Populism and the Populism and the Wizard of OzWizard of OzL. Frank Baum’s Novel Used as L. Frank Baum’s Novel Used as Political Allegory for the Populist and Political Allegory for the Populist and Silver MovementSilver Movement
Please Note…Please Note… Most historians do not subscribe to Baum’s Most historians do not subscribe to Baum’s
intent of intent of The Wonderful Wizard of OzThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz as a as a political allegory.political allegory.
Henry Littlefield, a high school teacher, Henry Littlefield, a high school teacher, published the use of the book as a political published the use of the book as a political allegory in 1964.allegory in 1964.
The use of the The use of the The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of Oz as a political as a political allegory is solely for the purpose as an allegory is solely for the purpose as an educational tool for understanding of Populism educational tool for understanding of Populism and the late Gilded Age politics.and the late Gilded Age politics.
DorothyDorothy The embodiment of The embodiment of
the American peoplethe American people Naive, needs Naive, needs
guidance and guidance and directiondirection
TotoToto May represent the May represent the
Teetotalers or Teetotalers or Prohibitionists who Prohibitionists who supported the supported the Populist movementPopulist movement
The ScarecrowThe Scarecrow Represents the farmersRepresents the farmers The absence of a brain The absence of a brain
symbolizes farmers have symbolizes farmers have run out of ideas run out of ideas regarding the poor regarding the poor agricultural conditionsagricultural conditions
Ironic how the Ironic how the Scarecrow tends to Scarecrow tends to develop clever plansdevelop clever plans
The Tin ManThe Tin Man Represents the Represents the
industrial workers.industrial workers. Dehumanized by Dehumanized by
labor hence no heartlabor hence no heart Rusting due to Rusting due to
factories shutting factories shutting down from down from depressionsdepressions
The Cowardly LionThe Cowardly Lion Represents William Represents William
Jennings BryanJennings Bryan All roar, but no biteAll roar, but no bite
KansasKansas The agricultural WestThe agricultural West Black & white and Black & white and
desolate landscape desolate landscape show poor conditions show poor conditions and gloomand gloom
The TwisterThe Twister The Populist The Populist
movement or political movement or political upheavalupheaval
Sweeping people Sweeping people from the B&W from the B&W Kansas to the Kansas to the colorful Oz and colorful Oz and Emerald CityEmerald City
The Wicked Witch of the The Wicked Witch of the EastEast
Represents the Represents the industrialists and industrialists and bankers of the Eastbankers of the East
Harasses and Harasses and enslaves the enslaves the MunchkinsMunchkins
The MunchkinsThe Munchkins The common The common
people/laborers of people/laborers of the East harassed by the East harassed by the Wicked Witch of the Wicked Witch of the East and West the East and West (corporations)(corporations)
Lullaby League and Lullaby League and Lollipop Guild Lollipop Guild represent reforms represent reforms and unionsand unions
The Wicked Witch of the The Wicked Witch of the WestWest
Represents the Represents the railroad and oil railroad and oil companies in the companies in the WestWest
Enslaved the Winged Enslaved the Winged Monkeys and the Monkeys and the WinkiesWinkies
The Winged MonkeysThe Winged Monkeys Represent Natives in Represent Natives in
the frontier and West the frontier and West as threats and who as threats and who have become have become subjugated by the subjugated by the corporations and corporations and governmentgovernment
The WinkiesThe Winkies Could represent the Could represent the
Pinkertons and Pinkertons and federal troopsfederal troops
Help enforce the Help enforce the policies and actions policies and actions of the corporationsof the corporations
The Good Witch of the The Good Witch of the NorthNorth
Represents the Old Represents the Old Northwest/MidwestNorthwest/Midwest
Populists hoped for Populists hoped for their support in their their support in their causescauses
The Good Witch of the The Good Witch of the SouthSouth
Represents the Represents the Southeast region and Southeast region and its predominant its predominant agricultural sectoragricultural sector
Populists saw the Populists saw the region as a region as a sympathizer and sympathizer and support blocsupport bloc
Silver (Ruby) SlippersSilver (Ruby) Slippers Represent the silver Represent the silver
movementmovement
The Yellow Brick RoadThe Yellow Brick Road Represents the gold Represents the gold
standardstandard Silver slippers and Silver slippers and
yellow brick road are yellow brick road are the way to new the way to new success and success and prosperityprosperity
Oz = oz. as in ounce Oz = oz. as in ounce for gold for gold measurementmeasurement
Emerald CityEmerald City Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C. The place of hope The place of hope
and empty promisesand empty promises Green can also Green can also
symbolize symbolize greenbacksgreenbacks
The WizardThe Wizard Represents the Represents the
President and/or President and/or politicianspoliticians
““The Man Behind the The Man Behind the Curtain” symbolizing Curtain” symbolizing the changing face of the changing face of politicianspoliticians
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