Literary Analysis Of The Wizard Of Oz

Reflecting the political circumstances in America during the late 19th century, The Wizard of Oz, functions as a monetary and political allegory. Woven throughout the story, populism, the belief that regular people rather than political insiders have control over their government, and the bimetallic standard, a monetary system composed of gold or silver, are prominent themes. In The Wizard of Oz, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion represent the difficulties facing many Americans during the Populist Era.

The Wizard of Oz and Wicked are both very successful and well-known broadway musicals. Both of these musicals are based off of the same story, but each give a slightly different meaning to it. While they are both based on a similar tale, these two broadway musicals have many characteristics that are similar and differ from each other. This paper will compare and contrast the characters, theme, and plot.

Frank Baum uses colors throughout the novel the Wonderful Wizard Of Oz. . Color play s a important role in the story l. Each color symbolizes a n object of wealth or emotion . The author wrote the book in the 1900’ s during the depression era, and the lack of money was the most talked about topic in the nation. Frank Baum managed to address this issue in his book with the use of symbolic imagery.

Anthem is a very symbolic novel that reinforces and expresses Ayn Rand's beliefs. The novel Anthem focuses on collectivism which is the thought that everything should be done for the good of the group. Great examples of symbolism is the uncharted forest, the name prometheus and the light bulb.

The musical Wicked: The Untold Stories of the Witches of Oz was first performed on 10th June 2003 in New York City on Broadway. It was adapted, by Winnie Holzman and Steven Schwartz, from the 1995 book by Gregory Maguire (WICKED: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West), and follows the story of Elphaba a green-skinned girl who eventually becomes better known as the Wicked Witch of the West. The plot runs from before the start of the Wizard of Oz and then proceeds alongside it, finishing with the supposed death of the Wicked Witch. It re-tells Elphaba’s story and shows how her differences rendered her a scapegoat, allowing the government of Oz to turn the population against her when she hadn’t really done anything wrong. Elphaba’s differences and the people’s reaction to her are obvious symbols of racial prejudice. This is again seen through Doctor Dillamond, an Goat and professor of History at the university, who tells that the Animals in Oz are losing their rights and their powers of speech. This essay will explore racial prejudice in the musical WICKED, analysing the songs and scenes where Doctor Dillamond and Elphaba interact with the other characters in the production to show how the theme is conveyed.

Buddhism consists of a belief in peace, unity, respect, and self-discovery through humility and honesty.  Following these ideals creates a more knowledgeable and aware individual and society.  L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz reflects on these themes of Buddhism through the use of allegorical settings to create a story about a young girl trying to find her way home.

The Wicked Witches of Oz correspond to the major corporations during the election of 1896. The Wicked Witch of the East is the ruler of the eastern land of Oz. She is the equivalent to the real worlds banks. Because of her wickedness a house was dropped on her leaving “her two feet, still sticking out from under a block of wood.” (Baum). The comparison between her and the banks was that the banks would foreclose on the houses of lower class people. As a result of their harsh banking when the house would be returned to the banks it would be similar to a house being dropped on them.

The Wizard of Oz has revealed to be an exceptionally well thought out film when analysed. The film has made use of stylistic elements such as colour, light, sound and mise-en-scene which coincide with the various twists and turns of the plot as Dorothy moves from Kansas, to Oz, and back again. In The Wizard of Oz, the directors have employed the use of different unique editing techniques despite being an early film. It is obvious that the audience is able to notice the absence of colour in the beginning and ending of the film. The audience is able to identify the mood and overall feeling for Dorothy when she is in her family farm in Kansas. The lack of colour shows the audience how boring and normal her life is in Kansas where she wants to

“The Hero’s Journey”, Grimm’s Fairy Tales he talked about a little story name:Snow-White and Rose-Red.Well in the story all they showed about was that if they had some things to do all around them, but as in the story what on Snow-White would always do to Rose-Red and to show that there is a point where they would had some issues, “He held on to all the reeds and rushes, but it was of a little good,and he was forced to movements of the fish,and was in urgent danger to being dragged into the water.”

And, Hurston’s theme of writing is not direct, the plot is similar, a young woman is forced to marry an older widower. Hurston indicate Janie values in the novel: Their Eyes Are Watching God is joyless with her life, Hurston writes, “Ah ain’t got nothin’ tuh live for” (118). The change of the character growth represents how she has learned about life, including love, and sorrow. The author engage the reader attentions to overcoming fear can lead to harmony. Janie survival help understand that life is challenging , it is wonderful. Hurston narrates belief to motivate African American women to conquer and be strong. (49) The story finally tells that Janie found liberty and tranquility in her life. Her experience reflects on promoting women’s

There are two volumes of this book which the author called a narrative history of America. It comprises the information about the years from 1932 to 1972. And, unlike other typical (and boring) history books where the information is usually jumbled in decades, each of the 37 chapters of this book covers only one year. Here, I want to dwell upon The Part 1 (Prologue) and the years from 1932-1941.

Joseph’s Campbell’s The Hero With a Thousand Faces is a valuable novel for college students because it allows the reader to apply common elements in mythic adventures that easily connect and explain the journey of the protagonist. In Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God, offers an excellent example of The Hero’s Journey. The book follows Janie Mae Crawford on her adventure in finding herself. The adventure is described within three main steps that make up The Hero’s Journey; the departure, the initiation, and the return. Through these steps, we follow Janie as she leaves her known world and travels into the unknown world.

“The Wizard Oz” by L. Frank Baum thought to be a parable on populism. Indeed there are many secret messages that readers can connect to Populism such as the yellow brick, Dorothy’s silver shoes, and Dorothy herself. In every chapter at least one connection can be assembled to the lesson based on concept populism. “But The silver shoes are yours and you shall have them to wear“ (Baum 15) “The road to the city of Emeralds is paved with yellow brick” (Baum 18) The yellow brick road and Dorothy’s silver shoes can be represented as the gold standard and silver standard. During the Populist Era many people had different beliefs one which standard should everyone go by. “ Dorothy what bitterly at the passing of her hope to go home to Kansas again“

"Heartland" is told from a unknown male narrator who details life in a ‘new Oz.’ The story follows his career at a fast food restaurant and the death of a co-worker. The narrator opens the story by discussing Willina’s death. She was his co-worker at the Emerald Arches, the fast-food restaurant where the narrator is employed. The story then progresses into Willina’s story and by extension the ways in which Oz has changed since the time of Dorothy. In "Heartland", Karen Joy Fowler examines feelings of insecurity and being left-behind, through the money or the lack thereof for various characters.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Wicked: The Life and Time of the Wicked Witch of the West possesses feminist ideals represented through the characterization of female characters. Iconic characters such as Dorothy, Wicked Witch of the West (Elphaba), Wicked Witch of the East (Nessarose), and Good Witch of the South (Glinda) portray feminist characters that have developed and showed their strong personality, influencing women in today’s society. This leads to the question – To what extent is The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Wicked empowering women through the presentation of women?