Wizard Of Oz Parable On Populism

“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” is a modern fairy tale first published in 1900 by Lyman Frank Baum. Since its inception it has gained many political interpretations comparing the fairy tale to the political, economic, and social events in America in the late 19th century. (1) One of the most popular political interpretations of the fairy tale is “The Wizard of Oz: Parable on Populism” written by Henry Littlefield in which he outlines allegories in the story regarding the Populist movement during the late 19th century. (2)
Baum’s background and upbringing helped link together his fairy tale and America at the turn of the 19th century. Baum’s children’s story described a “Midwesterner’s vibrant and ironic portrait of America as it entered the twentieth
While it is likely that Baum filled his story with political satire, it is a stretch to assess his political views and come to the conclusion that he supported the Populist party. Baum was not a supporter of the populist Williams Jennings Bryan and even wrote a poem backing the eventual winner, Republican William McKinley and the gold standard in 1896. (3) The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is clearly neither a pro-Populist parable, as Littlefield states, or an anti-Populist parable. Baum aimed to entertain, therefore, his tale is viewed as a symbolic and satirical representation of the Populist movement as well as a children’s story.
Lyman Frank Baum’s modern fairy tale “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, although stated as just a children’s story, contains heavy symbolism that reflects the late 19th century. Although Baum’s literary work is heavily disputed, it can be agreed upon that his story and the politics of the time period are “far too consistent and coincidental” to not contain some hint of satire. (Littlefield 58) Baum, being a sophisticated satirist, understood that the best satire keeps the reader guessing at the authors true intent and this is shown throughout his children’s story.