What do the characters in The Wizard of Oz symbolize?
Wizard of Oz symbolism
- Dorothy – is believed to represent the American people and its values as she is loyal and resourceful.
- Toto- Dorothy’s small dog is the one to reveal what a fraud the wizard is thought to also represent the average Americans.
- Uncle Henry- which was the name of a famous farmer who was the editor of a farming magazine.
Who are the most important characters in The Wizard of Oz?
- Dorothy. A young and sprightly girl, Dorothy lives with her aunt and uncle on the bleak Kansas prairie. ...
- Uncle Henry. Dorothy's uncle and husband to Aunt Em. ...
- Aunt Em. ...
- Wicked Witch of the East. ...
- Witch of the North. ...
- Boq. ...
- The Scarecrow. ...
- The Tin Woodman. ...
- The Cowardly Lion. ...
- Queen of the Field Mice. ...
What are the main characters of Wizard of Oz?
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Characters
- Dorothy Gale is transported to Oz after a tornado hits her house.
- The Wicked Witch of the East is crushed under Dorothy's house. ...
- The Wicked Witch of the West tries to steal the silver shoes from Dorothy.
- The Cowardly Lion, the Tin Woodman, and the Scarecrow are Dorothy's companions in Oz.
- Glinda helps Dorothy get home.
Who is your favorite character in The Wizard of Oz?
What's Your Favorite Wizard of Oz Character? Dorothy represents the typical, all encompassing, ‘perfect’ American. Toto represents prohibitionists because of their support for the Populists. The Tin Man represents the industrial workers, particularly of the steel industry.
Who is the dog that goes unnoticed in Wizard of Oz?
What is the story of Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz?
What does the Good Witch of the North represent?
What do flying monkeys represent?
What does Toto represent?
What did the farmers want in the dollar value?
What does the silver slipper represent?
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Who do the Wizard of Oz characters represent?
Frank Baum's book "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," upon which the movie is based, was a political allegory for American politics at the dawn of the 20th century. Dorothy, the Kansas innocent, represents the nobility of middle (and Midwestern) America; the Tin Man is industry, the Scarecrow is agriculture.
What did the Wizard of Oz represent?
The Wizard, unsurprisingly, represents the President of the United States. In the story, the wizard is a charlatan who has convinced those around him that he wields great power, but who doesn't really have much power at all. That point is highlighted when he asks Dorothy to go kill the Wicked Witch of the West for him.
What do the characters in the Wizard of Oz represent politically?
Dorothy represents Everyman; the Tin Woodman is the industrial worker, the Scarecrow is the farmer, the Cowardly Lion is William Jennings Bryan, the Wizard is the President, the munchkins are the "little people" and the Yellow Brick Road is the gold standard. Toto probably represents a dog.
What president does the Wizard of Oz represent?
William McKinleyOne of the 20th century's most popular books, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” may have been an allegory based on the economic and political climate of the United States when Niles-born William McKinley was president.
What was the hidden message in Wizard of Oz?
But in both cases, Dorothy is instantly hailed as a conquering heroine, just as the Wizard was when he touched down in Oz. The message is that people will march behind any authority figure who makes a splash, however undeserving they may be.
What does the flying monkeys represent in the Wizard of Oz?
Winged Monkeys. According to some writers, the Winged Monkeys of Oz represent Native Americans in the West in the late 1800s. Baum himself had clear attitudes toward American Indians and some of his earlier writings about Indians are very similar to his descriptions of the Winged Monkeys found in Oz.
What is the controversy with the Wizard of Oz?
The Director Slapped Judy Garland At just 16 years old, Judy Garland was slapped by the director of the film, Victor Fleming. Allegedly, it was because of her inability to complete a scene without giggling.As if that was not enough mistreatment of the show's main character, Judy Garland seemed never to catch a break.
What does Oz symbolize in the Wizard of Oz?
"Oz is an abbreviation for ounces, one measure of the worth of gold and silver bullion," Ritter points out. "In the land of Oz, gold and silver are often the arbiters of power." In Oz, a brick road the color of gold leads to the Emerald City.
Who does Auntie Em represent in the Wizard of Oz?
Auntie Em Dorothy's Aunt and Henry's wife. A typical midwestern farm worker, her main concern is the upkeep of her farm. Doubles as Glinda the Good Witch of the North.
What does Dorothy Gale represent?
Political Symbolism – Dorothy Gale represents American values and the individual citizen. Personal Symbolism – Dorothy Gale is the every girl. She is the dreamer. The optimist.
What do the ruby slippers represent?
In the movie, the slippers represent the little guy's ability to triumph over powerful forces. As the item that she – a simple teenage farm girl from Kansas – steals from the dictatorial Wicked Witch and ultimately uses to liberate the oppressed people of Oz, they're nothing less than a symbol of revolution.
What does yellow brick road represent?
The Yellow Brick Road represents strategy—how you will get there; the path you identify as the best, smartest way to accomplish your goal. And each of the shiny yellow bricks in the road represents an action step—the smaller tactics that go into executing your strategy.
What does Oz symbolize in the Wizard of Oz?
"Oz is an abbreviation for ounces, one measure of the worth of gold and silver bullion," Ritter points out. "In the land of Oz, gold and silver are often the arbiters of power." In Oz, a brick road the color of gold leads to the Emerald City.
What is the controversy with the Wizard of Oz?
The Director Slapped Judy Garland At just 16 years old, Judy Garland was slapped by the director of the film, Victor Fleming. Allegedly, it was because of her inability to complete a scene without giggling.As if that was not enough mistreatment of the show's main character, Judy Garland seemed never to catch a break.
What does the Land of Oz symbolize?
Hugh Rockoff suggested in 1990 that the novel was an allegory about the demonetization of silver in 1873, whereby "the cyclone that carried Dorothy to the Land of Oz represents the economic and political upheaval, the yellow brick road stands for the gold standard, and the silver shoes Dorothy inherits from the Wicked ...
What do the ruby slippers symbolize?
In the movie, the slippers represent the little guy's ability to triumph over powerful forces. As the item that she – a simple teenage farm girl from Kansas – steals from the dictatorial Wicked Witch and ultimately uses to liberate the oppressed people of Oz, they're nothing less than a symbol of revolution.
Here's The Real, Forgotten Meaning Of 'The Wizard Of Oz' - Yahoo!
'The Wizard of Oz' book, written by L. Frank Baum and originally published in 1900, may have been inspired by the real-life economic struggles during the Gold Standard.
The Symbolism Hidden Within “The Wizard of Oz” - Jabajabba ...
Many people believe that The Wizard of Oz was (and is) an allegory for the radically new state of affairs that existed in America in the 1930s, following the stock market crash and the bankruptcy of the United States Government which occurred immediately thereafter.
Who is the dog that goes unnoticed in Wizard of Oz?
Some people put more faith in this theory more than the other one due to similarnames (The-o-dore and Dor-o-thy). Toto : a small dog that seems to go unnoticed, it is Toto who reveals what a fraud the Wizard is. It is thought that Toto also represents average Americans.
What is the story of Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz?
It tells the story of a young girl who ends up in a tornado and gets carried from her Kansas farm home to a land that is not like anything she has seen ever before. After Dorothy’s house falls on and kills the Wicked Witch in Munchkin Land, Dorothy is welcomed to her new land by the Munchkins. The nice witch Glinda then explains to Dorothy that to find out about getting back home she needs to follow the yellow brick road and ask the Wizard of Oz. Along her way down the yellow brick road Dorothy meets some new friends who all have something they want to ask the great wizard. However, when they finally get to the Emerald City and meet the wizard, they discover he is just a fraud and that everything they had been searching for they can find within themselves.
What does the Good Witch of the North represent?
The Good Witch of the North represents northern workers , and the Good Witch of the South represents southern farmers. This provides a contrast between wicked industrialists from the west with the railroad moguls in the west. Flying Monkeys: in political cartoons flying monkeys are used for poking fun at politicians.
What do flying monkeys represent?
Flying Monkeys: in political cartoons flying monkeys are used for poking fun at politicians. Another speculation is they represent Native Americans. Dorothy and friends are told when they meet up with the monkeys that they were once a free people who happily lived in the forest where they flew from tree to tree eating fruit and nuts and doing whatever they pleased without having to call anyone master. This was years before Oz appeared from the clouds to rule over the land. This appears to relate well with the fate of Native Americans who had been forced from their land by Americans migrating from the east.
What does Toto represent?
It is thought that Toto also represents average Americans. Uncle Henry: Henry Cantwell Wallace was a well known farmer and editor for a leading farm magazine in the late 1800s. He was called Uncle Henry by most everyone. Cyclone: it is thought that the tornado represents the free silver movement or political upheaval.
What did the farmers want in the dollar value?
The farmers wanted the dollar value to have fixed ratios of both gold and silver. Some politicians supported this movement and others didn’t. Munchkins: The little people, the munchkins, are said to represent the common people or ordinary U.S. citizens. The Lollipop Guild is seen as representing child labor.
What does the silver slipper represent?
Another speculation is that the silver slippers are a representation of the power to vote. Yellow Brick Gold: is a representation of the gold standard, with the gold road leading to power. Oz: an abbreviation that stands for gold, a hot political topic of the day where people were rallying for fixed gold and silver ratios.
Who is the mother in law in Wizard of Oz?
We're off to see the theosophy of the 'Wizard of Oz' characters. Baum's theosophist mother-in-law, Matilda Gage, looms large. She likely served as the basis for Glinda, according to author Evan Schwarz, whereas the wicked witches capture her views on the vilification of witchcraft.
Why is the Wizard of Oz considered a feminist book?
According to American literary scholar Michael Patrick Hearn, people " almost universally " consider The Wizard of Oz "the earliest truly feminist American children's book, because of spunky and tenacious Dorothy.". Unlike traditional damsels in distress, she doesn't passively wait for Prince Charming to save the day.
What is the story of Dorothy Gale and her dog?
Both versions tell the story of Dorothy Gale and her adorable dog Toto getting stranded in a fantastical land by a tornado, and both include the iconic characters of the Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Tin Man, Glinda the Good Witch, and the wizard of fraud, Oz. But unlike the movie, the book features creatures like a giant lion-eating spider ...
Why does Dorothy use Dorothy to defeat the Wicked Witch of the West?
In fact, Oz, who is literally powerless, uses Dorothy to defeat the Wicked Witch of the West because he fears witches.
What does Frank Baum's intro to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz mean?
Just as Oz wasn't a wizard and Dorothy possessed the power to return home (her magic shoes) from the start, the intro tells you that you don't need to look for the book's hidden meaning because "the story ... was written solely to pleasure children of today." Baum's grandson, Roger, supported this interpretation, per the Chicago Tribune .
What is the most autobiographical character in the book Tin Man?
Perhaps the most autobiographical character is the Tin Man . The Chicago Tribune notes that Baum had a bad heart, which is echoed in the Tin Man 's missing ticker. Moreover, Baum had a heart attack before marrying Maud Gage, and the Tin Man — who was once human — loses his heart in a magic ax attack that prevents him from marrying a Munchkin. Even the plot line of Dorothy being stranded in a strange land with a yellow brick road might be based on a chapter from Baum's life. Patch reports that as a child he attended military school away from home. He traveled via steamship, and a literal yellow brick road called West Street "led from the dock onto Water Street." He had a miserable time and begged to come home.
Why does the intro tell you that you don't need to look for the book's hidden meaning?
Just as Oz wasn't a wizard and Dorothy possessed the power to return home (her magic shoes) from the start, the intro tells you that you don't need to look for the book's hidden meaning because "the story ... was written solely to pleasure children of today.".
Who is the good witch in Wizard of Oz?
5 Glinda The Good Witch. As her name suggests, Glinda is one of the nicest characters within The Wizard Of Oz, as someone who is happy to help Dorothy in the bid against evil. While she's not as involved in the movie as some of the other characters when Glinda pops up, she brings a real warmth and kindness with her.
Who is the most likable character in Wizard of Oz?
Ultimately, it is Dorothy herself who comes across as the most likable of the Wizard of Oz characters. It's her adventure and everything that happens is shown through her perspective, therefore she must be a likable character, or viewers simply wouldn't be interested in the movie.
When was Wizard of Oz first released?
Comment. The Wizard Of Oz is one of the most iconic movies of all time and one that is truly beloved, having been passed down from generation to generation. Originally released in 1939, this classic has some of the greatest musical numbers in movie history, with some clear and defined characters, ...
Who is the Scarecrow in Oz?
Out of all of the characters that Dorothy encounters along her journey through the Land of Oz, the Scarecrow is certainly the nicest and most likable of the bunch. He is the first friend that Dorothy meets, and he is someone who wants to find a brain, in order to be a little smarter.
Is Toto a good Wizard of Oz character?
He might not be able to talk and engage like the other characters, but Toto's energy bursts through the screen to make him one of the best Wizard of Oz characters.
Who is the Tin Man in Wizard of Oz?
The Tin Man is the second of the trio of Wizard of Oz characters that Dorothy meets along the yellow brick road, and he's certainly a fun addition to the journey throughout the movie. For him, he is looking to gain a heart in order to feel things more, and he certainly does appreciate Dorothy coming along and bringing him on the journey.
Who is the cowardly lion?
The Cowardly Lion is the third and final friend that Dorothy picks up on the yellow brick road, and he certainly has his likable moments. Of course, as his name suggests, he is a very cowardly character and someone who is quite afraid of most things, which means he's not always as up front about helping Dorothy as The Tin Man and Scarecrow.
Who was the lion in Wizard of Oz?
The Cowardly Lion is, according to Littlefield, a representation of William Jennings Bryan, who was a hero of the Populist movement at the time. Bryan was even referred to as a lion in the press.
Who is the wizard in the book The Wizard?
In the story, the wizard is a charlatan who has convinced those around him that he wields great power, but who doesn’t really have much power at all. That point is highlighted when he asks Dorothy to go kill the Wicked Witch of the West for him.
What does the scarecrow represent?
The Scarecrow. The Scarecrow represents those farmers. The Scarecrow thinks he doesn’t have a brain, which parallels the view that Easterners in the country had of the farmers of the Midwest region, as being generally irrational, uneducated, and ignorant.
What does Dorothy's house fall on?
When Dorothy’s house falls on the Wicked Witch of the East, it’s a reference to smashing Wall Street’s power. Her sister, the Witch of the West, symbolizes the financial elite who lived in the western region of the country such as railroad magnates, bankers, etc.
Where is Toto in Wizard of Oz?
Toto at the Emerald City, from ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ first edition. The Emerald City and the Royal Palace of Oz are placeholders for Washington, D.C. and the White House — the seats of political power and possibly also a reference to the greenback dollar.
What did farmers of the Midwest want?
Farmers of the Midwest wanted the dollar to have value equal to fixed ratios of both gold and silver, instead of just gold. The financial establishment was against this proposal, which caused a tremendous amount of debate among the politicians of the day.
What is Dorothy's character?
Dorothy, the main character in the novel, is said to represent the average American. Her character represented the best of what was valued as the American character ; she was kind, showed spunk, was level-headed, straightforward, and was willing to face the unknown to find answers to the issues she was faced with.
Who is the wizard in Oz?
The Wizard is Dorothy in the future. The Wizard projects an image of what he believes the people of Oz expect him to be—a great and powerful wizard—while he hides his true self behind the curtain. He literally changes his voice and appearance to project what he thinks the people want him to be.
What is the moral of the Wizard of Oz?
Everyone nodded in agreement. Because everybody knows that this is the moral of The Wizard of Oz. “There’s no place like home” neatly sums up the moral of the story, even people who say that “home” refers to people. (Another epiphany on the crazy/brilliant spectrum).
What is the warning in The Wizard?
The Wizard is a warning: this is the life of suffering that awaits Dorothy if she continues to subvert her truth to meet the expectations of others.
Why does Dorothy take the broomstick to the Wizard?
This allows her to take the broomstick to the Wizard so that she can return home: home to her true self.
What is Dorothy caught in?
Dorothy is caught in the tension between her true nature and who she thinks she needs to be to meet others’ expectations.
Why does Dorothy want to explore the boundaries of her potential?
Her curiosity and desire to explore possibilities makes Dorothy’s family uncomfortable. They want her to be a good girl and stay out of trouble.
What is the Lion's emotional intelligence?
The Lion is Dorothy’s emotional intelligence. His fear paralyzes him; it blocks his other emotions from surfacing. Without courage, he cannot unlock the full potential of his heart and mind. For most of the journey, these friends are separate from her and from each other.
Where is Dorothy from in Wizard of Oz?
The Wizard of Oz is the story of Dorothy, a young farm girl from Kansas. On a stormy day she was swept away, farmhouse and all, in a tornado from her beloved home, family and friends, and she was set-down in the far-away land of the munchkins. All alone and desperate to find her way home, Dorothy is told that she must follow ...
What does Glinda the Witch tell Dorothy?
Then Glinda the Good Witch tells Dorothy, “You’ve always had the power to go back to Kansas.”. Glinda tells Dorothy that the ruby slippers she has been wearing since her arrival in the Land of Oz will take her home. Glinda also tells that she didn’t reveal this to Dorothy earlier because she would not have believed it.
Why did Dorothy get the ruby slippers?
Since Dorothy’s house had landed on the wicked witch, thereby liberating the munchkin people, she was given the witch’s ruby slippers….and, amazingly, they fit perfectly. Any woman knows, it would have been a long journey if her shoes were too tight! So Dorothy set out to find the Wizard and to find her way home to her family and friends.
Why didn't Glinda reveal this to Dorothy?
Glinda also tells that she didn’t reveal this to Dorothy earlier because she would not have believed it. “She had to learn it for herself,” Glinda tells Dorothy’s friends. And the lesson that Dorothy has learned is that her heart’s desire isn’t “any further than her own backyard.”.
What does Glinda say about Dorothy?
Just as Glinda told Dorothy that she always had “the power to return home,” we always have “the power to return,” the power to seek, the One who loves us. Daily we make choices whether to find satisfaction in people, places or things or to keep our eyes focused on Jesus and to make Him our heart’s desire.
How many friends did Dorothy meet on the yellow brick road?
So Dorothy set out to find the Wizard and to find her way home to her family and friends. As Dorothy made her way along the yellow brick road, she met three friends. Each gave her advice with good intent, but sadly the advice was of no help in delivering her from her current predicament.
Who is the dog that goes unnoticed in Wizard of Oz?
Some people put more faith in this theory more than the other one due to similarnames (The-o-dore and Dor-o-thy). Toto : a small dog that seems to go unnoticed, it is Toto who reveals what a fraud the Wizard is. It is thought that Toto also represents average Americans.
What is the story of Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz?
It tells the story of a young girl who ends up in a tornado and gets carried from her Kansas farm home to a land that is not like anything she has seen ever before. After Dorothy’s house falls on and kills the Wicked Witch in Munchkin Land, Dorothy is welcomed to her new land by the Munchkins. The nice witch Glinda then explains to Dorothy that to find out about getting back home she needs to follow the yellow brick road and ask the Wizard of Oz. Along her way down the yellow brick road Dorothy meets some new friends who all have something they want to ask the great wizard. However, when they finally get to the Emerald City and meet the wizard, they discover he is just a fraud and that everything they had been searching for they can find within themselves.
What does the Good Witch of the North represent?
The Good Witch of the North represents northern workers , and the Good Witch of the South represents southern farmers. This provides a contrast between wicked industrialists from the west with the railroad moguls in the west. Flying Monkeys: in political cartoons flying monkeys are used for poking fun at politicians.
What do flying monkeys represent?
Flying Monkeys: in political cartoons flying monkeys are used for poking fun at politicians. Another speculation is they represent Native Americans. Dorothy and friends are told when they meet up with the monkeys that they were once a free people who happily lived in the forest where they flew from tree to tree eating fruit and nuts and doing whatever they pleased without having to call anyone master. This was years before Oz appeared from the clouds to rule over the land. This appears to relate well with the fate of Native Americans who had been forced from their land by Americans migrating from the east.
What does Toto represent?
It is thought that Toto also represents average Americans. Uncle Henry: Henry Cantwell Wallace was a well known farmer and editor for a leading farm magazine in the late 1800s. He was called Uncle Henry by most everyone. Cyclone: it is thought that the tornado represents the free silver movement or political upheaval.
What did the farmers want in the dollar value?
The farmers wanted the dollar value to have fixed ratios of both gold and silver. Some politicians supported this movement and others didn’t. Munchkins: The little people, the munchkins, are said to represent the common people or ordinary U.S. citizens. The Lollipop Guild is seen as representing child labor.
What does the silver slipper represent?
Another speculation is that the silver slippers are a representation of the power to vote. Yellow Brick Gold: is a representation of the gold standard, with the gold road leading to power. Oz: an abbreviation that stands for gold, a hot political topic of the day where people were rallying for fixed gold and silver ratios.
