What is the symbolism of each of the characters in 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'?

Answer 1

All of 'The Wizard of Oz' characters suffered from a lack of confidence. It blinded them into searching for things they already possessed. Dorothy was searching for love and attention, which she already had unbeknownst to her. The Scarecrow was looking for wisdom that he already had, but never had the opportunity to use. The Tin Woodman was looking for a heart, or to have emotions. This became evident at Dorothy's departure back to her 'black and white' time frame. The Lion said he wanted courage, which he already possessed, given the opportunity to prove himself. Even the Wizard hid behind a curtain projecting an image of great stature due to his own insecurites.

So the message of 'The Wizard of Oz' was the following: We all have a point where we think we are less than what we are, and respond most triumphantly under pressure. The answers are all in ourselves. We are all loved, by someone somewhere. We have strength deep within us. We have untapped knowledge banks. We are braver than we all realize. Sometimes we hide within ourselves and project what we want people to see. So 'The Wizard of Oz' is a story of Humanity.

Answer 2

According to author and Oz series originator Lyman Frank Baum [May 15, 1856-May 5, 1919], The Wizard of Oz is an American fairy tale for the enjoyment of children. But there are those who see within Baum's work representations and symbols that aren't acknowledged in his writings as among his overt intentions.

One interpretation is the political representation of Baum's royal history of the beautiful, enchanted, magical lands and peoples of Oz. That interpretation is couched in the Populist terms of the 1890s, when Baum already may have been working out characters and plots in the decade before publishing the first of 14 books in his Oz series.

According to the interpretation, Dorothy Gale represents the level-headed, everyday American. In Toto, some see the Teetotalers against losing hard-earned money to alcoholic drink. The Scarecrow is the American farmer, who has much more common sense than educated brains. The Tin Woodman is the American worker, who is driven by the money and power holders to work ever harder, ever faster, ever better until he's nothing more than their machine. The Cowardly Lion is William Jennings Bryan [March 19, 1860-July 26, 1925], who fought for the rights of common people, and for free coinage of silver, to release them from the deathly grip of the bankers and industrialists. In fact, the symbol of that money standardis the pair of Silver Slippers, that have the secret power to allay the scary, rough, bumpy trek down the gold standard route of the Yellow Brick Road.

The book ends with the Slippers being lost in the desert, in the transition from the magical world of Oz to the real world of Kansas. Likewise, in the transition from political economic theory to political economic realities, arguments for free coinage of silver ended in 1900, which was the year in which The Wizard of Oz was published.

The journey of the five friends down the Road represents the walk of Jacob Sechler Coxey, Sr. [April 16, 1854-May 18, 1951], with unemployed farmers, disaster-struck farmers, and Populist politicians, to petition the President to provide for their needs. The Emerald City therefore is Washington, D.C.

The Wizard is the President of the United States, and therefore tries to make people think that he can give them what they want and need.

The Winged Monkeys are the aborigines, who belong to the land, and don't want to leave it. For they consider themselves the originally free residents of the land until the Wizard drops out of the skies, and into national government, be it Oz of the book or the United States of the real world. The winged monkeys can also represent Eastern bankers who, along with the harsh environment, make the lives of farmers difficult.

And the Wicked Witch of the West represents the cruel natural forces that so plague the farmers with cyclone, droughts, and other environmental stresss. Drought is a major environmental stressor, what with its aiding and abetting role in wildfires. Is it no wonder that the Witch's life, and the slings and arrows of outrageous nature, can be ended with a bucket of lifesaving water?

Answer 3

Answer #1 by Pastmasters The Straw Man is a hollow person without substance. The Lion should represent courage, but he's a bit of a coward. The Wicked Witch symbolizes evil, dark forces. Dorothy is the innocent abroad Answer #2 by Ginezumi Kansas is presented as grey. This greyness symbolizes the drabness of the harsh life that hardworking farmers such as Uncle Henry and Aunt Em live. The Emerald City of Oz is presented as green. The greenness symbolizes the grass looking greener on the other side of the fence. The Castle of the Wicked Witch of the West is presented as dreary and solid. It's a prison for the enslaved Winkies under the Witch's command, and for those unlucky prisoners such as Dorothy Gale who end up with the Witch as jailer. The dreary solidity symbolizes bondage.

Answer 4

According to author and Oz series originator Lyman Frank Baum [May 15, 1856-May 5, 1919], The Wizard of Oz is an American fairy tale for the enjoyment of children. But there are those who see within Baum's work representations and symbols that aren't acknowledged in his writings as among his overt intentions. One interpretation is the political representation of Baum's royal history of the beautiful, enchanted, magical lands and peoples of Oz. That interpretation is couched in the Populist terms of the 1890s, when Baum already may have been working out characters and plots in the decade before publishing the first of 14 books in his Oz series. According to the interpretation, Dorothy Gale represents the level-headed, everyday American. In Toto, some see the Teetotalers against losing hard-earned money to alcoholic drink. The Scarecrow is the American farmer, who has much more common sense than educated brains. The Tin Woodman is the American worker, who is driven by the money and power holders to work ever harder, ever faster, ever better until he's nothing more than their machine. The Cowardly Lion is William Jennings Bryan [March 19, 1860-July 26, 1925], who fought for the rights of common people, and for free coinage of silver, to release them from the deathly grip of the bankers and industrialists. In fact, the symbol of that money standardis the pair of Silver Slippers, that have the secret power to allay the scary, rough, bumpy trek down the gold standard route of the Yellow Brick Road. The book ends with the Slippers being lost in the desert, in the transition from the magical world of Oz to the real world of Kansas. Likewise, in the transition from political economic theory to political economic realities, arguments for free coinage of silver ended in 1900, which was the year in which The Wizard of Oz was published. The journey of the five friends down the Road represents the walk of Jacob Sechler Coxey, Sr. [April 16, 1854-May 18, 1951], with unemployed farmers, disaster-struck farmers, and Populist politicians, to petition the President to provide for their needs. The Emerald City therefore is Washington, D.C. The Wizard is the President of the United States, and therefore tries to make people think that he can give them what they want and need. The Winged Monkeys are the aborigines, who belong to the land, and don't want to leave it. For they consider themselves the originally free residents of the land until the Wizard drops out of the skies, and into national government, be it Oz of the book or the United States of the real world. And the Wicked Witch of the West represents the cruel natural forces that so plague the farmers with cyclone, droughts, and other environmental stresss. Drought is a major environmental stressor, what with its aiding and abetting role in wildfires. Is it no wonder that the Witch's life, and the slings and arrows of outrageous nature, can be ended with a bucket of lifesaving water?

Answer 5

Land of Oz - East

Wicked Witch of the East - Factory Owner

Munchkin People - Factory Workers

Emerald City - Washington D.C.

Wizard of Oz - United States President

Dorothy - An Ideal American; the American Hero

Yellow Brick Road - Gold Standard

Silver Shoes - Coinage of Silver Money

Scarecrow - Kansas Farmers

Tin Woodsman - Dehumanized Workers

Lion - William Jennings Bryan

The Group - Coxey's Army

Witch of the West - Nature

Flying Monkeys - Native Americans/Indians

Answer 6

The Voice. According to author and Oz series originator Lyman Frank Baum [May 15, 1856-May 5, 1919], the Wizard of Oz was a ventriloquist in his youth. The Wizard has grown old in his Emerald Palace, in the Emerald City of Oz. But he has kept up his voice projecting skills. Sometimes the Wizard's Voice can be accurately located, such as from the throne. Other times, it can be located very generally, such as somewhere near the top of the Throne Room's great dome. What this all means is support for the representation of the Wizard as all-knowing, all-powerful, great, and terrible, yet mysterious and invisible. For he operates on a plane very different from that of what he identifies as common mortals.

Answer 7

To fill out a dramatic purpose is the reason why Lyman Frank Baum (May 15, 1856 - May 6, 1919) chose each character in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

Specifically, the overt reason for writing his book was to launch America's first fairy tale. The way in which the author and Oz series originator achieved the writing of the first U.S. homegrown fairy tale was by telling the story of a little girl who gets lost and holds on to her quest of getting back home until her dream indeed comes true. Between the getting lost and the getting found, Dorothy was presented with characters and events that dramatically either aided or frustrated her quest.