Wicked‘s prequel novel, Elphie: A Wicked Childhood, has provided a sadder meaning behind Elphaba giving monkey’s wings. Wicked is a remarkably popular stage musical that first appeared on Broadway in 2003. However, the story is actually based on a novel by author Gregory Maguire that came out in 1995. This, in turn, was an expansion to the original novels by L. Frank Baum which were released between 1900 and 1920.