Preview

Good vs Evil in the Wizard of Oz

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
936 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Good vs Evil in the Wizard of Oz
Dualities of Good vs. Evil in The Wizard of Oz Through the expression of literature within the elementary school classroom, young children can become exposed to endless lesson’s regarding life and growing. “Realistic” stories have been criticized for being dull, too complex, and psychologically empty. For example, it is practically impossible to find any meaning within literature such as “See Dick. See Jane.” Nonetheless, fantasy restores this meaning within the reading process. As expressed by Bruno Bettelheim, author of The Uses of Enchantment, fantasy allows children to identify with heroes who ultimately win, offering confidence to believe that negative aspects in one’s life can be successfully dealt with. The Wizard of Oz is a leading example of this perception. Thus, in my opinion, a child might be comforted and experience growth and awareness through the viewing of fantasy stories like The Wizard of Oz due to the journey of the protagonist, character polarities, and the profound meaning of the fable itself. The Wizard of Oz features Dorothy Gale, the protagonist, on a quest throughout the wonderful fantasy land of Oz. Although it may not be clearly evident, Dorothy’s journey is in fact quite similar to our very own journey of life. Dorothy is an ordinary individual. In Kansas, her life is decent, however once she arrives in Oz, she begins her magical adventure. Within the foreign city, Dorothy follows the yellow brick road to assist her in reaching the Emerald City. This road, in my opinion, is the metaphoric path we take throughout life. In reality, the road is long and complex but eventually leads to the awaited destination. Along the yellow brick road, Dorothy befriends various characters including the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion, who aid in her pursuit. These characters represent the individuals within our lives which help and support us. Still, Dorothy is forced to manage and confront the Wicked Witch who is symbolic of the struggles we


Cited: "Fantasy Necessary for Sanity and Morality" 14 June 1989. Print. "The Wizard of Oz" Dir, Victor Fleming. Noel Langley. Pref, Judy Garland. 1939 DVD/VHS
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Wizard Of Oz Good Vs Evil
    • 946 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Wizard Of Oz Good Vs Evil

    Many people know the story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, but less are familiar with the story of the Wicked Witch of the West, which is told in Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The novel was published in 1996 and written by Gregory Maguire. Though on the surface it seems like another fairytale, this story has a much deeper meaning. Through the use of content, symbolism, and context, there is much more to The Wicked Witch of the West.…

    • 946 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Wizard of Oz: an Exploration of the Connections to the Populist Movement
    • 469 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Wizard of Oz: an Exploration of the Connections to the Populist Movement

    Dorothy, as played by Judy Garland in the movie, was a young teenage girl who, when a tornado hit her house in Kansas, was magically transferred to Oz with her dog, Toto. Dorothy was seen as the Everyman who just wanted to get back to the way things used to be. She embodies what every American wants to be: loyal, strong-willed, and resourceful. Henry Littlefield identifies her, “"Dorothy is Baum's Miss Everyman. She is one of us, levelheaded and human, and she has a real problem." Hugh Rockoff of Rutgers University sees her in a similar manner, “Dorothy represents America—honest, kindhearted and plucky." Dorothy comes from an area where Populism was its strongest and therefore is connected to the average American citizen who wants to be able to stand up to the stronger power and fight for the greater good. Jack Weatherford sees Dorothy almost the same as Littlefield and Rockoff. He also believes that she was based upon the Populist spokeswoman Leslie Kelsey who was later nicknamed “the Kansas Tornado.” Even if using the spiritual journey as the meaning for The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy is seen as the seeker of enlightenment or redemption.…

    • 469 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Winged Monkeys Research Paper
    • 898 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Winged Monkeys Research Paper

    The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a girls’s reserve{2} scriptory in 1900 by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W.W. Denslow. It was primarily proclaim by the George M. Hill crew in Chicago, and has since been print unnumbered set, sometimes under the name The Wizard of Oz. The clerestory chronicles theevent of a maidservant hight Dorothy in the disembark of Oz. It is one of the pick-given clerestory in American lay civilization and has been extensivelyentrance. Its commencing succession led to Baum’s engrossment and goods proclaim thirteen more Oz list.…

    • 898 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Analysis Of 10 Reasons Why Children Should Read Non-Disney Fairy Tales
    • 294 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Analysis Of 10 Reasons Why Children Should Read Non-Disney Fairy Tales

    Many people have contemplated if whether or not to let children watch or read Disney fairytales. In my perspective, I believe that children should be granted to watch Disney fairytales. Today my goal is for you to be convinced into my opinions and/or reasons to why fairytales are good for children. My thoughts are referred from “10 Reasons Why Kids Need To Read Non-Disney Fairy Tales” by Melissa Taylor, the genre being why fairy tales should be read by kids.…

    • 294 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Disney Movies: A Case Against Fairytales
    • 667 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Disney Movies: A Case Against Fairytales

    We all grew up hoping to be the princesses who met the dreamy prince and lived ‘happily ever after’ like in a fairy tale. People debate over whether or not Disney fairytales are beneficial for children. Like Arielle Schussler the author of the piece “A case against fairytales”,I am against fairy tales. In this essay I will argue on why kids should not be taught Disney or original fairy tales.…

    • 667 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Gilded Age And The Wizard Of Oz
    • 612 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Gilded Age And The Wizard Of Oz

    The Wizard of Oz, written by L. Frank Baum and produced by Mervyn LeRoy is an example of how art reflects life because of the characters, scenery and props chosen. In the 1890’s and early 1900’s a new political party emerged, the populist party. Most populists (farmers and laborers) mistrusted the president and most of the presidential candidates, they thought of them as “wind bags”. Mark Twain would refer to this as the “Gilded Age” because those in power considered it a time of prosperity, but it really was only for people that were rich. They thought everything was great and green, but they weren't seeing all of it.…

    • 612 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Wizard Of Oz Annotated Bibliography
    • 584 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Wizard Of Oz Annotated Bibliography

    This eBook contains information on Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and explains how he had created a novel that is able to relate to real life but has a twist that brings readers into a new world. The authors of this eBook all hold Ph.D.’s which deem them credible as they are experienced in critiquing different forms of literature. The book is also a specialized encyclopedia strictly about children’s literature allowing it to be a trustworthy source that focuses on one topic rather than multiple.…

    • 584 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Misguiding The History Of The Wizard Of Oz
    • 819 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Misguiding The History Of The Wizard Of Oz

    Complete History and Misguiding Historical Fragments Ray Huang Dr.Friedman US History 09/06/2014 The movie of The Wizard of Oz obviously missed many historical document, seeming much simpler and easier to understand than does the book. The movie conducts a message about friendship, adventure, and positive spirit to the audience. And a classical topic of the book, The Wizard of Oz, is fantasy, appealing the interest and attention of the kids.…

    • 819 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Wizard of Oz Allegorical Analysis
    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Wizard of Oz Allegorical Analysis

    The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is believed by many to be an allegory of the current economical and political state that America was facing in the late 1800s. This allegory is mostly in line with the populist movement, a quickly growing belief that bankers and corporations controlled the two major parties in America. The Populist Party quickly arose from this movement, consisting mostly of farmers and other agriculturally dependent Americans. The Populist Party had a number of ideas for the ongoing economic struggles faced by the federal government, and sought to establish legislation that served beneficial for the agrarian population in America. Although the author has denied this allegory to be true, it still serves as a symbolic way of learning the roles different groups of people had on the American economy in the late 1800s.…

    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    How Do Adult Interpret Fairy Tales
    • 1983 Words
    • 8 Pages

    How Do Adult Interpret Fairy Tales

    Fairytales: when someone says that word, the first thing that might come up in your mind is probably kid’s reading Cinderella. Fairytales’ simplicity and accuracy in delivering a moral to young kids and adults is wonderful. We’d give an adult a eerie look if we caught them reading a kids book on the train to themselves. The reason behind our thought is cause it’s a kids book why would an adult read it but behind all this is the difference of interpreting stories for adults and children. Stories like Juniper Tree, Snow White, and Little Red Cap include hidden messages through violence and imagery and dialogue. Fairy tales teach children how to grasp the meaning and power behind storytelling. In this paper I will discuss the vast ways in which a child and adult interpret fairytales. Its…

    • 1983 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Snow White Analysis
    • 1103 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Snow White Analysis

    Fairy tales are often significant for enhancing imagination and different perspectives in the readers. Fairy tales are symbolic in our history and may currently still be present in our society. Fairy Tales also allow us to analyze the emotion of the characters and compare that to our culture as well as our own daily life. In “Snow White and her Wicked Stepmother” and the classic “Snow White” by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm both focus intently on how envy, competition, hard-work, and mother daughter relationships and how that is still applied in our world today. The classic “Snow White” allows the reader to focus specifically on how the dwarves are emblematic toward the American dream and toward the common working man…

    • 1103 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Wizard Of Oz Essay
    • 792 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Wizard Of Oz Essay

    The Wizard of Oz follows the story of a young Dorothy who lives in rural Kansas. She grows tired of the life she was living since she was feeling unappreciated. In her attempts to run away, she ends up in the middle of a tornado, locked out of her family’s panic shelter. Once the tornado hits her house, she is knocked out by an imploded window. The house rises in the tornado and is cast far away; it lands in a mystical land called Oz. Dorothy realizes that the house landed on and killed a wicked witch. The witch’s sister shows up and vows to get her, but Dorothy is protected by the late witch’s ruby slippers, which have magical tendencies. Dorothy is advised by a good witch to seek out the Wizard of Oz who can help her get back to Kansas; all she has to do is follow the yellow brick road. On her way to Emerald City, Dorothy encounters three minor characters: The scarecrow, lion, and tin man. All of them go to see the wizard to get something they really want (a brain, courage and a heart, respectively). Once they find the wizard, he…

    • 792 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Wonderful Wizard of Oz
    • 688 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Wonderful Wizard of Oz

    The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was a mixture of happiness, sadness, and, most importantly, beneficial life lessons. Despite the obstacles imposed throughout the play, the characters had overcome them by realizing that they possessed the resources and skills all along. Overcoming obstacles was present throughout the play by Dorothy being African American, the lion finding his courage, and the use of technology in place of special effects.…

    • 688 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Meaning of the Wizard of Oz
    • 523 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Meaning of the Wizard of Oz

    When she comes out of her house for the first time after the twister she meets the munchkins who symbolize the “little people” in government. They praise her, for her house has landed on the wicked witch of the east who represents eastern financial interests. This is important because it shows how the ordinary American defeats the almighty and powerful Eastern money holders. For her to get home she must see the wizard. When she asks how to get there the munchkins reply, “Follow the yellow brick road!”(The Wizard of Oz). She then takes this road, which represent gold, to see the wizard of “Oz”, which is short for ounces and is the system of measurement for gold. The wizard lives in the emerald city, which is green for the color of money. On her way to the city she meets three characters: a scarecrow, tin man, and a lion. The brainless scarecrow represent farmers, the tin man factory workers, and the cowardly lion represents William Jennings Bryan. They all join Dorothy and continue to follow the yellow brick road. There are so many more symbols on the way to Oz like the poppy flowers representing cocaine and how the Chinese brought over opium to America.…

    • 523 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Argumentative Research Paper: Should children read fairy tales?
    • 2132 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Argumentative Research Paper: Should children read fairy tales?

    As a first argument, supporting that fairy tales should be read to children, it must be mentioned that fairy tales and stories in general, help to develop the young people's imagination and therefore their cognitive development, which will be useful to them throughout their lives. Also, that the children can use their imagination to learn from something they're being told and haven't experienced directly. Researches have proved that, and more specifically a research made by two professors of the Ohio University where they suggest that when young children listen to a story from an a person, they can later be able to produce their own stories. According to Piaget (1970) this ability to create their own stories leads to cognitive development. When children want to tell a story they must attempt first to do it mentally. Therefore by exercising the ability of story telling, the children are developing their mental abilities and skills and are working on their imagination (Geist Eugene, Jerry Aldridge 5). All these mentioned above, prove that the reading of fairy tales to children help the development of their minds, the advancement of their imagination and their story structuring skills. Additionally, in the article entitled "Monsters, Tooth Fairies, God, and Germs!" it is stated that young children are receiving an enormous volume of information - from…

    • 2132 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More

Related Topics