“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”

Presented by

Yvette Gopar & Patty Corral

PHYCHOLOGY AND INTERPRETATION OF

The psychology of interpreted characters within “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” and how the story has helped them in dealing with the hardships during the time of the depression.

THESIS

• The scientific study of the human mind and it’s function especially those affecting behavior in a given context.

• The mental characteristics or attitude of a person or group

• The action of explaining the meaning of something

• An explanation or a way of explaining

Psychology Interpretations

DEFINITIONS

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was interpreted to be an allegory of the campaign of William Jennings Bryan

“The book both reflected and helped create a new cultural consciousness– a new way of seeing and being in harmony with the new industrial order.” Laura Barret (8)

BRYAN AND OZ

•Dorothy : everyman and woman, a simple, Populist character from the heartland of American Populism•Scarecrow: farmer & agriculture worker•Tin Woodman: industrial worker•Cowardly Lion : William. Jenning Bryan• Wicked Witches: powerful leaders that oppress and enslave the people• Wizard: Manipulating politician

INTERPRETATION

CAUSES OF THE DEPRESSION

• Stock Market Crashed• Banks failed• Reduced Purchases• Less Trade between

United States and Foreign Countries• Drought

Wall Street

ECONOMIC CRASH

FAILED BANKS

INDUSTRIAL WORKERS

DUST BOWL

EFFECTS OF THE

DEPRESSION

• Unemployment

• Homelessness

• Poverty

HOMELESS FAMILY ON THE ROAD

• Depression• Despair • Suicide• Sadness• Feared of

Violence• Low Self-

Esteem

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

SOUP KITCHEN

• The book of Oz helped the people accept the hardship of the change, caused by the depression.

CONCLUSION

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/great-depression

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114181633

APPENDIX

Http://history1900s.about.com/library/photos/blygd22.htm

http://history1900s.about.com/od/photographs/tp/greatdepressionpictures.htmhttp://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/great-depression

http://search.comcast.net/?cat=images&con=preview&q=the+depression+&offset=20

WORK CITED

Bussey, Jennifer. “Critical Essay on ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Novels for Students 13

(2002): Web. 3 July 2013.

Miller, John J. “Down the Yellow Brick Road of Overinterpretation.” Wall Street Journal

247 (2006): 110 Web. 22 July 2013.

Geer, John G., Thomas R. Rochon. “William Jennings Bryan on the Yellow Brick Road.”

Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism: Journal of American Culture 16.4 (1993): 59-64

Web. 24 June 2013.

http://americanhistory.about.com/od/greatdepression/tp/greatdepression.htm

http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/money_08.htmlhttp://

www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/bryan/aa_bryan_causes_3.htmlC:\Users\Owner\Desktop\THE

WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ A Monetary Reformer’s Brief Symbol Glossary.mht