Is The Wizard of Oz a musical fantasy or a “parable on Populism”?

L. Frank Baum The Author of The Wizard of Oz  In favor of many Populist movements  Political views may have influenced writing  Helped produce a musical which was the premise for the 1939 MGM musical

What is Populism?  Populists in late nineteenth century America wanted to help the common people  They advocated measures that would help farmers and laborers  They supported the free coinage of silver

The Populist metaphors can be found in… Settings Key Objects Characters

KANSAS IN THE LATE 1800s  Farmer discontent and Populist politics were concentrated in Kansas  Suffering from a drought—many farmers going through hard times  Farmers wanted the free coinage of silver to help them out of debt

Shown in a sepia wash Dorothy wants out— “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”

 Silver is measured in ounces  Bright and colorful  “Oz”= ounce

THE EMERALD CITY Main political city of Oz Symbolizes the national capital, as well as paper money

CYCLONE Cyclones used in many Populist political cartoons Some pamphlets compared the depression of the 1890s to a cyclone

Dorothy’s house lands on the Wicked Witch of the East, and she gets…

The Ruby Slippers Originally silver Changed to ruby because of color technology Symbolize the power of the silver movement

The Yellow Brick Road  Represents balance between silver and gold movements  Journey on road is dangerous—gold standard might not be wise

DOROTHY Common people From a Kansas farm Does not see the power of slippers at first

THE SCARECROW  Represents farmers  Farmers thought to be ignorant—looking for a brain  Shows common sense throughout the story—has always had a brain  Shows belief that farmers were not as ignorant as wealthy people thought

THE TIN MAN Industrial workers Wants a heart—dehumanized Physically strong, hollow inside Stuck when the found him—workers felt trapped in an economic rut

THE COWARDLY LION Represents William Jennings Bryan—Populist leader Looking for courage—Bryan thought to be a coward by some Possessed courage all along

WICKED WITCH OF THE EAST  Stands for wealthy people of the East favoring gold currency  Symbolic of big businesses and corporation who also wanted gold standard  Dorothy kills her—defeats people who wanted gold currency

WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST Personification of harsh natural forces of west, such as the drought Dorothy’s main adversary—present throughout entire story

Uses nature to hurt Dorothy and friends Poppy field Flying monkeys

She is killed by water, just like a drought

THE WIZARD Represents leadership during the depression Government seemed powerless Uses hot air balloon (as did many cartoons) Wizard is from Kansas, like Dorothy