Literary scholars and critics, of course, have long interpreted the wonderful wizard of oz as a fable of populism, arguing that baum disparaged the social, political, economic, and moral order of the gilded age. Populism and the world of oz national museum of american. What do the witches in the book the wizard of oz represent. Historian richard jensen assigns the following symbols to the objects, characters and themes in the wonderful wizard of oz, written in 1901 by l. The founder of theosophy, helena blavatsky, told a reallife tale very similar to. The heart of the book is an annotated version of the wizard of oz that highlights the possible political and monetary symbolism in the book by relating characters, settings, and incidents in it to the historical events and figures of the 1890s, the decade in which baum wrote his story. Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz include treatments of the modern fairy tale as an allegory or metaphor for the political, economic, and social events of america in the 1890s. In the book, the tin man, scarecrow and dorothy all saw the wizard quite differently. The oz books form a book series that begins with the wonderful wizard of oz 1900 and relate the fictional history of the land of oz. The secret jewish history of the wizard of oz the forward.
The witch represents eastern financialindustrial interests and their goldstandard political allies, the main targets of populist venom. In 1964 henry littlefield, a columbia universitytrained historian, wrote a breakthrough article in the scholarly american quarterly titled the wizard of oz. During her travels she encounters a number of characters, some good, some bad. Could it have been affected or even allegorical to the. Frank baums classic childrens novel as an allegory of the gilded age. Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz. He wrote thirteen additional oz books, and the film. The historians wizard of oz synthesizes four decades of scholarly interpretations of l. It is filled with symbols and metaphors, all pointing to other things. Longing for a more exciting life, dorothy sings the nowclassic american standard over the rainbow about her dream of going somewhere more exciting than kansas. Baum was at the height of his productive powers and a huge range of books were published between 1904 and the launch of the third oz book, ozma of oz, in 1907. The book was in the earliest binding state, but the presence.
While baums family, mentors, and life experience certainly influenced and shape his creative writing, exactly how political was baums childrens book writing. The wonderful wizard of oz as a fable of modern america. The wizard of oz film study guide contains a biography of richard thorpe, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The political interpretations focus on the first three, and emphasize the close relationshi. The heart of the book is an annotated version of the wizard of oz that highlights the possible political and monetary symbolism in the book by relating characters, settings, and. Littlefields essay interprets baums story as a straightforward political satire, with the characters and landscape of oz representing distinct political forces. Frank baum and first published in 1900 as an allegory or metaphor for the political, economic, and social events of america in the 1890s. Many people are not aware that the wonderful wizard of oz is suspected to have referenced several political issues of the late 1800s. Quotes from the story such as toto, i have a feeling were not in kansas anymore, lions, and tigers, and bears. The most famous road in movie history has been analyzed to death and is probably one of the most famous metaphors in the english language. Frank baums classic as a political and monetary allegory pdf, epub, docx and torrent then this site is not for you.
The wizard of oz and political symbolism book and media. Cinema symbolism found in the wizard of oz, the frank baum. Frank baums book the wonderful wizard of oz, upon which the movie is based, was a political allegory for american politics at the dawn of. All of the baum written books are in the public domain in the united states. Dighe chronicles the interpretations of the wizard of oz as imagery of politics and money by various writers starting with henry littlefield in 1964. Though some believed that baum intended it in his novel as a symbol of the financial gold standard and the emerald city as corrupt washington, d. In this reading snappily entitled a parable on populism the yellow brick road represents. The symbolism hidden within the wizard of oz jabajabba.
Frank baum, who went on to write fourteen fulllength oz books. He wrote thirteen additional oz books, and the film adaptation staring judy garland was released in 1939. Frank baum was purchased in 1972 at sotheby parke bernet on behalf of a private collector. Even while he was alive, baum was styled as the royal historian of oz to emphasize the. On august 25, 1939, the wizard of oz, which will become one of the bestloved movies in history, opens in theaters around the united states. The author cautions that there are subtle differences between the movie and mr. In any case, the story has allusions to bryans campaign to add silver coinage to the gold standard. The wizards name oz could be the abbreviation for an ounce of gold, the letters o to z on the second of baums pair of filing cabinets, or just a word that sounds good with wizard. Frank baums classic as a political and monetary allegory, dighe concludes that the story is almost certainly not a conscious populist allegory, but, like parker, he believes the book works as one 2002, 8. Frank baums classic as a political and monetary allegory, paperback by dighe, ranjit s. Prices had fallen by about 22% over the previous 16 years, causing huge debt. Frank baum wrote the childrens fantasy book the wonderful wizard of oz in 1900.
In an article entitled the wizard of oz as a monetary allegory 1990, hugh rockoff examined the analogies between baums use of imagery and the monetary politics of the populist era. The wizard of oz is a nostalgic tale of dorothy, a young farm girl from kansas, who is swept away to a magical land by a tornado. The cyclone that brought dorothy to the land of oz had a literal and symbolic meaning from his religion. Hugh rockoff suggested in 1990 that the novel was an allegory about the demonetization of silver in 1873, whereby the cyclone that carried dorothy to the land. Cinema symbolism found in the wizard of oz, the frank baum classic story, robert w. Historian henry m littlefields essay on the wonderful wizard of oz was. The wizard of oz, which celebrates its 80th birthday this year, was created by jewish artists including yip harburg and harold arlen.
Scholars have examined four quite different versions of oz. In his book the wonderful wizard of oz in american popular culture, neil. Less known is that dorothy symbolically represents the average american, and arguably serves as an allegory for the united states itself. Does the wonderful wizard of oz contain a political agenda. Garland won the role of dorothy despite substantial competition. A fragmented dust jacket for a first edition of wonderful wizard of oz 1900 by l. Speculation of the parallels between the characters in the book and history of the united states began with a history teacher by the name of henry littlefield. Frank baums classic childrens novel as an allegory of the gilded age political economy and a comment on the gold standard. The heart of the book is an annotated version of the wizard of oz that highlights the possible political and monetary symbolism in the book by relating. Interesting fact related to rare oz dust jacket from appraising rare and collectible childrens book. If youre looking for a free download links of the historians wizard of oz. Edt, isbn 0275974197, isbn 9780275974190, brand new, free shipping in the us blends an annotated version of the wizard of oz with a discussion of the political and economic history of the gilded age. Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz wikipedia.
The political and economic symbols hidden inside the wizard of oz. Educator and historian henry m littlefield published a highly cited essay in 1964, entitled, the wizard of oz. Frank baum, and filmed in technicolor by metrogoldwynmayer in 1939. It has since seen several reprints, most often under the title the wizard of oz, which is the title of the popular 1902 broadway musical adaptation as well as the iconic 1939 liveaction film. The wizard of oz film symbols, allegory and motifs. Thinking the great wizard of oz can grant her wish, she sets out to meet him with her beloved dog, toto, joined by a scarecrow, a tin woodman and a lion. Nprs backseat book club is going back to where the yellow brick road began with the original book that started it all, the wonderful wizard of oz. The wonderful wizard of oz is too long to be a parable and not quite didactic enough to be an allegory. Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz include treatments of the modern fairy tale written by l.
More than just a childrens story by lauren houlberg the wizard of oz is a classic, a legend, and a childrens story that will never grow old. The heart of the book is an annotated version of the wizard of oz that highlights the possible political and monetary symbolism in. This symbolizes the cynicism that exists in politics due to the fact that politicians tend to change face. Carl jung and later joseph campbell described how certain symbols and motifs appear in mythology, fairy tales, stories, and religions throughout the world. The objective of her travels is to wizard the wizard of oz in emerald city so that she can go home. Both versions tell the story of dorothy gale and her adorable dog toto getting stranded in a fantastical land by a tornado, and both include the iconic characters of the scarecrow, cowardly lion, tin man, glinda the good witch. Historian henry m littlefields essay on the wonderful wizard of oz was published in 1964. Frank baums classic as a political and monetary allegory annotated edition by dighe, ranjit s. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Oh, my, and theres no place like home, are ones that will always pop into our heads when someone.
It was adapted into a broadway musical by baum in 1902, and then into its first. Political symbolism in the wonderful wizard of oz many people are not aware that the wonderful wizard of oz is suspected to have referenced several political issues of the late 1800s. Over the rainbow symbol dorothy gale is bored by her life on the farm, and she lives in a world literally without color. The symbolism hidden within the wizard of oz many people believe that the wizard of oz was and is an allegory for the radically new state of affairs that existed in america in the 1930s, following the stock market crash and the bankruptcy of the united states government which. Frank baum published his famous novel, the wonderful wizard of oz, in 1900, and underneath the surface of the story, with all its whimsy and. Baum published the book in 1900, just after the us emerged from a period of deflation and depression. Is there a hidden political allegory in the wizard of oz. The wizard of oz and its hidden political agenda youtube. Dorothy, the main character in the novel, is said to represent the. Described as each of us at our best kind but selfrespecting, guileless but levelheaded, wholesome but plucky. Still, the main characters dorothy, the scarecrow, the tin woodman, and the lion embody traditional american values. Even while he was alive, baum was styled as the royal historian of oz to emphasize the concept that oz is an actual place. Following the yellow brick road back to the origins of oz.
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