The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of Oz

L. Frank BaumL. Frank Baum’’s novel used ass novel used aspolitical allegory for the Populistpolitical allegory for the PopulistMovementMovement

Please NotePlease Note……

Most historians do not subscribe to BaumMost historians do not subscribe to Baum’’ssintent of intent of The Wonderful Wizard of OzThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz as a as apolitical allegory.political allegory.

Henry Littlefield, a high school teacher,Henry Littlefield, a high school teacher,published the use of the book as a politicalpublished the use of the book as a politicalallegory in 1964.allegory in 1964.

The use of the The use of the The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of Oz as a political as a politicalallegory is solely for the purpose as anallegory is solely for the purpose as aneducational tool for understanding of Populismeducational tool for understanding of Populismand the late Gilded Age politics.and the late Gilded Age politics.

DorothyDorothy

The embodiment ofThe embodiment ofthe American peoplethe American people

Naive, needsNaive, needsguidance andguidance anddirectiondirection

TotoToto

May represent theMay represent theTeetotalers orTeetotalers orProhibitionists whoProhibitionists whosupported thesupported thePopulist movementPopulist movement

The ScarecrowThe Scarecrow

Represents the farmersRepresents the farmers The absence of a brainThe absence of a brain

symbolizes farmers havesymbolizes farmers haverun out of ideasrun out of ideasregarding the poorregarding the pooragricultural conditionsagricultural conditions

Ironic how theIronic how theScarecrow tends toScarecrow tends todevelop clever plansdevelop clever plans

The Tin ManThe Tin Man

Represents theRepresents theindustrial workers.industrial workers.

Dehumanized byDehumanized bylabor hence no heartlabor hence no heart

Rusting due toRusting due tofactories shuttingfactories shuttingdown fromdown fromdepressionsdepressions

The Cowardly LionThe Cowardly Lion

Represents WilliamRepresents WilliamJennings BryanJennings Bryan

All roar, but no biteAll roar, but no bite

KansasKansas

The agricultural WestThe agricultural West Black & white andBlack & white and

desolate landscapedesolate landscapeshow poor conditionsshow poor conditionsand gloomand gloom

The TwisterThe Twister

The PopulistThe Populistmovement or politicalmovement or politicalupheavalupheaval

Sweeping peopleSweeping peoplefrom the B&Wfrom the B&WKansas to theKansas to thecolorful Oz andcolorful Oz andEmerald CityEmerald City

The Wicked Witch of theThe Wicked Witch of theEastEast

Represents theRepresents theindustrialists andindustrialists andbankers of the Eastbankers of the East

Harasses andHarasses andenslaves theenslaves theMunchkinsMunchkins

The MunchkinsThe Munchkins

The commonThe commonpeople/laborers ofpeople/laborers ofthe East harassed bythe East harassed bythe Wicked Witch ofthe Wicked Witch ofthe East and Westthe East and West(corporations)(corporations)

Lullaby League andLullaby League andLollipop GuildLollipop Guildrepresent reformsrepresent reformsand unionsand unions

The Wicked Witch of theThe Wicked Witch of theWestWest

Represents theRepresents therailroad and oilrailroad and oilcompanies in thecompanies in theWestWest

Enslaved the WingedEnslaved the WingedMonkeys and theMonkeys and theWinkiesWinkies

The Winged MonkeysThe Winged Monkeys

Represent Natives inRepresent Natives inthe frontier and Westthe frontier and Westas threats and whoas threats and whohave becomehave becomesubjugated by thesubjugated by thecorporations andcorporations andgovernmentgovernment

The The WinkiesWinkies

Could represent theCould represent thePinkertons Pinkertons andandfederal troopsfederal troops

Help enforce theHelp enforce thepolicies and actionspolicies and actionsof the corporationsof the corporations

The Good Witch of theThe Good Witch of theNorthNorth

Represents the OldRepresents the OldNorthwest/MidwestNorthwest/Midwest

Populists hoped forPopulists hoped fortheir support in theirtheir support in theircausescauses

The Good Witch of theThe Good Witch of theSouthSouth

Represents theRepresents theSoutheast region andSoutheast region andits predominantits predominantagricultural sectoragricultural sector

Populists saw thePopulists saw theregion as aregion as asympathizer andsympathizer andsupport blocsupport bloc

Silver (Ruby) SlippersSilver (Ruby) Slippers

Represent the silverRepresent the silvermovementmovement

The Yellow Brick RoadThe Yellow Brick Road

Represents the goldRepresents the goldstandardstandard

Silver slippers andSilver slippers andyellow brick road areyellow brick road arethe way to newthe way to newsuccess andsuccess andprosperityprosperity

Oz = oz. as in ounceOz = oz. as in ouncefor goldfor goldmeasurementmeasurement

Emerald CityEmerald City

Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C. The place of hopeThe place of hope

and empty promisesand empty promises Green can alsoGreen can also

symbolizesymbolizegreenbacksgreenbacks

The WizardThe Wizard

Represents theRepresents thePresident and/orPresident and/orpoliticianspoliticians

““The Man Behind theThe Man Behind theCurtainCurtain”” symbolizing symbolizingthe changing face ofthe changing face ofpoliticianspoliticians