Diversity in "The Wizard of Oz"

Diversity is the human qualities that are different from that of the social norm. Culturally, society tends to stereotype individuals that are perceived as being different. L. Frank Baum deploys diversity in the characters of the book "The Wizard of Oz". He uses his characters as metaphors to describe what was going on in the United States at the turn of the twentieth century.

Whether Baum deliberately wrote a satire when writing the book is undetermined, however, I think that it is clear when considering the number of connections. The Scarecrow represented the farmers, the Tin Woodman the factory workers, the Cowardly Lion was Democratic Presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan, the Wizard was Republican President Cleveland, the flying monkeys represented the Indians from the plains, Dorothy represented the common American, the silver shoes the silver standard, the yellow brick road the gold standard and so on. The diversity amongst these characters is very unique.

The farmer or Scarecrow is perceived as to have no brain, thus meaning that he is not smart. He displays a sense of inferiority and self doubt and is determined that he needs real brains to replace the common straw in his head. An article written in 1896 by Allen White accused Kansas farmers of ignorance and irrationality. Baum's character is a replica of this characterization. But since White was never perceived seriously, the Scarecrow emerges as a very capable individual. The Wizard did not give the Scarecrow anything that he did not already have. All the Wizard did was let the Scarecrow prosper in his own essence.

Next, Baum introduces the Tin Woodman. The Tin Woodman symbolized the factory worker. The harder and better he worked the more he became like a machine. He being stuck in the same position for more than a year represented the standstill of the industrialization after the depression of 1893. After standing still for such a long period the Tin Woodman is convinced that he is no longer capable of love. He has not been able to provide for his family and has a void in his heart that he thinks only a new heart can fill.