What Does The Lion Symbolize In The Wizard Of Oz

The Wizard Of Oz: The Bimetallic Standard & Populism Representations

At first look, The Wizard Of Oz just seems to be a story about a normal Kansas girl who simply just wants to get back to her home, and is able to do so with the help of some new friends she meets along her journey. However, there seems to more to the story than just that. The author L. Frank Baum wrote the story in the late 1890s and it was published in 1900. This was right around the same time there was a huge fuss over the gold and silver standard and also the beginning of populism. The argument between Americans was whether or not green dollars were better than the gold standard. It was felt by some that the green dollars that the government claimed had “value” gave
In the forest they come across a lion, who attempts to scare them, but turns out to be a lion without courage. The lion represents William James Bryan who started as the Nebraska representative in Congress, and eventually became the Democratic presidential candidate of 1896 and 1900. The lions roar can be attributed to the countrywide speeches he gave with his “roaring” rhetoric. Bryan himself as well as the Populist Party as a whole were often pictured in the press at that time as a lion. Bryan supported the free silver movement, which eventually gave him support of the Populist Party. The lion in the story and Bryan himself were both the last to join the party, which can be seen as a close connection. The lion has hopes of gaining courage through the Wizard of Oz’s powers. Bryan was considered to be a coward by many of his critics for opposing the war with Spain in 1898. He also ended up disappointing many populists when he failed to provide a valiant effort to fight for free silver in his 1900 election. Just as the Tin Woodman and scarecrow, the lion thought he didn’t have courage even though in the end, it turns out he does and the Wizard of Oz also ensures him of
It turns out he comes from Omaha, Nebraska, and worked as a ventriloquist and circus balloonist. This identifies with William James Bryan who was also from Nebraska, and who was known in the press for his “hot air” speeches. Finally, when it comes down to it, the Wizard cannot actually grant each character’s wishes. What he does do is reassure them that they are not missing whatever it is that they believe they are missing. The scarecrow who thinks he is missing a brain which in turns out to be false because he was actually the voice of sound during the journey. The Tin Woodman who believed he was missing heart, was not, he just felt that way because of the oppression he had faced. The lion who felt he had no courage did indeed have it, he just had no way of showing it until the Oz reassured him it was