Oz itself is the abbreviation for ounce, which is the standard for measuring gold. The real meaning of these wizard of oz characters grunge. Nov 09, 2016 both the book and the film the wizard of oz feature iconic scenes of dorothy, toto, and the cowardly lion the only flesh and blood members of the gang, lulled to sleep by a field of poisonous poppies. The wonderful wizard of oz 1939, like many fairy tales depicting a. Both the book and the film the wizard of oz feature iconic scenes of dorothy, toto, and the cowardly lion the only flesh and blood members of the gang, lulled to sleep by a field of poisonous poppies. 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. Prices had fallen by about 22% over the previous 16 years, causing huge debt. Symbolism of the wizard of oz practically everyone has either seen or heard the wizard of oz and dorothy story. 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 wonderful wizard of oz is a beautiful story and the author himself defined it as a modern fairytale. Both versions tell the story of dorothy gale and both include many iconic characters. Frank baum, who went on to write fourteen fulllength oz books. It told of an orphaned kansas girl swept by a tornado into a fantastical world, but who wants to return home to her aunt and uncle. Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz wikipedia.
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. The story starts in kansas, with a girl called dorothy, that is taken away by a cyclone to the land of oz, a land that feels familiar because its magic is feed by the popular folklore from the u. A deadly flower might seem curious at first, but poppies, of course, are no ordinary bloom. Short form of names starting with the os oz prefix, such as osborne or oscar. Aug 24, 2014 in the wizard of oz, the yellow brick road and dorothys slippers, which were silver in the book, referenced the eras debates over the gold standard and use of silver coin. When the story begins, despite her good heart and the best of intentions, dorothy is not at all fitting in to life around herthis is why kansas is depicted in black and white. Jul 24, 2015 its about a girl who gets stranded in a strange land. She picks up 3 friends, a lion who wants some courage, a tin man who wants a heart, and a scarecrow who wants a brain. The wizard of oz simple english wikipedia, the free. Its about a girl who gets stranded in a strange land. What is the deeper meaning of the wonderful wizard of oz by l. Aug 19, 2014 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 of genesis, or claiming that the. Heres the real, forgotten meaning of the wizard of oz business insider may 30, 2014 the wizard of oz book, written by l. In the book and the play the shoes are silver, not ruby as they were famously depicted in the 1939 film.
The hidden meaning of the wizard of oz english forums. The wizard of oz film symbols, allegory and motifs gradesaver. Is there a hidden political allegory in the wizard of oz. We have to keep in mind that even though it has been more than hundred years since this book was published it still carries the name of a modern fairytale. Baum published the book in 1900, just after the us emerged from a period of deflation and depression. A modern fairy tale with a distinctly american setting, a delightfully levelheaded and assertive heroine, and engaging fantasy characters, the story was enormously popular and became a classic of childrens literature. More than a hundred years after the release of this book, kids everywhere are still enchanted by ozs world of wonder. What is the deeper meaning of the wonderful wizard of oz. 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 witch of the east represents the prosilver movement.
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. Thinking the great wizard of oz can grant her wish, she sets out to meet him with her beloved dog, toto, joined by a scarecrow, a tin woodman and a lion. Nov 18, 20 a segment of a much longer video analyzing frank baums childrens book from a current financial perspective. Frank baum, is a book that has transcended its time and place more than a century after its publication, it remains a seminal piece of popular culture helped, of course, by the iconic 1939 film adaptation starring judy garland. 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 green of the emerald city represents the dollar. On that image alone we could rest our case that the wonderful wizard of oz is a fanciful book. Frank baum and originally published in 1900, may have been. Frank baums classic childrens novel the wonderful wizard of oz was published in 1900. The wonderful wizard of oz chapter 1 summary course hero. The book and movie are about a little girls adventures in the land called oz.
To a child who reads this book soon after she or he learns to read, this book represents magic wonderful, pure, magnificent fairytale. Here is the guidance offered to you by the story of the wizard of oz. It occurred to me that at different chronological stages of ones life, a great book, such as the wonderful wizard of oz, mean different things. Certainly the 1901 musical version of oz, written by baum, was for an adult audience and had numerous explicit references to contemporary politics, though in. May 30, 2014 heres the real, forgotten meaning of the wizard of oz business insider may 30, 2014 the wizard of oz book, written by l. The wizard of oz over the years has become one of the truly classic movies among children and adults alike. The wonderful wizard of oz study guide contains a biography of l. Sharetweetemailwith its memorable story and its cast of colorful characters, the wizard of oz quickly became an american classic. According to american literary scholar michael patrick hearn, people almost universally consider the wizard of oz the earliest truly feminist american childrens book, because of spunky and tenacious dorothy. The story starts in kansas, with a girl called dorothy, that is taken away by a cyclone to the land of oz, a land that feels familiar. Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz. It was produced by mgm and released by rko in 1939.
The oz books form a book series that begins with the wonderful wizard of oz 1900 and relate the fictional history of the land of oz. The entire story of the wizard of oz is an allegorical tale of the souls path to illumination the yellow brick road. Frank baums book the wonderful wizard of oz, upon which the movie is based, was a political allegory. The making of the wizard of oz, by the film historian aljean harmetz, is a book about the production of the 1939 film. Frank baums the wonderful wizard of oz, chapter 1 summary. From start to finish, the wizard of oz tells the story of humanities struggle against the dark forces of the world, the journey of the soul, and what humanity must achieve in order to advance spiritually and return to god, the source. The wonderful wizard of oz feels like your first voyage, you only have a few personal items and the world is for your eyes a newborn. Heres jeff saut, from his latest market commentary as chief strategist of raymond james.
The movie is based on the childrens book the wonderful wizard of oz by l. Friedman october 10th 2014 us hisotry block 7 the wizard of oz has been a popular and symbolic film throughout our previous history. Heres an icebreaker to throw out at your next party. Unlike traditional damsels in distress, she doesnt passively wait for prince charming to save the day. In buddhism and an important part of theosophical teachings the same concept is referred to as the golden path. The history behind the wizard of oz 949 words bartleby. Frank baum, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. They travel along the yellow brick road the gold standard to see the wizard, who could represent president grover cleveland or william mckinley. The political and economic symbols hidden inside the wizard of oz.
Heres the real, forgotten meaning of the wizard of oz. Frank baum wrote 14 wizard of oz books, including 1900s the wonderful wizard of oz, which mgm turned into a wonderful wizard of oz. So whats the real meaning of these wizard of oz characters. They find that oz is only a common man who came from the same world as dorothy. Short form of names starting with the osoz prefix, such as osborne or oscar. A modern fairy tale with a distinctly american setting, a delightfully levelheaded heroine, and engaging fantasy characters, the story was enormously popular and became a classic of childrens literature. There were many requests from my little correspondents for more about the wizard. 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. A segment of a much longer video analyzing frank baums childrens book from a current financial perspective. Quotes from the story such as toto, i have a feeling were not in kansas anymore, lions, and tigers, and bears. The 1939 film starring a young judy garland was based on lyman frank baums book, the wonderful wizard of oz, published in 1900.
In spite of this fact, the oz claims his promises to the lion, the scarecrow and the tin woodsman have been kept. Frank baum and first published in 1900 as an allegory or metaphor for the political, economic, and social events of america in the 1890s. The wizard of oz was about the gold standard the reformed. In the wizard of oz, the yellow brick road and dorothys slippers, which were silver in the book, referenced the eras debates over the gold standard and use of silver coin. A second book had been published the year before and i would have liked to have read both but i never got around. Author and oz series originator frank lyman baum may 15, 1856may 6, 1919 isnt known to have left any indication of a symbolic meaning to his story or its characters. He wrote thirteen additional oz books, and the film adaptation staring judy garland was released in 1939. Comments and insights on the name oz personal experiences with the name oz nicknames for oz. The children had heard how he mounted into the sky in a balloon and they were all waiting for him to come down again. What i didnt know as a child most adults i meet are similarly oblivious is that l. Oct 08, 2009 sharetweetemailwith its memorable story and its cast of colorful characters, the wizard of oz quickly became an american classic. In the book, the tin man, scarecrow and dorothy all saw the wizard quite differently. A second book had been published the year before and i would have liked to have read both but i never got around to the earlier. Populism and the world of oz national museum of american.
Find a summary of this and each chapter of the wonderful wizard of oz. The wonderful wizard of oz, childrens book written by l. In this reading snappily entitled a parable on populism the yellow brick road represents the gold standard, and the wicked witch of the east. Dec 10, 20 the wizard of oz was about the gold standard. Author and oz series originator lyman frank baum may 15, 1856may 5, 1919 had his first book published under different titles such as the new wizard of oz, the wizard of oz, and the wonderful. 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. What is the deeper meaning of the wonderful wizard of oz by. 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.
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. Both the book and movie have been recognised as classic literature for children and adults alike. This theory corresponds better with the book, where oz is more about duplicity and illusion, than the movie. Frank baum wrote 14 wizard of oz books, including 1900s the wonderful wizard of oz, which mgm turned into a wonderful wizard of oz movie. It has since seen several reprints, most often under the title the wizard of oz. What is the meaning of the title the wizard of oz answers.
Few, however, recognize that, under its deceptive simplicity, the story of the wizard of oz. According to ranker, it doesnt take much analysis to see that the book has a subtext relating directly to the politics of the 1890s. Wizard definition of wizard by the free dictionary. The occult roots of the wizard of oz vigilant citizen. Dorothy seeks the wizard of oz to return her home, thus making him a key character as well as the object of her quest. What is the symbolic meaning of the wizard of oz answers. It seems the jolly old fellow made hosts of friends in the first oz book, in spite of the fact that he frankly acknowledged himself a humbug.
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