Wizard of Oz Allegory
Show the symbolism between Populism of the 1890’s and the story of the Wizard of Oz.
Populist party: political party formed in 1890 to address the needs of farmers.
Concerns: lower tariffs, increased currency in circulation (coinage of silver)
government regulation of railroads, direct election of senators.
Their candidate for President: William Jennings Bryan
An allegory: a story which uses people or things to represent more general
ideas.
Symbols in Wizard of Oz
Dorothy: represents the “Everyman”; the general public
Yellow Brick Road: the gold standard; dollar is backed by gold
Scarecrow: farmers; no brains—need education
Tinman: factory workers; seen by employers as machines. Heart represents
the humanity that has been taken away thru industrialization
Cowardly Lion: William Jennings Bryan; needs courage to become a true
leader of the people; the king of the jungle.
Wicked Witch of the East: Eastern influence; power of banks and
corporations and industry. Holds power over powerless.
Munchkins: the “little people”; the powerless; the middle classes
Good Witch of the North: represents goodness and success and morality
Social Gospel, abolition, philanthropy
WW of the West: forces of nature. Farmers need rain, but nature
withheld rain; Dorothy kills the witch with water.
Water: represents rain needed by farmers to subdue forces of nature
Winged monkeys: Native Americans. Not evil by nature, but aggressive
in the face of losing their land. In the book, their chief
tells Dorothy: Once we were a free people, living happily in
the great forest. This was many years ago before Oz came
out of the clouds to rule over us.
EmeraldCity: Washington, D.C.—Center of power.
Wizard: President—era of “do-nothing” presidents. Gov’t was heavily
influenced by big business. Pres. was a figurehead, just a man.
Dorothy’s slippers: in the movie they are ruby, but in the book they are
silver. Represents the Populists desire for the free coinage
of silver. Glenda tells Dorothy: You didn’t realize the power
of the slippers; they were on your feet all along. You had the
power to grant your wish. Populists believed silver would solve
their problems.
Wizards gifts: Scarecrow—brain: A&M colleges for farmers’ education
Tin Man—watch/heart: 8-hr day for labor; beating represents
heart to remind employers they are men, not machines
Cowardly Lion—medal to demonstrate courage.
To William Jennings Bryan, the Democrats offer the presidential candidacy.