The sheer ridiculousness of it shows where Elphaba is at by that point in the novel. Really sad. Answer from YardEnvironmental127 on reddit.com
Reddit
reddit.com › r/wicked › (book) why did elphie think fiyero was the scarecrow?
r/wicked on Reddit: (Book) Why did Elphie think Fiyero was The Scarecrow?
January 20, 2025 -
So Fiyero in the musical does in fact end up being The Scarecrow. But what led to Elphie thinking he was The Scarecrow in the book? Maybe I'm missing something, but the line of reasoning seemed to come out of nowhere. I've yet to read the sequels.
Top answer 1 of 8
13
The sheer ridiculousness of it shows where Elphaba is at by that point in the novel. Really sad.
2 of 8
13
It's a combination of things, really. It's not so much one thing as it is the culmination of everything she's suffered in the years since his death. As mentioned below, Elphaba experimented with the Wizard's elixir to dream about the other world like Nanny said her mother did. After experiencing nightmares from it, though, she slowly stopped sleeping entirely to avoid them. She's always been a conspiracy theorist, but in the years following Dr. Dillamond's and Ama Clutch's deaths, she slowly went off the deep end and began developing paranoia. After seeing the scarecrow talismans after she came to visit Munchkinland again, she began to develop a suspicion around scarecrows in general. Elphie's later years were later spent trying and failing to atone for her affair with Fiyero (first with the Maunts, and later on with Sarima in Kiamo Ko) as her involvement with him is what led to his death. Despite becoming friends with his widow and making Kiamo Ko her home, because Sarima essentially forbade her from confessing what she had done, Elphie spent those years being tormented by guilt and a lack of closure. This, of course, never got resolved for her because Sarima, her sisters, and two of her children ended up dead and his only daughter was taken as a hostage by the Wizard and enslaved. After being haunted by her guilt for well over a decade at this point, she sprung at the chance to make up a sleep-deprivation fantasy about him being alive and well - because she wouldn't need to gain forgiveness if she didn't cause his death in the first place. Liir mentioned right before Dorothy's arrival that his heart's desire was to have a father, which Elphie believes was Fiyero because at this point she is more or less convinced that she was his biological mother. For all her abrasiveness in her later years, Elphie does love Liir, knows how much he longs for a paternal figure, and envisioned Fiyero as the Scarecrow in part because she badly wanted to give him the father he never had. At this point in her life, Elphaba's just... lonely, man. She's lost almost everyone she's ever loved, through either death or perceived betrayal. Dr. Dillamond's Nessa's dead, Sarima's dead, her father's never going to love her like he loved Nessa and the shoes that represented his love have been taken by some random child, Glinda gave said child the shoes even though she knew Elphaba was hurt by them decades ago, and Boq was afraid of her after Madame Morrible. She still had Nanny and Liir, yes, but they didn't understand her like those others did. They see her at her worst, her most crotchety, while knowing nothing of what she's been through. And yes, while she does have her familiars, they can't talk with her, no matter how much she tried to teach them. At the height of her mania, she simply wanted to not be alone anymore. In short, sad reasons. Many, many sad reasons.
Fandom
wicked.fandom.com › wiki › Scarecrow
Scarecrow | Wicked Wiki | Fandom
3 weeks ago - It is left to the reader of the novel to decide if the Scarecrow is indeed Fiyero or not (Coincidentally, in the musical based on the novel, the Scarecrow is indeed Fiyero who was transformed into the Scarecrow by Elphaba to save his life).
Videos
The secret is out! #wickedmovie #wicked #wickedforgood #fiyero #jonathanbailey | TikTok
05:51
WICKED For Good (2025) – No Good Deed Full Scene & Song | Elphaba's ...
now that's my sexiest scarecrow alive #wickedmovie #wicked #wickedforgood #fiyero #jonathanbailey | TikTok
Gonna show that scarecrow something truly wicked #wicked #wickedforgood #jonathanbailey #musicaltheatre | TikTok
You may be brainless indeed, scarecrow | TikTok
The Direct
thedirect.com › homepage › movie › wicked: here's why elphaba turns fiyero into a scarecrow
Wicked: Here's Why Elphaba Turns Fiyero Into a Scarecrow
November 29, 2024 - A series of (unfortunate) events leads to Elphaba turning Fiyero into a scarecrow in Wicked. This article contains potential spoilers for Wicked Part Two
Reddit
reddit.com › r/wicked › the scarecrow's identity: wouldn't they recognize him in part 2?
r/wicked on Reddit: The Scarecrow's Identity: Wouldn't They Recognize Him in part 2?
December 23, 2024 -
In "Wicked" Part 2, Jonathan Bailey turns into the Scarecrow, and even after his transformation, he still wears the same Captain's uniform and accompanies Dorothy to meet Oz. My biggest question is: Fiyero was the Captain of the Guard, so wouldn't Oz, Galinda, or Madame Morrible recognize his outfit and figure out his identity???
Top answer 1 of 5
21
I head canon that the spell to save him also whips his memory which keeps him safe. And only at the castle face to face is that part of the spell broken.
2 of 5
15
We honestly have no idea since we never see those interactions in the stage show. Maybe it’s the Clark Kent effect: they don’t expect to see Fiyero so they don’t see Fiyero. There is a great fanfic that was written recently from Fiyercrow’s perspective though.
Capital FM
capitalfm.com › news › tv-film › wicked-scarecrow-musical-part-2-who
Who is the Scarecrow in Wicked? Here's how the musical reveals his true identity - Capital
December 4, 2024 - Yes. Jonathan Bailey's character Fiyero is the Scarecrow and we'll see him become the Scarecrow in Part 2. Fiyero and Elphaba in Wicked.
Distractify
distractify.com › home › entertainment › movies › fiyero is part of 'wicked' and 'the wizard of oz' — does he become the scarecrow? (spoilers)
Fiyero Is Part of 'Wicked' and 'The Wizard of Oz' — Does He Become the Scarecrow? (SPOILERS)
November 26, 2024 - By the end of the musical, after Dorothy melts Elphaba, Fiyero as the Scarecrow goes to the scene of her death and finds her hiding under a trapdoor. The two then leave Oz together and live happily ever after.
NBC
nbc.com › nbc-insider › where-did-elphaba-fiyero-go-at-the-end-of-wicked-for-good
What Happened to Elphaba & Fiyero at the End of Wicked: For Good? (EXPLAINED)
One of the lasting scenes in Wicked: For Good occurs when Fiyero makes his triumphant return, is revealed as the Scarecrow, and opens the trap door to reveal Elphaba so they can finally be together.
Published November 21, 2025
Reddit
reddit.com › r/wicked › [ removed by moderator ]
Is fiyero the scarecrow or not? : r/wicked
August 28, 2024 - In the books, fiyero is ACTUALLY dead, he isn’t the scarecrow and elpheba doesn’t fake her death, she actually melts and dies. ... Oh really? Sorry I didn’t know. I searched it up and it said that elpheba was definitely dead and melted ...
Cosmopolitan
cosmopolitan.com › pop culture › movies › thirstily wondering who fiyero ends up with in ‘wicked: for good’?
Who Does Fiyero End Up With in Wicked?
November 20, 2025 - But thanks to helping Elphaba escape ... turns out Elphaba is truly terrible at casting spells and Fiyero turns into a human bale of hay, aka The Scarecrow....
Forbes
forbes.com › forbes homepage › lifestyle › arts
‘Wicked: For Good’ Fans Have Questions About The Scarecrow
1 month ago - Fiyero experiences that brutal beating, is permanently transformed into the Scarecrow and is left hanging on a wooden pole, presumably rather confused, until Dorothy comes along and frees him.
Us Weekly
usmagazine.com › home › who is the scarecrow in ‘wicked: for good’? character’s backstory revealed after trailer cameo
Who Is the Scarecrow in Wicked: For Good? Character Backstory Revealed | Us Weekly
September 24, 2025 - The greenified witch eventually conducts a spell to protect him from guards serving the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) that seek his capture so that they can still be together. However, Elphaba botches the spell and Fiyero is turned into a scarecrow.
Cosmopolitan
cosmopolitan.com › pop culture › movies › wait, who is the scarecrow in ‘wicked: for good’
Wait, Who is the Scarecrow in 'Wicked: For Good'
1 month ago - The Scarecrow is none other than Fiyero himself! He is turned into the Scarecrow by Elphaba's spell in "No Good Deed" in which she tries to protect him after he is taken away from the Wizard's guards for protecting Elphaba.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/wicked › a question about what happened to fiyero at the end...
r/wicked on Reddit: a question about what happened to Fiyero at the end...
July 8, 2022 -
so ive finally seen wicked on broadway for the first time like 2 weeks ago.
OMG im obsessed. LMAO i knew a few songs prior but seeing the whole play live ive been changed for good. okay ill stop lol
no but yeah, so at the end, Fiyero shows up again as a scarecrow. im a bit confused tho.
was it just a disguise or was he actually turned into an actual scarecrow because of elphaba's spell?
thank you!
Top answer 1 of 3
15
So in WICKED (Book), Fiyero is murdered by the Oz Guards and Elphaba believes he's the Scarecrow that is until he's torn apart. And in WICKED (Musical), Fiyero is tortured by the Oz Guards until he gives away Elphaba's whereabouts and Elphaba casts a spell that transforms him into the Scarecrow.
2 of 3
5
Due to elphbas spell Not completely working in no good deed he was turned into a scarecrow
Dexerto
dexerto.com › home › tv & movies › news › wicked’s fiyero star spoiled huge part 2 storyline with obvious easter egg
Wicked’s Fiyero star spoiled huge Part 2 storyline with obvious Easter egg - Dexerto
November 27, 2024 - This in turn leads to his capture, ... As further proof that the book’s magic is somehow cursed, Elphaba turns him into a Scarecrow to keep him hidden....
Fandom
wicked.fandom.com › wiki › Fiyero_Tigelaar
Fiyero Tigelaar | Wicked Wiki | Fandom
3 weeks ago - It is ultimately left to the reader of the novel to decide if the Scarecrow is actually Fiyero or not (Coincidentally, in the musical based on the novel, Fiyero is transformed into the Scarecrow by Elphaba to save his life).
Let's Overthink That
letsoverthinkthat.com › home › blockbusters › wicked part 1: fiyero, foreshadowing, and spoilers
Wicked Part 1: Fiyero, Foreshadowing, and Spoilers - Let's Overthink That
January 8, 2025 - I mean, do you really expect people not to speculate on what’s going to happen in Wicked Part 2 for an entire year? This is a beloved musical, and it’s really fun to analyze and speculate on what’s coming next. And it’s not just preexisting musical fans who are doing that. I found post the other day by a woman who was analyzing two images she could find from Part 2 and trying to connect the dots on how Fiyero was going to become the Scarecrow.
Soapcentral
soapcentral.com › home › entertainment › why does elphaba turn fiyero into the scarecrow on wicked? explained
Why does Elphaba turn Fiyero into the Scarecrow on Wicked? Explained
December 1, 2024 - It is when the complexity of Elphaba's magic and her feelings are shown. In the second half of the musical, Elphaba casts a spell to protect Fiyero from the Wizard's guards who have captured and tortured him. Although she has good intent, the spell turns unexpectedly: Fiyero becomes the Scarecrow.
Wickedplay Wikia
wickedplay.fandom.com › wiki › Fiyero_Tigelaar
Fiyero Tigelaar | Wickedplay Wikia | Fandom
She is about to be taken to the Wizard, and Fiyero saves her by holding Glinda hostage. He then is captured, hung like a scarecrow in a field and tortured, but he is turned into a real scarecrow by Elphaba so he might live; however, she does ...
The Direct
thedirect.com › homepage › movie › wicked part 2: here's what happens to fiyero, according to the musical
Wicked Part 2: Here's What Happens to Fiyero, According to the Musical
November 25, 2024 - This starts with Fiyero being named ... Wizard of Oz (where Elphaba eventually meets her end), Fiyero's story only goes up to the point where he becomes the Scarecrow....
Wikihow
wikihow.com › arts and entertainment › fandom › who is the scarecrow in wicked? his backstory explained
Who Is the Scarecrow in Wicked? His Backstory Explained
June 26, 2025 - Elphaba accidentally turns Fiyero into a scarecrow while saving his life. In Act 2 of Wicked the Musical, Fiyero is captured by the Wizard of Oz's soldiers after he helps Elphaba escape their clutches.