Political Symbolism in the The Wizard of Oz Book & Movie

Lions and Tigers and Political Symbols - Oh My!

Nearly everyone has heard or seen the story of Dorothy and The Wizard of Oz. Over the years, The Wizard of Oz has become a classic movie among adults and children, alike. If you haven't seen the movie or read the book, I'm sure you've at least hear the phrase, "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore" or heard of Dorothy's dog, Toto.

The story is of a young girl who gets picked up from her farm in Kansas and carried off to another land unlike any she's ever seen before. In Munchkin Land, after her house has fallen on, and killed, the Wicked Witch, the Munchkins welcome her to their land, and then the Glinda, the nice witch, explains to her that she must follow the yellow brick road to talk to the Wizard of Oz about getting home. Along the way, she meets new friends who all wish to ask something of the great wizard, themselves. However, once they've finally gotten to the wizard in Emerald City, they find that he is merely a fraud, and they all had what they were searching for within themselves.

Whatever it is you've heard or seen from this classic movie or book, many people don't know that The Wizard of Oz is suspected to have referenced several political issues of the late 1800's. Speculation of the parallels between the book and history in the United States began with a history teacher in the 1960's. Henry Littlefield used the film as part of his lecture, and he had his students help him pull out the parallels between the movie and real life. In 1964, these parallels were published in American Quarterly, sparking years of debate.

Whether or not any of the speculations are true, well, no one knows for sure, but here are some of the suggested symbols in The Wizard of Oz.

The Symbolism:

Dorothy: Dorothy is thought to represent the American people or values. She proves herself to be determined, resourceful, and loyal. Another speculation is that she represents Theodore Roosevelt, the United States president. Some people believe this theory more than the other because of the similarities in the names. (Think: Dor-o-thy and The-o-dore).