The Wizard of Oz The Wizard of Oz L. Frank Baum L. Frank Baum ’ ’ s novel used as s novel used as political allegory for the Populist political allegory for the Populist Movement Movement
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The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of Oz
L. Frank BaumL. Frank Baum’’s novel used ass novel used aspolitical allegory for the Populistpolitical allegory for the PopulistMovementMovement
Please NotePlease Note……
Most historians do not subscribe to BaumMost historians do not subscribe to Baum’’ssintent of intent of The Wonderful Wizard of OzThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz as a as apolitical allegory.political allegory.
Henry Littlefield, a high school teacher,Henry Littlefield, a high school teacher,published the use of the book as a politicalpublished the use of the book as a politicalallegory in 1964.allegory in 1964.
The use of the The use of the The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of Oz as a political as a politicalallegory is solely for the purpose as anallegory is solely for the purpose as aneducational tool for understanding of Populismeducational tool for understanding of Populismand the late Gilded Age politics.and the late Gilded Age politics.
DorothyDorothy
The embodiment ofThe embodiment ofthe American peoplethe American people
Naive, needsNaive, needsguidance andguidance anddirectiondirection
TotoToto
May represent theMay represent theTeetotalers orTeetotalers orProhibitionists whoProhibitionists whosupported thesupported thePopulist movementPopulist movement
The ScarecrowThe Scarecrow
Represents the farmersRepresents the farmers The absence of a brainThe absence of a brain
symbolizes farmers havesymbolizes farmers haverun out of ideasrun out of ideasregarding the poorregarding the pooragricultural conditionsagricultural conditions
Ironic how theIronic how theScarecrow tends toScarecrow tends todevelop clever plansdevelop clever plans
The Tin ManThe Tin Man
Represents theRepresents theindustrial workers.industrial workers.
Dehumanized byDehumanized bylabor hence no heartlabor hence no heart
Rusting due toRusting due tofactories shuttingfactories shuttingdown fromdown fromdepressionsdepressions
The Cowardly LionThe Cowardly Lion
Represents WilliamRepresents WilliamJennings BryanJennings Bryan
All roar, but no biteAll roar, but no bite
KansasKansas
The agricultural WestThe agricultural West Black & white andBlack & white and
desolate landscapedesolate landscapeshow poor conditionsshow poor conditionsand gloomand gloom
The TwisterThe Twister
The PopulistThe Populistmovement or politicalmovement or politicalupheavalupheaval
Sweeping peopleSweeping peoplefrom the B&Wfrom the B&WKansas to theKansas to thecolorful Oz andcolorful Oz andEmerald CityEmerald City
The Wicked Witch of theThe Wicked Witch of theEastEast
Represents theRepresents theindustrialists andindustrialists andbankers of the Eastbankers of the East
Harasses andHarasses andenslaves theenslaves theMunchkinsMunchkins
The MunchkinsThe Munchkins
The commonThe commonpeople/laborers ofpeople/laborers ofthe East harassed bythe East harassed bythe Wicked Witch ofthe Wicked Witch ofthe East and Westthe East and West(corporations)(corporations)
Lullaby League andLullaby League andLollipop GuildLollipop Guildrepresent reformsrepresent reformsand unionsand unions
The Wicked Witch of theThe Wicked Witch of theWestWest
Represents theRepresents therailroad and oilrailroad and oilcompanies in thecompanies in theWestWest
Enslaved the WingedEnslaved the WingedMonkeys and theMonkeys and theWinkiesWinkies
The Winged MonkeysThe Winged Monkeys
Represent Natives inRepresent Natives inthe frontier and Westthe frontier and Westas threats and whoas threats and whohave becomehave becomesubjugated by thesubjugated by thecorporations andcorporations andgovernmentgovernment
The The WinkiesWinkies
Could represent theCould represent thePinkertons Pinkertons andandfederal troopsfederal troops
Help enforce theHelp enforce thepolicies and actionspolicies and actionsof the corporationsof the corporations
The Good Witch of theThe Good Witch of theNorthNorth
Represents the OldRepresents the OldNorthwest/MidwestNorthwest/Midwest
Populists hoped forPopulists hoped fortheir support in theirtheir support in theircausescauses
The Good Witch of theThe Good Witch of theSouthSouth
Represents theRepresents theSoutheast region andSoutheast region andits predominantits predominantagricultural sectoragricultural sector
Populists saw thePopulists saw theregion as aregion as asympathizer andsympathizer andsupport blocsupport bloc
Silver (Ruby) SlippersSilver (Ruby) Slippers
Represent the silverRepresent the silvermovementmovement
The Yellow Brick RoadThe Yellow Brick Road
Represents the goldRepresents the goldstandardstandard
Silver slippers andSilver slippers andyellow brick road areyellow brick road arethe way to newthe way to newsuccess andsuccess andprosperityprosperity
Oz = oz. as in ounceOz = oz. as in ouncefor goldfor goldmeasurementmeasurement
Emerald CityEmerald City
Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C. The place of hopeThe place of hope
and empty promisesand empty promises Green can alsoGreen can also
symbolizesymbolizegreenbacksgreenbacks
The WizardThe Wizard
Represents theRepresents thePresident and/orPresident and/orpoliticianspoliticians
““The Man Behind theThe Man Behind theCurtainCurtain”” symbolizing symbolizingthe changing face ofthe changing face ofpoliticianspoliticians
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