How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Volume.Chapter.Paragraph) and (Volume.Chapter.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Elphie clenched her fists and tried to keep from striking herself. "Liir gone too," she said. "I came here to make my apologies to Sarima and I lost Liir in the bargain. Am I good for nothing in this life?" (4.3.7.3)
The initial detail here before Elphaba speaks is really "striking" – pun intended. It's notable that this passage occurs at the beginning of the last volume. It really sets the tone for the book's conclusion by giving us insight into Elphaba's increasingly defeated state of mind.
Quote #2
But she was not a visionary. Behind the blue and white marbleized paper of the lake, beyond the watered silk of the sky, Elphaba couldn't see any deeper in. (4.3.7.2)
The water motif pops up once again here in some great imagery. We also like the use of the word "deeper" to describe Elphaba's limited vision, since "deeper" connects well with the water imagery. It's almost as if Elphaba has spent her life peering at the surface of a body of water (or the surface of Turtle Heart's mirror) and can't see anything underneath.
Quote #3
Virtually every campaign she'd set out for herself had ended in failure. . . .
The Witch would go and try to accomplish the task set out for herself fifteen years ago. Madame Morrible still waited to be killed. (5.5.66)
It's interesting that the narrator refers to Elphaba as "the Witch" here and also references "her" self from fifteen years ago. This implies that the Witch and Elphaba are the same.