AN ESSAY ON THE WIZARD OF OZ.
 

What I’d like to do at this point is just compare and maybe analyze an area or two or three of the movie the Wizard of Oz and try to come up with some analogies between the events in the movie and the events that were taking place in the world at the time this movie was made. To point out instances of coincidence and interesting similarities.

Coming to a theater near you-1939. Pitting a make believe world of escapism against the real world issues: WW2, world leaders vying for power at any expense, life on the American home front still in shock over the previous years of the Great Depression. Paranoia and despair running rampant when it came to possible infiltration and communism in small towns.

To me it seems like this was a perfect time to make a film angelic and innocent as driven snow on the outside & filled with subliminal messages on the inside. So let’s follow the yellow brick road, greet some Munchkins, steal some ruby slippers, unveil a Wizard and maybe look at a film from a different angle other than the one it was filmed on.

Point 1

Is it just me or does the wicked witch of the west possibly stand for the capitalist input that was starting to take rise at the end of the ww2 in the USA? The east coast of the USA now being flattened under the house that Dorothy lived in...crushing the old ways ..what with the east coast representing industrial, old money, old politics and the seat of government throwing out everything they could to douse those free thinking hooligans-a possible ongoing fight between the U.S. Houses of Republican and Democratic.?
 
 

Like the wicked witch of the west throwing fire balls at the happy quartet on there way to OZ? Trying to stifle their power and free thinking optimism because it didn’t fit in with the rut routine of things.? The witch of the west representing those powers that were coming into being on the west coast of the USA, the border patrols along the California coast, the seat of several Japanese concentration camps for those Americans of Japanese descent who may be spies....and Hollywood..the main influence of that time on the way things would go or not go depending on who behind which studio pulled which strings to start the proverbial ball rolling. The wicked witch symbolizing fear of the new-and a desire for things to return to the way they were
 
 

Point 2

Which leads me to those trouble causing ruby slippers.....a sign of desire. Painted as red as the lust for them was deep. Shining and glittering like new gold. The epitome of power (in a pair of size 5's) the witch wanting nothing to do with miss Dorothy until she realizes that she is wearing the slippers. And to get to the one thing that she wants, the witch is willing to do everything in her power to destroy all that Dorothy is and has ever wanted to get them. A bit capitalistic? Hmm....

Point 3

But like the innocence that she represents Dorothy is lost, without a clue as to why the witch would ever want to harm her, and she gladly offers to give her the slippers. They burn the witch, who threatens Dorothy and her little dog too....but as in so many circles of large quantities of witnesses there is nothing that she can do to harm Dorothy while there in the land of the little people...even if the little people tend to represent smaller more harmless versions of Dorothy herself; they are a mass that threatens the very core of the evil witch so she bides her time like any evil reigning power in the past has learned to do...unfurling her evilness at a more appropriate and unexpected time. But we all know that the best storylines don’t come from taking that which is taken easily therefore on to that yellow brick road.....

Point 4

Dorothy heeds the advice of the good witch, the keeper and matron saint of the little people who don’t seem to know how to make a move on there own without the support of the good witch Glenda... and where every thing is a laugh a minute all shits and giggles. The little people symbolizing the helplessness of the good natured Midwesterners-just good old boys doing what comes naturally and letting the rest slip on by cos they are safe in the knowledge that something better is looking out for them : like Glenda does for Munchkins. Taking her advice, Dorothy is now on a journey, she thinks she’s the first Jack Kerouac on the open road to freedom, quoting ‘life’s a journey not a destination.... and forgetting the fact that not once in her life up until this time has she ever seen a witch or a Munchkin -treating every situation so far as though it were just another walk in the proverbial woods. Dorothy says ‘ I have a feeling were not in Kansas anymore Toto, .....but that doesn't seem to stop her from following wholeheartedly without a doubt the advice of everyone she meets along the way to the city of Oz. Which goes to prove my point that Dorothy is truly the greatest symbolism of the naiveté, innocence and gullibility that is often times mistaken for good natured, pure and potential.....she is our shining star of USA Prime Grade A malleability .
 
 

Point 5

On the yellow brick road, we find Dorothy with her ever present black shadow of a dog-maybe he's her conscience....in her arms close to her chest hiding her vulnerable parts....tiptoeing in circles the path of the yellow bricks. Gingerly stepping on them as if they are going to break and eventually, striding, gliding once she realizes that the security it offers her of never having changed confronts her.

I've always liked to think of the yellow brick road as symbolic of the Asian influence that was coming into power at this time of WW2. What with the Japanese in a struggle over advancing technology, pearl harbor, political sphere influence on the rise, being in time a force to reckon with. As well as China and its battle to redefine itself with a new image of red China, a powerful inner China not afraid of outside sources of power. And here you have the not so politically correct term ‘yellow’ which we all know at least in America during WW1 and 2 was the phrase used to depict Japanese and Chinese .

Dorothy on the yellow brick road, the ‘gold’ road, the road that would lead the USA into the realms of China, trying to gain the prosperity of the new union before the Russian forces had a chance to take it over from the Mongolian border of China. The yellow brick road being the uniting tie between the USA and the decades to come involving industry, commerce, trade, political and especially economic relationships with the larger Asian nations of China and Japan.
 
 

Point 6

The Scarecrow-

I've always looked at the Scarecrow as being the image of the ‘one that fell between the cracks’ just like he is always losing his stuffing so he is always being taken for granted because he never seems to speak up or speak out at the times that he has the thought or desire to because he tends to fear the outcome won't be in his favour. So instead of trying for it, he decides to be strung up and let others speak for him....like a straw man or.... a scarecrow. To have a voice and not be able to use it for fear of it not reverberating off the walls that we somehow tend to make for ourselves...that is what he seems to be to me. Joviality played up because if he wasn't so sure of his happy attitude then he may have to spend more time worrying on the fact that he ‘can while away the hour, conferring with the flowers, consulting with the rain....’ But! ‘He could laugh and be merry life would be a ding a derry if he only had a brain. How terrible to know what you want and then not be able to know how to go about getting it. And with that attitude in mind, the Scarecrow has found it easier to let himself hang so to speak, to be a spectacle in symbolism to be the spectacle; the thing that no one else wants to admit to being- brainless. Not necessarily brainless though, just not capable of using his brain to its full extent.

If the Scarecrow were to be compared with any one group of people at the time this storyline was used it would have to be those that were of the American working lower class that weren't always educated but that didn’t necessarily mean they were not opinionated. Lack of faith in their ideas kept them quieter than they should have been. Where the knowledge of knowing how to get through life are just as important as the knowing how not to get there .

He's kind, generous, understanding, ends up being Dorothy's best friend and confidant and when in a pinch Hess the first one that comes up with the know how of how to get out of the situation-because more than learning it from a book-the Scarecrow has lived it. Funny then I think that the class of people that the Scarecrow was representing weren't given more credit for the role they played in American society as being the true backbone of the society. The workers, the labourers, the blue collar men and women-those who had the hands on experience of life and living-who seem to be just looking for not just something bigger just something more stable.

Point 7

The Tinman-hollow-rusted solid after years of being left out in the rain. Cold to the new ways of things because he has no heart. Wanting to fit in with the crowd but not sure how to do it and thinks his problems will be solved with a small beating organ. Confusing a beating heart with a compassionate life. Where he will be measured not by how much he loves but by how much he is loved by others. To learn this takes time and the tinman, after all his years of time still only wants what he is familiar with it seems because he isn’t sure how to face the new without clinging to the past.

He's the soldier in the picture. True to the end because he's been taught to be that way. He was ‘made’ by the tinsmith to stand guard and take orders. But he is loyal and that makes him worthy to have in the fight for freedom. Whether that be freedom from oppression or just your average every day wicked witch. Like the soldier, the Tinman has the conflict of knowing what is right in his heart ‘if he had one’ and doing what is right because he was told to ‘feel’ it. Based on his actions and their outcomes. The Tinman will represent the loyalty and persistence needed in all battles.

Towards the end of the film, it is the quick thinking of the Tinman his ability to uphold no matter what the cost that saves the day. The point being to keep Dorothy, the epitome of better things to come...safe as possible.

Point 8

The Cowardly Lion- wearing his mask of ferocity, a dual persona. One for the public and the creatures of the woods and then one for the times that he sits alone afraid of his own shadow.

If the USA in political matters were to have to face it would be that of the Wizard of Oz himself on one side unreachable and out of sight and the Cowardly Lion on the other huffing and puffing and putting on a good show until the lights go out.. One hiding behind his curtain and the other with his tail between his legs. He means well but tends to stand back when the chips are down unless a patriotic urge escapes from his inner recesses like some dank belch. And then hear him roar! Like the almighty king of the jungle! A lot of hot air!......and what to show on the other side of it?

Maybe its possible that the Cowardly Lion is symbolic of what the U.S. feared it might become if it were to let certain forces, certain un forces have control over particular issues. The Lion standing as an image of past presidents and their attempts to unify and solidify. And those attempts failing it seems before they even got off the ground. Or maybe he represents the ‘newness’ of the entire process that was going on at the time: stockpiling ideas of neutrality, organizing offices to gain unification, powers collected for political and economic gain...the newness being all the strength and passion just not the surety of success in the end.
 
 

Point 9

Here we have the quartet, laughing, dancing frolicking in the dark woods-‘the unknown’ being brave little soldiers in the wilds of another land...be it in the woods or Germany, or the beaches of France....young at heart, young in age and embodying courage and stupidity all at the same time. On their way to the city of oz! To find the Wizard, the great and powerful Wizard of Oz: whom no one has ever seen. They just take his power for granted and hope for the best and that all will be taken care of in time (ahh Utopia)

But along the way, who happens to notice the mild and meek Dorothy and her entourage of gathered supporters? Who else but the Wicked Witch of the West. She looks deeply into her crystal ball and casts a spell over the group that have almost reached their final destination. With the city in sight and their spirits high, the leap and bound thru the air filled with visions and dreams that will soon be crashed to the ground when they start getting sleepy. Drowsiness sets in and everyone must rest, thanks to the wicked witch and her potion of poppies that the group has been running thru. Coating their skin, their lungs, their vision. Causing them to only want to sleep-their mission failing and the witch cackling with delight.

As Dorothy lies sleeping and the tinman cries himself into a rusted state, the Scarecrow tries to keep everything together-once again the backbone of the operation. with a little help from Glenda, her magic wand and some snow flakes the group is up and at 'em once again back on the road to Oz! (Does it seem logical that there are only so many times that Dorothy can rely on someone else to do her work for her before she has to see matters for what they are)? Mmmm maybe not in this story!
 
 

Point 10

To Oz!

If ever oh ever a Wiz there was the Wizard of Oz is one because -because because because because...because of the wonderful things he does!

Here you have tribute to the almighty and powerful Wizard of Oz, the O. of Z. Like the U. of S., absent minded, feeble, old man running the show. Not exactly sure of the extent of his powers, only working with what they (the people) give him. And they seem to be giving a lot of praise in return for a lot of nothing! If you ask me.

To follow blindly a leader that refuses to be seen by the masses. To make him/herself noticed and appreciative for the support the masses bring them -it only makes me doubt the leader in power and his belief in his own inferiority.

Is the Wizard hiding behind his ‘green’ city like the president hides behind his ‘green’ $$$ ?

Is the Wizard made larger than life by his surround sound system like the president is by media technology and sound bytes?

Is the Wizard protected from John Q. Munchkin like the President is protected from reproach from John Q. Public through a series of curtains and smoke haze?

Is the Wizard the supreme being based on the fact that there are no others like him in the land of Oz? The great white warrior tending to his flocks of sheep?! Sheep that don’t even know who the Wizard really is let alone what it is that he's supposed to do and represent!
 
 

Point 11

Now for some reason that I haven't figured out yet... in the middle of the struggle and the chaos to get miss Dorothy back to Kansas as quickly as possible, she stops off along the way for a day of beauty parlor! Yes they all do! Restuffing, buffing, curling and painting. I wonder if Mussolini or Hitler felt the same way. ‘Gee I could sure use a manicure Benito old buddy’ ‘what do you say you and me head over to Dachen or maybe that quaint little place Auschwitz and rustle us up a manicure and maybe a facial what do you say’?

Ahuh......

All shiny and bright-maybe now their worries not so big and scary what with a pedicure and shampoo on their side; they go to see the wizard.

In the chamber, trembling, quivering with fear of the Almighty One, they present their case only to be countered with an attack of brutal and denigrating phrases. (This always happens when one wants to appear tougher than they are) referring to the tinman as less than a man based on the fact that he's composition is different from his own.
 
 

To say to the Scarecrow : you clinking clanking collection of caliginous CRAP would continue the alliterative phrase but then again using the word ‘junk’ at the end of this description seems to have made it all that more non offensive for those timid ears that might have been listening too closely.

And as for the Cowardly Lion....he’s gone before the wizard has a chance to humiliate him. But Dorothy. Dorothy Dorothy Dorothy. She sticks it out and waits for the wizard to proclaim his bargain. The deal being that he will grant her wish if she brings back the broomstick of the wicked witch of the west. Inferring as he says this that he doesn't care how they have to get it as long as they get it! (Testing their devotion? Their commitment? Their brave stupidity maybe)?
 
 
 

Back to the deep dark woods.... with all the warning signs to ‘beware’ ‘don not enter’ ‘I’d turn back if I was you’...which the Lion is more than happy to oblige. But they trudge on, shiny happy people with a new mission and goal in life.. Now at this point whether they see this mission as their own for a return ticket to Kansas or just another way to please a crotchety out of sync leader is beyond me. Not heeding warning they go on and eventually end up face to face or at least face to wing with the wicked witch's flying carrion brigade who then takes Dorothy and Toto back the witch's castle.
 

There, held captive, threatened, with the hourglass ticking, Dorothy is left with her thoughts and regrets while (drum roll please)....

Down below on the outside of the castle wall, with the help of the escaped Toto, the trio is planning an infiltration to save the day, to save the girl to uphold justice to boldly go where no Tinman, Scarecrow or Cowardly Lion has ever gone before: the witch's inner sanctum (into the belly of the proverbial beast)

As they don their new duds, now in disguise as the Witche’s armed guards (which is it just me or do these guards look very similar to the Cossack uniforms of the US of A’s greatest long time enemy?) The trio sneaks into the castle and up the staircase (guided by the ever faithful toto) , to where Dorothy is being held.

With the end of the story in sight here, I’d like to stop a moment and say that I don’t think in the original story line or the Hollywood make over that Toto was given the credit he deserved. Acting as both confidant and conscience to the group -and yet never saying a word ( I know he's a dog) but the point of the matter is that Toto didn’t even get his name on the list of credits! How's that for not giving proper credit where it’s due?? I mean come on, if it hadn't have been for Toto would the trio of misfits ever have found Dorothy on their own? Another case of not supporting the underdog ( no pun intended) I wonder how many ‘Totos’ are out there that feel the same way....

Ok, freed from her concentration cell, saved by the Allies so to speak and is seen rushing down the stairs and far far away from the guards and the witch herself! Cornered! Surrounded by guards ! No end to the nightmare----the tornado inflicted nightmare! The Witch getting to Dorothy's soft vulnerability by attacking her friends : the scarecrow. Setting him on fire!

Reacting on instinct, Dorothy throws a pail of water on the Scarecrow and ends up dowsing the Witch in water. Which lo and behold happens to be the only element-the most natural all abundant of elements-that can destroy her evilness.
 
 

Point 12

Melting! Melting Melting!!!!......was this some type of precursor to the effects that napalm would have on the future enemies of the nation?

With her parting words, the witch relates the rhetorical question of how could one so sweet be so cruel? And we see her fading away through the hole somewhere on center stage, screaming the entire way.

With looks of disbelief in their faces, the guards turn to Dorothy and say ‘you killed her’. To this Dorothy apologizes. Yes! She apologizes for having to be the one that ended the witch's power ‘but her friend was on fire’.....thinking only on the fact that she needs the broomstick as requested by the great OZ, she is further shocked when the guards Hail her, Giving a round of hip hip hooray and pledge their support to Dorothy! (If it were only so easy to get a following these days)....

Wanting to do anything they can to please Dorothy and fulfil her modest request, the now leaderless group gives her the broomstick and wishes her well. Bon Voyage! And they are left to pick up the pieces of wreckage now that they have to rebuild from scratch the lives that they once thought were provided for by a false leader.
 
 

Point 13

Back in the Emerald City....on their way to the great Oz’s personal chambers to negotiate-(some of the strongest battles being those which are left over after the fires die down) and if the wizard was clueless before he met Dorothy and her band then he was without a doubt speechless and in denial of having to come up with an answer to their requests. I get the feeling that there wasn't much faith put into the possibility of their return. The difference between probably and possibility playing out.

But being the generous all knowing wizard, playing father to them all he grants them their wishes but not before he is discovered by our friend Toto. Pulling back the curtain and revealing the Wizard's hiding place.

With all the facades set aside, with all the money on the table, with nowhere left to hide the Wizard realizes that it’s in his best interest to go ahead bite the bullet and drop the sinister dictator routine and some how assuage these people and cajole them by giving into what he feels are their trivial requests. (Anything to please them and get them out of there as soon as possible eh?)

Why is it that old men are synonymous with wisdom? Because this Wizard seems to be loaded with insight on the way the world works and yet he's been stuck in OZ for so long he can’t remember what year it was!

After granting and giving over to the trio of friends that which they already possessed ( they just didn’t seem to know it until it was pointed out for them), the Wizard turns to Dorothy and tells her that he'll have to take her home himself -in his hot air balloon.

Like all good trips though, this one started off badly with Dorothy missing her ride as the Wizard floats off into the sky, far away from his duties, his promises and his empire. Without her fearless leader to protect her, she is feeling less than cheery when who should appear?? Who else but Glenda that good witch of the North who informs Dorothy that she always had the ability to return home-she just had to want it badly enough that she was willing to focus on that thought and no other.

There's no place like home, there's no place like home......closing her eyes, making it all disappear, Dorothy clicks her heels together and wham! She is transported back to Kansas and the tornado aftermath. Laying in her bed, surrounded by familiar faces -repeating the mantra ‘there's no place like, there's no place like home-she goes on to relate her horrid ordeal and her slim escape and bountiful return to that which she was comfortable and familiar with : her reality. And in the eyes of the Hollywood theaters and the faces of the Americans on the home front who may have questioned and doubted their own country's role in the epic of world power and the path it was treading lightly - we can still here: There's no place like home Aunty Em, there's no place like home".
     

There is a type of film, a film experience that transcends everything ever been taught to believe- the type of film that will endure for decades. It’s the kind of story told and retold to children and their children. The Wizard of Oz is one of those films-already over 60 years lasting and 3 generations brought up watching it.

It has come to represent the perfect Hollywood image of innocence, given out in handfuls to wide eyed children-like candy to fill their mouths -and maybe subconsciously their belief system. Part of the same system that has them believing in the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.

Whatever the reason for it’s endurance, the sheer fact that it has endured proves that the concept of make believe and that innate need for Utopia still exists. Coming along at a time in history where everything was so chaotic, I can see where this movie would have been on one hand a welcome relief from the reality imposed on people. But I still find it more than just a little bit interesting that coincidence played out the way it did when this film was created-at a time when international matters were on everyone's mind and along comes a naive tale of patriotic duty...
 

The End

© Jennefer O-Greenlaw