Baums Characterization in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Essay Example

? One of the most popular children’s literatures of all time is L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. His clever combination of fantasy and reality in his book was extraordinary that not only the young readers enjoy reading the book, but the adults as well. Dorothy’s journey from her dreary place to an unfamiliar, yet magical place drew readers, young and old. Living in the vast prairie where no trees nor neighbors can be seen, except for the gray land that his Uncle Henry farms to support their daily needs and waking up to the colorful and majestic city of Oz, where all she could see were vibrant and lively creatures around her, Baum succeeds in illustrating the substantial difference between the two worlds, as well as the characters and features of two exactly opposite worlds. It was not only Dorothy, the main character in the story, who provided much interest and excitement to the readers. Every single character played a significant role in representing the qualities that Baum hoped they should be able to establish all throughout the Dorothy’s journey to another world she has never been to, nor have an idea whatsoever. However, what representations did Baum make of the contrasting characters in the story? How important was the role of the Wizard of Oz in the story? Did Baum justify the Wizard’s actions in the story? The book reveals various issues that each one of us, human beings, faces every day in our lives. There are many things that we often overlook as many of us aims to live a life that is far different from the lives that we live now. Dorothy’s life in the Kansas prairie may be considered by some as dull, where she does not even have a chance to play with other children her age for they do not have neighbors close enough for her to play along with. The tiny detail such as the absence of trees suggests that there is nothing to look forward to in the home where she lives. There would be no flowers from the trees that she may look after and wait until they become fruits that she would further anticipate as they mature and become ripe for picking and eating. This, on the other hand, may be interpreted to be Dorothy’s inability to blossom as a mature and intelligent person in the future had she not gone through a journey, which would either make her go back home or leave the place forever. There were only he Aunt Em and Uncle Henry who she deals with every day, along with her dog Toto, which gives brightens her rather uninteresting life in the prairie. However, as the initial setting of the story was described to be lifeless, Dorothy’s personality depicted to be one that is full of life, which does not seem to have affected by the gloominess of the environment that surrounds her even when she was a baby. This was apparent in Baum’s description of Dorothy as “Aunt Em had been so startled by the child's laughter that she would scream and press her hand upon her heart whenever Dorothy's merry voice reached her ears; and she still looked at the little girl with wonder that she could find anything to laugh at (Baum, L. F., 2008:12).” It was, in addition, fascinating how Baum was able to create irony among the characters he had included in the story. The most prominent ones were the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Lion, and Dorothy herself. As the main character journeys in the Land of Oz, she met these characters who agreed to come along with her to see the Wizard as they seek for one thing they thought was missing in their lives. The Scarecrow thought that his brain being merely stuffed by straw makes him unable to think and make the right decisions. Little did the Scarecrow know that he has been using a sound judgment all along throughout their journey to Oz to find the Wizard. He has helped everyone figure out a way to get away with any difficult situation they were in. He exhibited his ability to think as smart as any of those who possess brains such as Dorothy was when they tried to find their way to the Emerald City where they were told the Wizard of Oz could be found. "If this road goes in, it must come out," said the Scarecrow, "and as the Emerald City is at the other end of the road, we must go wherever it leads us." "Anyone would know that," said Dorothy. "Certainly; that is why I know it," returned the Scarecrow. "If it required brains to figure it out, I never should have said it (Baum, L. F., 2008:38)." These lines in the book clearly show that the Scarecrow simply does not realize what he is capable of all along. The same case with the Tin Woodman who also thought that he does not have a heart that is capable of feeling compassion. However, this is apparently not true as the readers would see his ability to empathize, as well as his enduring love to the woman he had always love all along. There was even a point in the story when the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman argues the importance of having either of the heart or the brain. The Lion, who thought he was coward wanted to see the Wizard of Oz to grant him courage so he could be the King of the Beasts. On the other hand, just as the other two, the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, the Lion had exactly what he needed all along. He was not aware that he possesses the courage that he thought is necessary to be the King of the Beasts. Baum showed this courage he was unaware of when “he began to swim with all his might toward the shore. It was hard work, although he was so big; but by and by they were drawn out of the current, and then Dorothy took the Tin Woodman's long pole and helped push the raft to the land (Baum, L. F., 2008:38).” Dorothy, nonetheless, was a victim of her own ignorance of the things she have. The silver shoes that the Witch of the North had given her, which was in fact owned by the Wicked Witch of the East, has the capability to bring her back home to Kansas even without the help of the Wizard. However, Dorothy did not know this until Glinda The good Witch had told her. Baum’s characterization in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz illustrate how each one of us is able to suffice our own needs and wants had we been aware of our strengths that are buried deep within ourselves. Sometimes, we have to go through various challenges that will enable us to discover that inner strength and competence we have all along. Just as Dorothy and her friends – the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Lion – have been naive of the traits they have – intelligence, compassion, and courage, every one of us remains oblivious of the things we already have, yet we still wish to have. One more question about the novel though is whether the Wizard of Oz’s actions were good or bad. His trickery had been believable that the entire Land of Oz believed him to be the Great Wizard whom everyone feared and followed. Aware of his dishonesty, the Wizard could not avoid making them believe for “all these people make me do things that everybody knows can't be done? It was easy to make the Scarecrow and the Lion and the Woodman happy, because they imagined I could do anything (Baum, L. F., 2008:138).” As a common person who was a balloonist from Omaha, the man deceived all of them because of fear that the people from Oz, particularly in Emerald City, where he asked them to build a Palace for him, may do to him when he finds out he is not exactly what they thought he was. Conversely, Baum justified the Great Wizard’s deception as he further explains to Dorothy and her friends his greater fear of the Witches of Oz from East and West. Although he had tricked the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Lion once again by providing them what they have gone to Oz in the first place, he made them realize that what each of them needed was to see for themselves that the thing they want most already belongs to them. In addition, he gave them the chance to use the things they never had as he made the Scarecrow rule Emerald City to exercise his intelligence. The Tin Woodman became the ruler of the Winkies as they had begged for him to be their leader after the Wicked Witch of the West had died. Hailed the King of Beasts and led the fight against the fierce monsters of the forest, the Lion exhibited his courage. Although he may have tricked everyone, the Great Wizard did so because he knows that there were people who needed him and believed he could give them what they had needed. What is more important was that he had imparted a great understanding of each of the characters’ nature in the story. As for Dorothy’s journey to Oz, she came to realize that no matter how exciting and comfortable other places may be for her, she would rather go back home and live with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. Her experience with Oz was more than enough to realize that “No matter how dreary and gray our homes are, we people of flesh and blood would rather live there than in any other country, be it ever so beautiful. There is no place like home (Baum, L. F., 2008:138)." Works Cited: Baum, L. F. (2008). The Wizard of Oz. London: CRW Publishing Ltd. Read More