Political symbolism in the wizard of oz book

Yellow brick road symbolism, in wizard of oz architecture. Populism and the world of oz national museum of american. High school teachers theory frames the wizard of oz as a political parable. But there are loads of other imaginative touches, including a talking scarecrow, a man made of tin, armless men with projectile headsthe list goes on. The wonderful wizard of oz the wonderful wizard of oz is a modern fairy tale novel written by l. When the story begins, despite her good heart and the best of intentions, dorothy is not at all fitting in to life around herthis. What is the symbolic meaning of the wizard of oz answers. Broadways the wiz opened in 1975 on the seventyfifth anniversary of the original book.

Speculation of the parallels between the characters in the book and history of the united states began with a history teacher by the name of henry littlefield. Over the decades, the wizard of oz has been seen by many christians and used often in sermons see here for one example as an allegory of faith. Frank baum wrote the childrens fantasy book the wonderful wizard of oz in 1900. Oct 26, 2018 several scholars have posited the wizard of oz as an allegory for the politics of bimetallism during this period. Historians have found a number of symbols in the wizard of oz, and they all point to one thing. The secret political symbolism you never knew was hidden. In his reading of the wizard of oz, littlefield believed that dorothy was a standin for the average american, and that the magic silver shoes represented the late 1890s free silver movement. Frank baum and first published in 1900 as an allegory or metaphor for the political, economic, and social events of america in the 1890s. Political symbolism the wizard represents political leaders, particularly any of the us presidents during the late 19th century. Over the rainbow symbol dorothy gale is bored by her life on the farm, and she lives in a world literally without color. On that image alone we could rest our case that the wonderful wizard of oz is a fanciful book.

More than just a childrens story by lauren houlberg the wizard of oz is a classic, a legend, and a childrens story that will never grow old. Frank baums book the wonderful wizard of oz, upon which the movie is based, was a political allegory. The wizard of oz and its hidden political agenda youtube. In a 1964 article, educator and historian henry littlefield outlined an allegory in the book of the late19th. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the wizard of oz by victor fleming.

This symbolizes the cynicism that exists in politics due to the fact that politicians tend to change face with different people. The wonderful wizard of oz is a modern fairy tale published in 1900, that was written by frank baum who loved editorial cartoons from the newspaper. American politics in the 1890s, when baum was writing the book. The scarecrow, the tin man, and the cowardly lion together, make up the american society during the time period of the late 1800s, early 1900s. The wizard of oz parable on populism 1293 words bartleby. The politics of the wonderful wizard of oz deb wax medium. Oct 08, 2009 sharetweetemailwith its memorable story and its cast of colorful characters, the wizard of oz quickly became an american classic. As the foregoing reconstruction shows, the evidence from the text is overwhelming, and, in light of baums political background, trickster personality, and subsequent work, it is all but conclusive. Its the bestselling childrens story of the 1900 christmas season. Longing for a more exciting life, dorothy sings the nowclassic american standard over the rainbow about her dream of going somewhere more exciting than kansas. This represents, again, how the main focus of the wizard of oz is on the people of america. The wizard of oz as an allegory for the 1896 presidential.

The novel the wonderful wizard of oz has deep and underlying meanings that. In the book version of oz, dorothy treads the yellow brick road in silver. The wizard of oz is a beloved childrens story that includes both the book, published in 1900, and the movie, which came out in 1939. In the book, the yellow brick road allegedly stands in for gold. Written in 1900, it was surrounded by arguments about populism and bimetalism. Frank baums book the wonderful wizard of oz, upon which the movie is based, was a political allegory for american politics at the dawn of. Christian sermons have discussed the wizard of ozs biblical meanings, comparing dorothys song over the rainbow to the end of the tale of noahfrom the book. Garland won the role of dorothy despite substantial competition.

Frank baums the wonderful wizard of oz, however, is not only a childs tale but also a sophisticated commentary on the political and economic debates of the populist era. Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz include treatments of the modern fairy tale written by l. Apr 05, 2017 frank baums classic childrens novel the wonderful wizard of oz was published in 1900. In general frank baum, oz books can be priced from ten to thousands of dollars and. Theosophists wrote about a golden path that led through the blue sky to heaven. The wizard of oz and political symbolism sophies tale.

Bbc culture surveys bizarre suggestions, from religious allegory to an acid. What is the deeper meaning of the wonderful wizard of oz by. This symbolizes the cynicism that exists in politics due to the fact that politicians tend to change face. What i didnt know as a child most adults i meet are similarly oblivious is that l. Is there a hidden political allegory in the wizard of oz. Many scholars have interpreted the book as an allegory or metaphor for the political, economic and social events of america of the 1890s.

Money and politics in the land of oz independent institute. Political interpretation of the wonderful wizard of oz. He wrote thirteen additional oz books, and the film. The political and economic symbols hidden inside the. The wonderful wizard of oz is a deliberate work of political symbolism. He wrote thirteen additional oz books, and the film adaptation staring judy garland was released in 1939. The wizard of oz symbolism goes incredibly deep, from the main characters to the cyclone, those famous slippers, and even toto. The wizard of oz explains our economic crisis like a modern. Many people are not aware that the wonderful wizard of oz is suspected to have referenced several political issues of the late 1800s. In the wizard of oz, things arent always what they appear to be.

The symbolic meaning of the wizard of oz depends upon the inclinations of the reader of the original 1900 book edition or the viewer of the beloved 1939 film version. Mar 07, 2017 high school teachers theory frames the wizard of oz as a political parable. The wizard of oz film symbols, allegory and motifs. Similar to parties on our political landscape today, the populist.

And it turns out that the wizard of oz is full of hidden political symbolism, which sometimes seems barely hidden at all. More than a hundred years after the release of this book, kids everywhere are still enchanted by ozs world of wonder. Any political meaning varies with the audience of the wizard of oz. Does the wonderful wizard of oz contain a political agenda. High school teachers theory frames the wizard of oz as a. After the publication of oz in 1900, baum and the books illustrator william. As a theosophist, baum believed in a literal afterlife. The wonderful wizard of oz 1939, like many fairy tales depicting a series of fantastic adventures, is really the story of an individuals inner journeya story of personality integration and coming of age. Frank baums book the wonderful wizard of oz, published in 1900, sold. Are dorothy, the wizard, the scarecrow, and the rest of the characters in oz symbols for a set of. Frank baums classic childrens novel the wonderful wizard of oz was published in 1900. Dorothys journey in the land of oz symbolized mans journey through the afterlife to rebirth. Dorothy and the wizards head from the book, the wonderful wizard of oz.

Jul 21, 2010 the wonderful wizard of oz is a modern fairy tale published in 1900, that was written by frank baum who loved editorial cartoons from the newspaper he used the universal symbols of his day to. Oct 27, 2015 frank baum put hidden symbols in his book the wonderful wizard of oz. Few, however, recognize that, under its deceptive simplicity, the story of the wizard of oz. Exploring serious themes such as courage, humanity, and evil in an open fashion accessible to children and adults.

His name was a play on the word teetotaler, because prohibitionists were political allies of populists. Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz wikipedia. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Frank baum, the author of the book on which the film is based, many scholars and interpreters of the film believe that oz itself can be read as an allegory for the political and social structures that were at work in the american west in the 1890s when the book was written. Could it have been affected or even allegorical to the. Wizard of oz political allegory essay 1291 words cram. Specifically, neither the author nor the film makers ever made any definitive statement regarding any possible respective. Populism and the world of oz national museum of american history. In the book, the tin man, scarecrow and dorothy all saw the wizard quite differently. Quotes from the story such as toto, i have a feeling were not in kansas anymore, lions, and tigers, and bears. Does the yellow brick road actually lead to a political hierarchy. Frank baums classic children s novel the wonderful wizard of oz was published in 1900.

Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz. For the novice, collectors will be a good start to learn about the collectible wizard of oz book series by frank baum and oz books guide. In the book and the play the shoes are silver, not ruby as they were famously depicted in the 1939 film. Mar 19, 2020 i have a totally different understanding of of this, the wizard of oz is indeed a prophesy and thhe holy spirit has been revealing the symbolism in it to me for the last couple of years its not something that can be understood in just one day,its a journey and i have had to learn as i go just like dorothy in the movie so im going to try and explain a little of it as i see it and its. The wizard of oz symbols, allegory and motifs gradesaver.

Its fairly easy to see the parallels between the firebreathing huckster. Frank baum written in 1900 and adapted into a musical fantasy in 1939. For anyone looking for an oz gift, they might consider purchase either an individual book or a wizard of oz book series set. Perhaps the bestknown and bestargued is economist hugh rockoffs 1990 article, the wizard of oz as a monetary allegory, in the prestigious journal of political economy. What is the political meaning of the wizard of oz answers.

Many things in this world arent always what they seem to be at first glance, and childrens books are no exception. It starred a young judy garland, and was notable because of its use of special effects, color, unusual characters, and a fantasy storyline made into a major motion picture. Apr 15, 20 does the wonderful wizard of oz contain a political agenda. High school teachers theory frames the wizard of oz as. In an article entitled the wizard of oz as a monetary allegory 1990, hugh rockoff. The occult roots of the wizard of oz vigilant citizen. Jul 01, 2019 although the wizard of oz might be most famous today for the 1939 movie, starring judy garland, the book was originally written in the 1890s by author l. Dec 02, 2008 political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz study the influences of the modern fairy tale written by l. This gives more credence to the populist silver vs.

The political and economic symbols hidden inside the wizard of oz. The symbolism of the wizard of oz came to light again recently after the famous filmmaker, bill still, produced a twohour documentary film, the secret of oz, in which he shakes up the existing economic paradigms and contends that the book contains a solution to the economic problems that plague this country. Hugh rockoff of rutgers university, the wizard of oz as a. Political symbolism in the wonderful wizard of oz rare oz books. Most analyses of oz describe the story as a political allegory.

The wizard of oz essays are academic essays for citation. In fact, it became clear after closer analysis that the wizard of oz had been basically skewering all of the interest groups and political ideologies that had been influential or popular at the time, including populism, and when the book was read from this perspective, the allegorical nature of the work became all but impossible to ignore. The wizard of oz explains our economic crisis like a. The secret political symbolism you never knew was hidden within. It was adapted into a broadway musical by baum in 1902, and then into its first. The book had an impact on american culture through the adaptations, popular culture, and readers. And the central message in the book is all about the rise of populism and the debate over gold versus silver. Some historians believe oz stands for an abbreviation of the weight measure, ounce. The atheist approach to the wonderful wizard of oz. Dorothy, the main character in the novel, is said to represent the. The wizard of oz film and book background the wizard of oz is a book by l. Frank baum and followed by the iconic cinematic masterpiece starring judy garland in 1939, has remained one of the most enduring and popular stories over a hundred years later.