Meaning Behind the Wizard of Oz Adult Populism or Childrens Fantasy

William Jennings Bryan During that campaign Bryan gave the speech that concluded: "You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold During that campaign Bryan gave the speech that concluded: "You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold Thus, William Jennings Bryan became the basis for the Cowardly Lion character, who had a loud roar but little bite Thus, William Jennings Bryan became the basis for the Cowardly Lion character, who had a loud roar but little bite

The Working Class Unemployment caused havoc, desperation and union militancy among the urban working class Unemployment caused havoc, desperation and union militancy among the urban working class Lacking another trade, he "worked harder than ever Lacking another trade, he "worked harder than ever The worker becomes like a machine, incapable of love The worker becomes like a machine, incapable of love

The Populists The Populists wanted government ownership and operation of the railroads, a graduated income tax, and silver coinage The Populists wanted government ownership and operation of the railroads, a graduated income tax, and silver coinage Kansas was a leading Populist state Kansas was a leading Populist state Alliance between farmers and workers was no more powerful than a Scarecrow Alliance between farmers and workers was no more powerful than a Scarecrow

Dorothy Gale Dorothy was an orphan who had been taken in by Uncle Henry Dorothy was an orphan who had been taken in by Uncle Henry She is good, not precious, and she thinks quite naturally about others She is good, not precious, and she thinks quite naturally about others Dorothy wishes for a better life "somewhere over the rainbow…her adventure is to find her "American dream" Dorothy wishes for a better life "somewhere over the rainbow…her adventure is to find her "American dream"

Silver Slippers Dorothys silver shoes were changed to ruby in the 1939 movie Dorothys silver shoes were changed to ruby in the 1939 movie The original meaning was the gold standard versus the silver standard The original meaning was the gold standard versus the silver standard She was innocent enough to see the truth before the others She was innocent enough to see the truth before the others

Witches of Oz The Wicked Witch of the East symbolizes the large industrial corporations and eastern finance The Wicked Witch of the East symbolizes the large industrial corporations and eastern finance Despite these forces, the mark of goodness, placed on Dorothy's forehead by the Witch of the North, serves as protection for Dorothy Despite these forces, the mark of goodness, placed on Dorothy's forehead by the Witch of the North, serves as protection for Dorothy

Yellow Brick Road The alliance between the farmers (The Scarecrow) and the urban workers (the Tin- man) was a fantasy The alliance between the farmers (The Scarecrow) and the urban workers (the Tin- man) was a fantasy Along with Bryan (the Cowardly), Dorothy had been taken down the yellow brick road (the gold standard) that leads nowhere Along with Bryan (the Cowardly), Dorothy had been taken down the yellow brick road (the gold standard) that leads nowhere

Emerald City Our characters journeyed to the Emerald City (the Capitol) seeking favors from the government Our characters journeyed to the Emerald City (the Capitol) seeking favors from the government Those who enter the Emerald City must wear green glasses Those who enter the Emerald City must wear green glasses The Emerald City is a clear symbol for the White House The Emerald City is a clear symbol for the White House

Wizard of Oz Like all good politicians, the Wizard can be all things to all people Like all good politicians, the Wizard can be all things to all people "They believe I am something terrible "They believe I am something terrible The powers-that-be can only remain at the throne through deception and allowing the powerful to manipulate them The powers-that-be can only remain at the throne through deception and allowing the powerful to manipulate them

Dorothys Cyclone Dorothy is whisked away by a cyclone which in the Greek translation represents a coil or snake or serpent. So, it is the serpent who takes Dorothy to Oz Dorothy is whisked away by a cyclone which in the Greek translation represents a coil or snake or serpent. So, it is the serpent who takes Dorothy to Oz A fearsome cyclone that lifts Dorothy into "a country of marvelous beauty A fearsome cyclone that lifts Dorothy into "a country of marvelous beauty

Munchkins of Oz The Wicked Witch of the East kept the little Munchkin people "in bondage…making them slave for her night and day The Wicked Witch of the East kept the little Munchkin people "in bondage…making them slave for her night and day The Munchkins are the little people, ordinary citizens on the losing side of an election The Munchkins are the little people, ordinary citizens on the losing side of an election

Dorothys Dog Toto Toto was a little black dog, with long silky hair and small black eyes that twinkled merrily on either side of his funny nose Toto was a little black dog, with long silky hair and small black eyes that twinkled merrily on either side of his funny nose In the first book, Toto never spoke, although other animals, native to Oz, did speak In the first book, Toto never spoke, although other animals, native to Oz, did speak

Flying Monkeys Native Americans of the plains are symbolized in the Oz stories as the Winged Monkeys Native Americans of the plains are symbolized in the Oz stories as the Winged Monkeys "Once we were a free people, living happily in the great forest…before Oz came out of the clouds to rule over this land "Once we were a free people, living happily in the great forest…before Oz came out of the clouds to rule over this land

Uncle Henry Uncle Henry never laughed…he was gray from his long beard to his boots, he looked stern and solemn, and rarely spoke Uncle Henry never laughed…he was gray from his long beard to his boots, he looked stern and solemn, and rarely spoke Henry mortgaged his farm in order to rebuild Henry mortgaged his farm in order to rebuild This crisis took a toll on his health This crisis took a toll on his health

Passenger Hot Air Balloon In the television program Lost, the character Benjamin Linus initially tells survivors his name is Henry Gale In the television program Lost, the character Benjamin Linus initially tells survivors his name is Henry Gale Passenger balloons are filled with hot air, symbolizing how dreams vanish Passenger balloons are filled with hot air, symbolizing how dreams vanish

L. Frank Baum Baum was born near Syracuse, N.Y., in 1856 to a wealthy family and enjoyed success writing plays Baum was born near Syracuse, N.Y., in 1856 to a wealthy family and enjoyed success writing plays In 1887, he moved to Chicago, where he continued to write and where he authored The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900 In 1887, he moved to Chicago, where he continued to write and where he authored The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900