Wizard Of Oz Symbolism

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.

As a child, Jeannette Walls moves around constantly with her family. The Walls family would move to different desert towns and settle as long as Mr. Walls can hold a job. When sober, Mr. Walls represents a charismatic father who loves his children and teaches them important life skills. He encourages imagination inside of the Walls kids and often captures their dream and creativity. Together, the family had planned to build a glass castle that contains all of the family’s hope and inspiration. However, at the same time, Mr. Walls is the biggest problem in the family. Mr. Walls is a heavy alcoholic that drinks all of the family’s money away. When desperate, Mr. Walls would even steal money from the family. The drunk Dad would curse at Mom and

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.

In the novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” the colors are used to bring meaning to the various aspects of the story. Initially when Dorothy is in Kansas at her Aunt and Uncles farm everything is presented in muted colors, like gray and dreary. This coloring also serves as a symbol for the life that Dorothy lived in Kansas. It was a boring life, simple and there wasn’t much to smile about.

The Coen brothers write about the Odyssey in their film, O Brother, Where Art Thou?. O Brother, Where Art Thou? mimics the Odyssey in a surreal sense. The writing from the Coen brothers depicts many parallels between the two stories, almost as if O Brother, Where Art Thou? parodies the Odyssey. The Coen brothers accurately portray the Odyssey and Odysseus’ struggles. The Coen brothers take careful thought into remastering Homer’s writings. The movie, though somewhat of a parody, still crafts the book into a modern film.

Racial Prejudice in WICKED: How is the theme of racial prejudice explored in Act One of the musical WICKED?

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.

“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“

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

L. Frank Baum uses three main symbols that create an allegory and represents the political circumstances during the late 19th century. Baum did not intentionally do this, but as you read the novel you will see the connections throughout. During the final years of the 1800s, industrial cities, with all the problems brought on by rapid population growth and lack of infrastructure to support the growth, occupied a special place in U.S. history. For all the problems, the cities promoted a special bond between people and laid the foundation for the multiethnic, multicultural society that we cherish today. During the time of the Industrial Revolution many things affected the farmers, factory workers, and William Jennings Bryan. Three symbols stand out and create an allegory. The Scarecrow, The Lion, and the Tin Woodman represents three symbols that intertwine together to represent the political era during the 19th century.

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.

“Always be a good girl, and I will look down from heaven and watch over you.” (Page 1) The Disney Cinderella was released on February 15th, 1950 but the tale told by The Grimm Brothers is a different twist on the Disney classic movie; instead of a fairy godmother and sweet, little mice running around, The Grimm Brothers wrote about a tree growing on Cinderellas mothers’ grave and with the help of tiny birds, every wish Cinderella makes comes true. The violent version of Cinderella by the Grimm Brother explains the struggle she faced trying to get away from her stepsisters but also keeping her humble and kind side looking for true love.

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?

As the story of The Wizard of Oz plays out the character Dorothy goes through significant change, she is a dynamic character. Her heart turns from wanting to grateful as she matures into a young lady, which is important to this plot, because her journey of growing up impacts the entirety of the story and it impacts all of the characters she encounters along the way.

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?