2. UNMASKING THE WIZARD OF OZ
Is The Wizard of Oz a musical fantasy or a “parable on Populism”?

3. The Wizard of Oz has been used for years in many political cartoons.
People find various symbolic meanings and they can adapt the story to current events.

4. But first, a little background on The Wizard of Oz…
Henry Littlefield took it one step further in his article “The Wizard of Oz: Parable on Populism”
But first, a little background on The Wizard of Oz…

5. The Author of The Wizard of Oz
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

7. 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

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

9. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

19. 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

20. 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

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

22. 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

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

24. Uses nature to hurt Dorothy and friends
Poppy field
Flying monkeys

25. She is killed by water, just like a drought

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

27. ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE THEORY:
SOME SAY…
Baum was not really a Populist supporter
The metaphors are purely coincidental

28. Is the movie musical still a populist metaphor?
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BOOK AND MOVIE
Silver slippers changed to ruby
Glinda changed from Good Witch of the South to the Good Witch of the North
Is the movie musical still a populist metaphor?

29. There is still plenty of evidence that The Wizard of Oz is in fact a “parable on Populism.”
So the choice is up to you. Next time you watch the musical, look past the magic and color of the movie to find deeper meanings and metaphors.
Then make up your mind—is The Wizard of Oz just a fun, harmless musical fantasy… or is it something more?

30. REFERENCES MGM Pictures: The Wizard of Oz
Library of Congress