Political symbolism in the wizard of oz book

Many scholars have interpreted the book as an allegory or metaphor for the political, economic and social events of america of the 1890s. The novel the wonderful wizard of oz has deep and underlying meanings that. Many things in this world arent always what they seem to be at first glance, and childrens books are no exception. Its fairly easy to see the parallels between the firebreathing huckster. The wonderful wizard of oz is a modern fairy tale published in 1900, that was written by frank baum who loved editorial cartoons from the newspaper. In an article entitled the wizard of oz as a monetary allegory 1990, hugh rockoff.

Populism and the world of oz national museum of american. Does the wonderful wizard of oz contain a political agenda. Political symbolism in the wonderful wizard of oz rare oz books. High school teachers theory frames the wizard of oz as. In the book version of oz, dorothy treads the yellow brick road in silver. The wizard of oz symbols, allegory and motifs gradesaver. Perhaps the bestknown and bestargued is economist hugh rockoffs 1990 article, the wizard of oz as a monetary allegory, in the prestigious journal of political economy. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the wizard of oz by victor fleming. Frank baum written in 1900 and adapted into a musical fantasy in 1939. The book had an impact on american culture through the adaptations, popular culture, and readers. Frank baum and followed by the iconic cinematic masterpiece starring judy garland in 1939, has remained one of the most enduring and popular stories over a hundred years later. American politics in the 1890s, when baum was writing the book. 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. Garland won the role of dorothy despite substantial competition.

The wizard of oz and political symbolism sophies tale. Similar to parties on our political landscape today, the populist. The wizard of oz essays are academic essays for citation. The political and economic symbols hidden inside the wizard of oz. Frank baums book the wonderful wizard of oz, upon which the movie is based, was a political allegory. What is the political meaning of the wizard of oz answers. Mar 07, 2017 high school teachers theory frames the wizard of oz as a political parable. The wonderful wizard of oz the wonderful wizard of oz is a modern fairy tale novel written by l. It starred a young judy garland, and was notable because of its use of special effects, color, unusual characters, and a fantasy storyline made into a major motion picture. The wizard of oz is a beloved childrens story that includes both the book, published in 1900, and the movie, which came out in 1939. The secret political symbolism you never knew was hidden within. He wrote thirteen additional oz books, and the film.

The politics of the wonderful wizard of oz deb wax medium. The political and economic symbols hidden inside the. Few, however, recognize that, under its deceptive simplicity, the story of the wizard of oz. The atheist approach to the wonderful wizard of oz. Mar 19, 2020 i have a totally different understanding of of this, the wizard of oz is indeed a prophesy and thhe holy spirit has been revealing the symbolism in it to me for the last couple of years its not something that can be understood in just one day,its a journey and i have had to learn as i go just like dorothy in the movie so im going to try and explain a little of it as i see it and its. 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. Political interpretation of the wonderful wizard of oz. Historians have found a number of symbols in the wizard of oz, and they all point to one thing.

Frank baums book the wonderful wizard of oz, upon which the movie is based, was a political allegory for american politics at the dawn of. This symbolizes the cynicism that exists in politics due to the fact that politicians tend to change face with different people. The wizard of oz and its hidden political agenda youtube. The heart of the book is an annotated version of the wizard of oz that highlights the possible political and monetary symbolism in the book by relating characters, settings, and incidents in it to the historical events and figures of the 1890s, the decade in which baum wrote his story. Over the decades, the wizard of oz has been seen by many christians and used often in sermons see here for one example as an allegory of faith. Political symbolism the wizard represents political leaders, particularly any of the us presidents during the late 19th century. More than a hundred years after the release of this book, kids everywhere are still enchanted by ozs world of wonder. The wizard of oz parable on populism 1293 words bartleby. Jul 01, 2019 although the wizard of oz might be most famous today for the 1939 movie, starring judy garland, the book was originally written in the 1890s by author l. Apr 05, 2017 frank baums classic childrens novel the wonderful wizard of oz was published in 1900. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.

It was adapted into a broadway musical by baum in 1902, and then into its first. Speculation of the parallels between the characters in the book and history of the united states began with a history teacher by the name of henry littlefield. This symbolizes the cynicism that exists in politics due to the fact that politicians tend to change face. Frank baum wrote the childrens fantasy book the wonderful wizard of oz in 1900. He wrote thirteen additional oz books, and the film adaptation staring judy garland was released in 1939. Some historians believe oz stands for an abbreviation of the weight measure, ounce.

When the story begins, despite her good heart and the best of intentions, dorothy is not at all fitting in to life around herthis. What i didnt know as a child most adults i meet are similarly oblivious is that l. Any political meaning varies with the audience of the wizard of oz. The wizard of oz film symbols, allegory and motifs. The occult roots of the wizard of oz vigilant citizen. His name was a play on the word teetotaler, because prohibitionists were political allies of populists. Oct 27, 2015 frank baum put hidden symbols in his book the wonderful wizard of oz. Written in 1900, it was surrounded by arguments about populism and bimetalism. And it turns out that the wizard of oz is full of hidden political symbolism, which sometimes seems barely hidden at all. Frank baums classic children s novel the wonderful wizard of oz was published in 1900. The wizard of oz film and book background the wizard of oz is a book by l.

This gives more credence to the populist silver vs. In general frank baum, oz books can be priced from ten to thousands of dollars and. Hugh rockoff of rutgers university, the wizard of oz as a. Dorothy, the main character in the novel, is said to represent the. Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz include treatments of the modern fairy tale written by l. Jul 21, 2010 the wonderful wizard of oz is a modern fairy tale published in 1900, that was written by frank baum who loved editorial cartoons from the newspaper he used the universal symbols of his day to. Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz wikipedia. Theosophists wrote about a golden path that led through the blue sky to heaven. 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. For anyone looking for an oz gift, they might consider purchase either an individual book or a wizard of oz book series set. The wizard of oz as an allegory for the 1896 presidential.

Frank baums book the wonderful wizard of oz, published in 1900, sold. Yellow brick road symbolism, in wizard of oz architecture. Does the yellow brick road actually lead to a political hierarchy. Dorothys journey in the land of oz symbolized mans journey through the afterlife to rebirth. The secret political symbolism you never knew was hidden. Dec 02, 2008 political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz study the influences of the modern fairy tale written by l. Wizard of oz political allegory essay 1291 words cram.

Most analyses of oz describe the story as a political allegory. High school teachers theory frames the wizard of oz as a. Frank baums classic childrens novel the wonderful wizard of oz was published in 1900. In the book and the play the shoes are silver, not ruby as they were famously depicted in the 1939 film. In the book, the tin man, scarecrow and dorothy all saw the wizard quite differently. Money and politics in the land of oz independent institute. Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz.

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. In the book, the yellow brick road allegedly stands in for gold. On that image alone we could rest our case that the wonderful wizard of oz is a fanciful book. This represents, again, how the main focus of the wizard of oz is on the people of america.

Bbc culture surveys bizarre suggestions, from religious allegory to an acid. High school teachers theory frames the wizard of oz as a political parable. Broadways the wiz opened in 1975 on the seventyfifth anniversary of the original book. 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. Frank baums the wonderful wizard of oz, however, is not only a childs tale but also a sophisticated commentary on the political and economic debates of the populist era. Many people are not aware that the wonderful wizard of oz is suspected to have referenced several political issues of the late 1800s. And the central message in the book is all about the rise of populism and the debate over gold versus silver. After the publication of oz in 1900, baum and the books illustrator william. The wonderful wizard of oz is a deliberate work of political symbolism. Frank baum and first published in 1900 as an allegory or metaphor for the political, economic, and social events of america in the 1890s. Longing for a more exciting life, dorothy sings the nowclassic american standard over the rainbow about her dream of going somewhere more exciting than kansas. For the novice, collectors will be a good start to learn about the collectible wizard of oz book series by frank baum and oz books guide. What is the deeper meaning of the wonderful wizard of oz by. The wizard of oz explains our economic crisis like a.

Exploring serious themes such as courage, humanity, and evil in an open fashion accessible to children and adults. Are dorothy, the wizard, the scarecrow, and the rest of the characters in oz symbols for a set of. Is there a hidden political allegory in the wizard of oz. The wizard of oz symbolism goes incredibly deep, from the main characters to the cyclone, those famous slippers, and even toto. The wizard of oz explains our economic crisis like a modern. Quotes from the story such as toto, i have a feeling were not in kansas anymore, lions, and tigers, and bears.

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 personality integration and coming of age. In the wizard of oz, things arent always what they appear to be. In a 1964 article, educator and historian henry littlefield outlined an allegory in the book of the late19th. As a theosophist, baum believed in a literal afterlife. Could it have been affected or even allegorical to the. Specifically, neither the author nor the film makers ever made any definitive statement regarding any possible respective. As the foregoing reconstruction shows, the evidence from the text is overwhelming, and, in light of baums political background, trickster personality, and subsequent work, it is all but conclusive. Over the rainbow symbol dorothy gale is bored by her life on the farm, and she lives in a world literally without color. The scarecrow, the tin man, and the cowardly lion together, make up the american society during the time period of the late 1800s, early 1900s. Oct 26, 2018 several scholars have posited the wizard of oz as an allegory for the politics of bimetallism during this period. Oct 08, 2009 sharetweetemailwith its memorable story and its cast of colorful characters, the wizard of oz quickly became an american classic. Its the bestselling childrens story of the 1900 christmas season.