Question

Discuss some of the economic symbolism thought by many to be contained in L. Frank Baum’s book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. You must discuss at least four examples of economic symbolism from the book

Answer 1

Many things in this world aren’t always what they seem to be at first glance, and children’s books are no exception. L. 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 childish delights, is what some literary historians claim is a very thinly-veiled allegory.

According to Ranker, it doesn’t take much analysis to see that the book has a subtext relating directly to the politics of the 1890s; specifically it relates to the rise of Populism that was going on at the time, and to the debate over whether to hold on to the gold standard for currency or start using silver as well.

It might sound far-fetched that a child’s tale dealt with such weighty issues, but not only was Baum a political reporter for part of his life, he was also a resident of South Dakota for several years. This meant that he was present to observe the rise of the Populist movement among farmers of the West, and their formation of the People’s Party to address a variety of economic issues in the country.

The book’s related political undertones were first identified in 1964 in an analysis by a historian named Henry Littlefield. Take a look at what he uncovered.

Dorothy

Dorothy, the main character in the novel, is said to represent the average American. Her character represented the best of what was valued as the American character; she was kind, showed spunk, was level-headed, straightforward, and was willing to face the unknown to find answers to the issues she was faced with.

In the last 20 years of the 19th century, American farmers took an economic beating as the result of calamitous weather and the wreckage caused by swarms of locusts, leading to a rise in Populism as the farmers blamed their misfortunes on the banks, the railroads, and nature.

The Scarecrow

The Scarecrow represents those farmers. The Scarecrow thinks he doesn’t have a brain, which parallels the view that Easterners in the country had of the farmers of the Midwest region, as being generally irrational, uneducated, and ignorant. The character shows a good deal of common sense as they make the journey to Oz, and a lot of resilience, proving that he is far less stupid than many people might think.

Tin Man

The Tin Man was said to represent a dehumanized and mistreated factory worker, who, through no fault of his own, has had his self-worth chipped away by outside forces. He represents factory workers who were suffering in the economy of the time and was even covered in rust when Dorothy and the Scarecrow first encounter him, representing the high levels of unemployment that were prevalent in the 1890s.

The Cowardly Lion

The Cowardly Lion is, according to Littlefield, a representation of William Jennings Bryan, who was a hero of the Populist movement at the time. Bryan was even referred to as a lion in the press. He was a huge supporter of the “Free Silver Movement” and moving away from a gold standard.

The Wicked Witches

The Wicked Witches are interpreted as a representation of the major financial-political interests that held sway over American politics. When Dorothy’s house falls on the Wicked Witch of the East, it’s a reference to smashing Wall Street’s power. Her sister, the Witch of the West, symbolizes the financial elite who lived in the western region of the country such as railroad magnates, bankers, etc.

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