Elphaba struggles to find her place in a world that makes no room for green women, or really for anyone that is different in any which way. While her own identity is troublesome, Elphaba grows to be strong willed character that defies social norms. Indeed, as Nanny profoundly notes when Elphaba was just a child, "little green Elphaba chose her own sex, and her own color, and to hell with her parents". With such a strong sense of difference from an early age, Elphaba is more comfortable and empathetic with animals, which are, ironically, frowned upon in this society, and people with similar circumstances, or differences, rather, than she is with fellow humans. The land of Oz is currently under a great downfall economically and socially under the rule of the Wizard. Oz is becoming segregated and racist, typically between humans and the talking Animals. Although the Animals once lived comfortably and acceptingly in Oz, they are now being treated poorly and shunned due to the Wizard's government system which entails that "Animals should be seen and not heard". .
The Wizard's system consequently treats the Animals a lot like the Nazi Germany treated Jews during the Great Depression. After the plot kind of jumps around a bit and everyone in Elphaba's family becomes distraught, either by having an affair or isolating themselves in the woods all day doing "religious" things, Maguire jumps ahead to Elphaba's college years. She is attending Crage Hall, the female college of Shiz University and this is where she meets a spoiled and rather "stuck up" girl named Galinda, with whom she shares a dorm with. Galinda immediately feels uncomfortable around Elphaba and casts her out and refuses to speak to her due to her being green and different. Galinda tries multiple times to get a new roommate, but the headmaster of Shiz, Madame Morrible, does not allow it. After a while, Galinda and Elphaba finally speak, upon trying to close a window in their room that had flown open during a storm.