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Doctor Dillamond is a Professor of Biological Arts at Shiz University and a Goat—an Ozian “Animal” with the ability to think and speak like a human. He dedicates himself to researching the true origins of Animals and animals alike, hoping to prove they are fundamentally the same and that the Wizard’s oppressive regime is both immoral and unlawful. He first meets Galinda on the train to Shiz, where he questions her about the Wizard’s recent Animal Banns, which prohibit Animals from using public transportation. At Shiz, he becomes Elphaba’s mentor, as she is drawn to his intelligence and moral conviction. But Dillamond’s investigations bring him under surveillance, and he is ultimately murdered by Grommetik at Madame Morrible’s behest. His death catalyzes Elphaba’s radicalism and solidifies her hatred of the Wizard. Even Galinda is affected by his loss, adopting the name “Glinda” after Dillamond’s habitual mispronunciation in a quiet gesture of remembrance. Though he dies early in the novel, Dillamond’s murder represents a turning point, showing Elphaba the lengths those in power will go to maintain control, order, and the status quo.
Doctor Dillamond Quotes in Wicked
The Wicked quotes below are all either spoken by Doctor Dillamond or refer to Doctor Dillamond. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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9. Galinda Quotes
Animals should be seen and not heard.
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11. The Charmed Circle Quotes
“And the drought, after a few promising reprieves, continues unabated. The Animals are recalled to the lands of their ancestors, a ploy to give the farmers a sense of control over something anyway. It’s a systematic marginalizing of populations, Glinda, that’s what the Wizard’s all about.”
“We were talking about your childhood,” said Glinda.
“[...] You can’t divorce your particulars from politics.”
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“If not immoral, then what word can I use to imply wrong?” said Elphaba.
“Try mysterious and then relax a little. The thing is, my green girlie, it is not for a girl, or a student, or a citizen to assess what is wrong. This is the job of leaders, and why we exist.”
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Doctor Dillamond Character Timeline in Wicked
The timeline below shows where the character Doctor Dillamond appears in Wicked. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
9. Galinda
...Shiz University, 17-year-old Galinda from rural Gillikin is relieved that her compartment companion—a Goat, Doctor Dillamond—is asleep, sparing her from having to speak to the Animal. Her guardian, Ama Clutch, was...
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...Elephants, Tigers, and Goats walk the streets, talking freely with humans and each other. Doctor Dillamond helps her flag down a carriage to Crage Hall before saying goodbye, somewhat ominously promising...
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...One poem ends with the line, “Animals should be seen and not heard,” infuriating Doctor Dillamond and other Animal professors in attendance. Elphaba mutters to Galinda that the poem is offensive,...
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...embarrassed and offended, insists she doesn’t remember him and abruptly leaves. Later, in class, Doctor Dillamond announces that the Wizard has officially passed the Animal Mobility Banns, which will severely restrict...
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10. Boq
...Pfannee’s summer house with Shenshen, while Elphaba will remain on campus to work for Doctor Dillamond. Boq is pleasantly surprised—he admires Dillamond’s work and has always hoped to meet him.
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...talk, Elphaba shares that her mother died in childbirth and explains the research she’s helping Dillamond with: he’s working to prove that there’s no scientific difference between Animal and human tissue,...
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...in one image. He shows it to Elphaba, who decides to take it to Doctor Dillamond, excited by his recent “breakthroughs” on the similarities between Animals and humans. She also tells...
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...incredible pain when exposed to water). When Boq asks what happened, they explain that Doctor Dillamond was found dead in his lab, his throat slit. The night before, Ama Clutch had...
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11. The Charmed Circle
Though Doctor Dillamond’s death is officially ruled an accident, everyone knows he was murdered. In the days that...
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Elphaba and Boq sit next to each other in Doctor Nikidik’s class, Dillamond’s replacement. Boq wonders if Dillamond left behind important notes before his death, and Elphaba reveals...
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...briefly brings Ama Clutch back to reality, and Ama Clutch reveals she saw Grommetik slit Dillamond’s throat that night—this is what she glimpsed from the window. She asks Glinda to hold...
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...sends Nanny and Grommetik away, then asks the girls if Ama Clutch said anything about Dillamond’s death in her final moments. Morrible claims she sent Grommetik to Dillamond’s lab that night...
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Elphaba presents Doctor Dillamond’s breakthrough research, but the Wizard mocks it as “derivative, specious garbage.” When she begs him...
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12. City of Emeralds
...Ko, then asks where she’s been all these years. Elphaba explains she left Shiz after Dillamond’s death, angered by how little anyone cared, and she’s been living underground ever since. Fiyero...
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14. The Jasper Gates of Kiamo Ko
...“spirit,” but he only manages “spit,” delighting Elphaba. To her, this is proof of Doctor Dillamond’s research-backed theory: there’s no true difference between humans and Animals. Later, while ice skating with...
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16. The Murder and Its Afterlife
Boq recalls their time working for Doctor Dillamond and says he and Milla to this day refuse to own Animals because of it....
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...pain, begins to die, she sees figures from her past—Melena, Nessa, Frex, Boq, Glinda, Doctor Dillamond, Madame Morrible, Fiyero, the Wizard, Yackle—before everything fades away.
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