This provides a contrast between wicked industrialists from the west with the railroad moguls in the west.įlying Monkeys: in political cartoons flying monkeys are used for poking fun at politicians. The Good Witch of the North represents northern workers, and the Good Witch of the South represents southern farmers.
WIZARD OF OZ WITCH FREE
Wicked Witch of the West and East: The Wicked Witch of the East represents eastern business and the Wicked Witch of the West represents the politician William McKinley who defeated Williams Jennings Bryant during the time of the free silver silver movement.
It is said that the Cowardly Lion represents Bryan, who was viewed as someone having a load roar, but no power or bite. He complained about not having a brain but wound up as the most adept problem solver among the four travelers.Ĭowardly Lion: In the late 1800s William Jennings Bryan, a politician, was a supporter of the free silver movement. They felt helpless after they lost their jobs. The Tin Man was immobile and rusted, which is something many factory workers felt when many businesses began to shut down due to a national depression. Tin Woodman: is a representation of industrial workers who often experienced being dehumanized. Oz: an abbreviation that stands for gold, a hot political topic of the day where people were rallying for fixed gold and silver ratios. Yellow Brick Gold: is a representation of the gold standard, with the gold road leading to power. Another speculation is that the silver slippers are a representation of the power to vote. Silver is related to the monetary political issues of the time where farmers want to have the dollar’s value to have fixed ratios for both silver and gold. Silver Slippers: In the novel, Dorothy’s slippers are silver and not ruby. The Lollipop Guild is seen as representing child labor. Munchkins: The little people, the munchkins, are said to represent the common people or ordinary U.S. Some politicians supported this movement and others didn’t. The farmers wanted the dollar value to have fixed ratios of both gold and silver. Their debts were growing larger as they were getting less money for their crops and other goods. During the time that the story was written, American farmers were suffering from the effects of federal deflation. He was called Uncle Henry by most everyone.Ĭyclone: it is thought that the tornado represents the free silver movement or political upheaval. Uncle Henry: Henry Cantwell Wallace was a well known farmer and editor for a leading farm magazine in the late 1800s. It is thought that Toto also represents average Americans. Toto: a small dog that seems to go unnoticed, it is Toto who reveals what a fraud the Wizard is. Some people put more faith in this theory more than the other one due to similarnames (The-o-dore and Dor-o-thy). Another speculation was that she represents the U.S. She proves to be loyal, resourceful and determined. However here are some of the symbols that have been suggested for The Wizard of Oz.ĭorothy: it is believed that Dorothy represents American values or people. Whether any of these speculations are true or not, none of us know for sure. The parallels were published in 1964 in American Quarterly and sparked years worth of debate.
WIZARD OF OZ WITCH MOVIE
Henry Littlefield used the movie in his lecture and had students of his help to find the parallels between real life and the movie. Speculation began in the 1960s with a history teacher of parallels between the novel and U.S. Whatever you may have seen or heard from the classic book or movie, what most people don’t know is that it is suspected that The Wizard of Oz referenced several late 1800 political issues. However, when they finally get to the Emerald City and meet the wizard, they discover he is just a fraud and that everything they had been searching for they can find within themselves. Along her way down the yellow brick road Dorothy meets some new friends who all have something they want to ask the great wizard. The nice witch Glinda then explains to Dorothy that to find out about getting back home she needs to follow the yellow brick road and ask the Wizard of Oz. After Dorothy’s house falls on and kills the Wicked Witch in Munchkin Land, Dorothy is welcomed to her new land by the Munchkins. It tells the story of a young girl who ends up in a tornado and gets carried from her Kansas farm home to a land that is not like anything she has seen ever before. If you have not read the book or seen the movie, you have probably at least heard the well known phrase “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore” or heard of Toto, Dorothy’s dog.
The Wizard of Oz over the years has become one of the truly classic movies among children and adults alike. Practically everyone has either seen or heard The Wizard of Oz and Dorothy story.