ch. 2) |
| Appearance | A little old woman as tall as Dorothy, her face covered with wrinkles, hair nearly white, walking rather stiffly; she wears a white pointed bell-trimmed hat and a pleated white gown sprinkled with star-like glints. (as of ch. 2) |
| Being nature | A real witch, one of the good witches of Oz. |
| Conflict | The limits of her goodness against wicked power: she admits she is not as powerful as the Wicked Witch of the East was, and so could not free the Munchkins herself — and she cannot accompany Dorothy, only protect her from afar with a kiss. (as of ch. 2) |
| Current goal | To welcome and protect Dorothy and send her safely to Oz for help. (as of ch. 2) |
| Dialogue style | Sweet, calm, kindly, and patient; explains matters plainly to a frightened child. (as of ch. 2) |
| Equipment | Her pointed cap, which — balanced on the tip of her nose and counted over — transforms into a slate bearing chalk-written oracles. (as of ch. 2) |
| Gender identity | woman (as of ch. 2) |
| Is alive | yes (as of ch. 2) |
| Magic alignment | Good — she declares herself a good witch, loved by the people, one of the two good witches of the North and South. |
| Magic tradition | A good witch of the North, using benevolent magic arts. |
| Magical domain | Protective and oracular magic: a kiss that leaves a shining mark no one will dare injure, a cap that turns to an oracle-slate, and the art of vanishing — whirling three times on her left heel and disappearing straightway. |
| Maturation stage | Aged adult (elderly) |
| Motive | Benevolent friendship: she comes at once when the Munchkins summon her, wishes she could have freed them herself, and pledges all the magic arts she knows to keep Dorothy from harm on the journey. (as of ch. 2) |
| Personality | Kind, warm, and reassuring; calm in the face of death and generous toward the frightened Dorothy. (as of ch. 2) |
| Power tier | A true but middling witch-power: real enough to protect with a charm-kiss and prophesy, yet by her own admission weaker than the Wicked Witch of the East was, and — like all the witches — far beneath Oz. |
| Quirks | Performs her magic through odd little rituals: balances her cap's point on the end of her nose while counting solemnly, and departs by whirling around three times on her left heel. (as of ch. 2) |
| Referential profile | feminine (as of ch. 2) |
| Sex profile | female (as of ch. 2) |
| Skills | Working protective charms (the kiss whose mark wards off harm), divination by her cap-slate, and instant vanishing; she also commands the lore of Oz — its witches, wizard, and geography — which she teaches Dorothy. (as of ch. 2) |
| Social status | One of the four witches of Oz and ruler-figure of the North; a beloved good witch, though less powerful than the Wicked Witch of the East was. (as of ch. 2) |
| Special capabilities | Can transform her cap into a message-slate, vanish by whirling on her heel, and grant a protective kiss that leaves a shining mark and shields the bearer from harm; less powerful than the Wicked Witch of the East was. |
| Status | Present in the land of the Munchkins, greeting Dorothy, then departs by vanishing. (as of ch. 2) |
Relationships
- rules → Country of the Gillikins ch. 25The Good Witch who rules the northern part of Oz governs the Country of the Gillikins, having forbidden any other Witch to exist in her dominions.
- subordinate to ← Mombi ch. 25Mombi lives under the authority of the Good Witch who rules the North, whose law forbids any other Witch, so Mombi may be only a Sorceress or Wizardess.
- ally of · Munchkins ch. 2The Witch of the North is the friend and ally of the Munchkins, who summoned her when the Wicked Witch of the East died.
- communicates with → Dorothy (ended) ch. 2The Witch of the North greets Dorothy and, in a long conversation, explains the four witches of Oz, the Wizard, and the surrounding desert.
- enchants → Dorothy (ended) ch. 2The Witch of the North kisses Dorothy on the forehead, leaving a round shining mark of protection so that no one will dare injure her.
- gives → Silver Shoes (ended) ch. 2The Witch of the North picks up the dead Witch's silver shoes, shakes the dust from them, and gives them to Dorothy to wear.
- warns → Dorothy (ended) ch. 2The Witch warns Dorothy that the journey to the Emerald City passes through country sometimes dark and terrible, and cautions her not to be afraid of Oz.
- reveals secret to → Dorothy (ended) ch. 2The Witch reveals to Dorothy the hidden lore of Oz: the four witches, that Oz is a walled-off uncivilized land where magic survives, and that Oz the Great Wizard rules the Emerald City.
- shows respect → Dorothy (ended) ch. 2The Witch of the North makes a low bow to Dorothy and addresses her as 'most noble Sorceress'.
- warns → Land of Oz (ended) ch. 2The Witch warns Dorothy that the Land of Oz is ringed by a great impassable desert none could cross alive, trapping her within it.
From the text
“Yes, indeed,” answered the little woman. “But I am a good witch, and the people love me.”Chapter 2
the Good Witch who ruled that part of the Land of Oz had forbidden any other Witch to exist in her dominions.Chapter 25
See Witch of the North chapter by chapter in the interactive codex →