SYMBOLISM IN THE WIZARD OF OZ
SYMBOLISM IN “THE WIZARD OF OZ”
An Nguyen
History 1302: U.S. History after 1877
September 08, 2012
1. The Tin Man: He represents American workers. In Baum’s story, the Tin Man had been a human, a wood-chopper. However, the Wicked Witch of the East made him chop off parts of his body. A tinsmith helped him replace these parts with all of tin. This reflected that workers have to work harder and faster like machines. When Dorothy and the Scarecrow find the Tin Man, he was all rusted. The depression of 1893 was shown here. In May 1893, the weakened economy collapsed into the panic of 1893. Business slowed, and workers were laid off. Many people were unemployed. After working hard, they were unemployed. They feel that they didn’t live like a human before. All they need are to be a human again like the Tin Man needs a heart.
2. The Scarecrow: He represents American farmers. They have to work hard all day long on the crops. They don’t have to think anything, so they always doubt their brain. That why the Scarecrow needs a brain although he is always the person who had the best solution for the group.
3. The Cowardly Lion: He represents William Jennings Bryan who is a young politician from Nebraska. He was nominated for president on free silver platform. A wave of support for Bryan swept the country, and he decided to take his message to the voters. However, he lost the vote. In Baum’s story, the Lion meets the Tin Man without impression. Henry M. Littlefield said that this refers to the fact that in 1896 workers were often pressured into voting for McKinley and gold by their employers. The Lion and Bryan, both are great, but they don’t have their real power.
4. Dorothy: She represents American people. She lives with Uncle Henry and Aunt Em in Kansas where everything is gray. Otherwise, Oz is a very grateful and beautiful. This shows the loyalty and patriotism of Americans. When Dorothy saves the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly
An Nguyen
History 1302: U.S. History after 1877
September 08, 2012
1. The Tin Man: He represents American workers. In Baum’s story, the Tin Man had been a human, a wood-chopper. However, the Wicked Witch of the East made him chop off parts of his body. A tinsmith helped him replace these parts with all of tin. This reflected that workers have to work harder and faster like machines. When Dorothy and the Scarecrow find the Tin Man, he was all rusted. The depression of 1893 was shown here. In May 1893, the weakened economy collapsed into the panic of 1893. Business slowed, and workers were laid off. Many people were unemployed. After working hard, they were unemployed. They feel that they didn’t live like a human before. All they need are to be a human again like the Tin Man needs a heart.
2. The Scarecrow: He represents American farmers. They have to work hard all day long on the crops. They don’t have to think anything, so they always doubt their brain. That why the Scarecrow needs a brain although he is always the person who had the best solution for the group.
3. The Cowardly Lion: He represents William Jennings Bryan who is a young politician from Nebraska. He was nominated for president on free silver platform. A wave of support for Bryan swept the country, and he decided to take his message to the voters. However, he lost the vote. In Baum’s story, the Lion meets the Tin Man without impression. Henry M. Littlefield said that this refers to the fact that in 1896 workers were often pressured into voting for McKinley and gold by their employers. The Lion and Bryan, both are great, but they don’t have their real power.
4. Dorothy: She represents American people. She lives with Uncle Henry and Aunt Em in Kansas where everything is gray. Otherwise, Oz is a very grateful and beautiful. This shows the loyalty and patriotism of Americans. When Dorothy saves the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly
Cited: Ayers, Edward, Lewis L. Gould, David M. Oshinsky, and Jean R. Soderlund. American Passages: A History of the United States, Advantage Edition, Fourth Edition. Boston: Suzanne Jeans, 2010. 401-512. Print. Littlefield, Henry. “The Wizard of Oz: Parable on Populism.” http://www.amphigory.com/oz.htm (accessed 03 September 2012) Pearson Learning Solutions ed. American Perspectives: Reading in American History Volume 2, Fifth Edition. Boston: A Pearson Education Company, 2011. HCC Virtual Reader. The Wizard of Oz. Dir. Victor Fleming. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), 1939. DVD