How is the Wizard of Oz a parable on populism?
Henry Littlefield argues that The Wizard of Oz is a story representing Populism- a philosophy that supports the rights of the people, and the 1896 presidential election between William Jennings Bryan and William McKinley. This shows what the main point of Populism was: the concerns of the American people.
What does the land of Oz represent in the Wizard of Oz populism?
Littlefield interpreted the yellow brick road as representing gold and Dorothy’s silver slippers (which were changed in the movie to ruby slippers) as representing the Populist call for backing the dollar with silver. Oz was the abbreviation for ounces, a reference to the Populist call for the government to coin.
What is the main message of the Wizard of Oz?
The predominant theme of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is self-sufficiency. The Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion all seek external magic to give them qualities they already possess but fail to recognize.
What is the political meaning behind Wizard of Oz?
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 does the flying monkeys represent in populism?
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 does the Emerald City represent?
6. The Emerald City represents America’s national capital of Washington, D.C. The Emerald City, situated at the end of the yellow brick road, serves as the capital of the fictional Land of Oz and is home to the Royal Palace of Oz.
What is the spiritual meaning of the Wizard of Oz?
Dorothy’s silver shoes are seen as Baum’s version of a ‘silver cord’ that connects our physical bodies with our astral bodies, and the Wizard symbolises the God figure of organised religions, a charlatan keeping the masses in spiritual darkness.
What is the theme of the Wizard?
This classic novel contains several major themes, self sufficiency, the importance of life’s journey and friendship. The first theme of self sufficiency is illustrated throughout the story. All of the main characters, Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion are looking to the wizard to solve their problems.
What can we learn from the Wizard of Oz?
Wizard of Oz Life Lessons We need to take the time to truly look within and reconnect with who we are and our heart’s desire. * Embrace change. Change and facing our fears can be scary. Just like the witch and tornado that Dorothy faced, we too will face challenges and change.
What does the wicked witch represent in the Wizard of Oz?
The Wicked Witch of the East represents the industrial and banking interests of the East Coast of the United States. As the character who stole the Tin Man’s heart, symbolizing the deteriorating conditions of industrial laborers, she is killed by a falling house in a veiled reference to Wall Street and financial greed.
What does the Scarecrow represent in populism?
According to Littlefield, the scarecrow, displaying “a terrible sense of inferiority and self doubt,” represents the American farmer (who made up the bulk of the Populist Party).
What does the ruby slippers represent in populism?
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.