How are the Populist Party and 'The Wizard of Oz' similar?

Answer 1

Some scholars have theorized that the images and characters used by Baum and Denslow closely resembled political images that were well known in the 1890s, specifically the debate of the day regarding monetary policy: the "Yellow Brick Road" represents the gold standard, the silver slippers (which were ruby slippers in the film version) represent the sixteen to one silver ratio (dancing down the road). Many other characters and story lines represent identifiable people or circumstances of the day. The wicked witches of the east and west represented the local banks and the railroad industry, respectively, both of which drove small farmers out of business. The scarecrow represents the farmers of the Populist party, who managed to get out of debt by making more silver coinage. The return to bimetallism would increase inflation, thus lowering the real value of their debts. The Tin Woodman represents the factory workers of the industrialized North, whom the Populists saw as being so hard-pressed to work grueling hours for little money that the workers had lost their human hearts and become mechanized themselves. (See Second Industrial Revolution) Toto was thought to be short for teetotaler, another word for a prohibitionist; it should be noted that William Jennings Bryan, the fiery popular candidate (possibly the Lion character) from the Populist Party, was a teetotaler himself. Bryan also fits the allegorical reference to the Cowardly Lion in that he retreated from his support of free silver after economic conditions improved in the late 1890s. However, it has also been suggested the cowardly Lion represented Wall Street investors, given the economic climate of the time. The Munchkins represented the common people (serfdom), while the emerald city represented Washington and its green-paper money delusion. The Wizard, a charlatan who tricks people into believing he wields immense power, would represent the President. The kiss from the Good Witch of the North is the electoral mandate; Dorothy must destroy the Wicked Witch of the West-the old West Coast "establishment" (money) with water (the US was suffering from drought). Moreover, "Oz" is the abbreviation for the measuring of these precious metals: ounces.

Some biographers and scholars of Baum disagree, pointing to details of Baum's biography, his own statements and writing about the purpose of his book, the ease with which hidden meanings can be found in works not intended to contain any, and the question of why contemporary press did not discuss these perceived metaphors which logically should have been much more obvious at that time. The consensus is that the books are written mainly for the pleasure of Baum's younger readers, to give them a sense of possibility and imagination.

Answer 2

The original 1900 book edition of 'The Wizard of Oz' and the Populist Party of late 19th century American history are similar in their concern for the ordinary, hardworking farmer of the midwestern and western United States of America. Both the book and the party have their bases in such Plains states as Kansas, where Dorothy Gale and her hardworking farmer Uncle Henry and Aunt Em live. Populist Party founders and candidates were concerned over the plight of Midwesterners and Westerners in the face of what they saw as fast-talking Eastern politicians and their equivalents in the American Midwest and west. An example in the book is the fast-talking, hypocritical, self-centered Wizard.

Answer 3

Some scholars have theorized that the images and characters used by Baum and Denslow closely resembled political images that were well known in the 1890s, specifically the debate of the day regarding monetary policy: the "Yellow Brick Road" represents the gold standard, the silver slippers (which were ruby slippers in the film version) represent the sixteen to one silver ratio (dancing down the road). Many other characters and story lines represent identifiable people or circumstances of the day. The wicked witches of the east and west represented the local banks and the railroad industry, respectively, both of which drove small farmers out of business. The scarecrow represents the farmers of the Populist party, who managed to get out of debt by making more silver coinage. The return to bimetallism would increase inflation, thus lowering the real value of their debts. The Tin Woodman represents the factory workers of the industrialized North, whom the Populists saw as being so hard-pressed to work grueling hours for little money that the workers had lost their human hearts and become mechanized themselves. (See Second Industrial Revolution) Toto was thought to be short for teetotaler, another word for a prohibitionist; it should be noted that William Jennings Bryan, the fiery popular candidate (possibly the Lion character) from the Populist Party, was a teetotaler himself. Bryan also fits the allegorical reference to the Cowardly Lion in that he retreated from his support of free silver after economic conditions improved in the late 1890s. However, it has also been suggested the cowardly Lion represented Wall Street investors, given the economic climate of the time. The Munchkins represented the common people (serfdom), while the emerald city represented Washington and its green-paper money delusion. The Wizard, a charlatan who tricks people into believing he wields immense power, would represent the President. The kiss from the Good Witch of the North is the electoral mandate; Dorothy must destroy the Wicked Witch of the West-the old West Coast "establishment" (money) with water (the US was suffering from drought). Moreover, "Oz" is the abbreviation for the measuring of these precious metals: ounces.

Some biographers and scholars of Baum disagree, pointing to details of Baum's biography, his own statements and writing about the purpose of his book, the ease with which hidden meanings can be found in works not intended to contain any, and the question of why contemporary press did not discuss these perceived metaphors which logically should have been much more obvious at that time. The consensus is that the books are written mainly for the pleasure of Baum's younger readers, to give them a sense of possibility and imagination.

Answer 4

Some scholars have theorized that the images and characters used by Baum and Denslow closely resembled political images that were well known in the 1890s, specifically the debate of the day regarding monetary policy: the "Yellow Brick Road" represents the gold standard, the silver slippers (which were ruby slippers in the film version) represent the sixteen to one silver ratio (dancing down the road). Many other characters and story lines represent identifiable people or circumstances of the day. The wicked witches of the east and west represented the local banks and the railroad industry, respectively, both of which drove small farmers out of business. The scarecrow represents the farmers of the Populist party, who managed to get out of debt by making more silver coinage. The return to bimetallism would increase inflation, thus lowering the real value of their debts. The Tin Woodman represents the factory workers of the industrialized North, whom the Populists saw as being so hard-pressed to work grueling hours for little money that the workers had lost their human hearts and become mechanized themselves. (See Second Industrial Revolution) Toto was thought to be short for teetotaler, another word for a prohibitionist; it should be noted that William Jennings Bryan, the fiery popular candidate (possibly the Lion character) from the Populist Party, was a teetotaler himself. Bryan also fits the allegorical reference to the Cowardly Lion in that he retreated from his support of free silver after economic conditions improved in the late 1890s. However, it has also been suggested the cowardly Lion represented Wall Street investors, given the economic climate of the time. The Munchkins represented the common people (serfdom), while the emerald city represented Washington and its green-paper money delusion. The Wizard, a charlatan who tricks people into believing he wields immense power, would represent the President. The kiss from the Good Witch of the North is the electoral mandate; Dorothy must destroy the Wicked Witch of the West-the old West Coast "establishment" (money) with water (the US was suffering from drought). Moreover, "Oz" is the abbreviation for the measuring of these precious metals: ounces.

Some biographers and scholars of Baum disagree, pointing to details of Baum's biography, his own statements and writing about the purpose of his book, the ease with which hidden meanings can be found in works not intended to contain any, and the question of why contemporary press did not discuss these perceived metaphors which logically should have been much more obvious at that time. The consensus is that the books are written mainly for the pleasure of Baum's younger readers, to give them a sense of possibility and imagination.

Answer 5

Dorothy does not reflect the Populist movement in "The Wizard of Oz."

Specifically, Populism was a political movement in the Midwestern United States of America of the nineteenth century. It terminated as a political force before the 1900 publication date of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by author and Oz series originator Lyman Frank Baum (May 15, 1856 - May 6, 1919). The writer never left any description of Dorothy other than as the laughing, merry little orphan girl being raised by Uncle Henry the farmer and Aunt Em the farmer's wife. So Dorothy is a member of the farming population which served as Populism's main socio-political base of support.

Answer 6

That God is not present in either one is what "The Wizard of Oz" and Marxism have in common.

Specifically, Oz series originator Lyman Frank Baum (May 15, 1856 - May 6, 1919) was a member of a Methodist family in New York. But when it came to raising his own family, the author preferred to stress an ethical approach of collective well-being through individual knowledge of ethical as opposed to religious right and wrong. Fundamental Christians, librarians and teachers criticized the presence of that approach and the absence of divinity in such Baum books as "The Wizard of Oz." They believed in the post-World War Two years that this approach was dangerously close to the godlessness of Marxism in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

Answer 7

It is as a slick politician that the Wizard relates to populism in "The Wizard of Oz."

Specifically, author and Oz series originator Lyman Frank Baum (May 15, 1856 - May 6, 1919) never left any known verbal or written indication that "The Wizard of Oz" was to be interpreted in a populist light instead. But for those who apply the populist analysis to the first book in the royal histories of Oz, the Wizard represents the slick politicians that achieve and maintain power on the backs of hard-working voters. So he stands for the kind of insincere, self-serving politician criticized by populism.

Answer 8

In Oz, the Wizard was selected by the people, but commanded the obedience of the city's population by appearing in a powerful and fearsome form.

Answer 9

Many people believe the Wizard of Oz is, in secret, a populist reference to the contemporary debate between the gold, bimetallic, and other monetary standards but the proof is inconclusive.