The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Lyman Frank Baum explores many themes, specially of self-contradiction, in The Wizard of Oz. The three characters, Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion all lack self confidence. The Scarecrow gets them out of trouble using his wits, the Tin Wood­man cries when he hurts even the tiniest creature and the Cowardly Lion fights bravely before facing the Wizard. These characters portray the complex human being. As humans our character and consciousness can be divided into three basic sections it seems: Intelligence [mind and the brain], Love [our heart] and Courage [how strong your will is]. With a deep understanding of these three we can do whatever we want. By the end of novel, the characters reach self fulfillment. To assure them of their achievement the Wizard places an amalgamation of bran, pins, and needles in the Scarecrow's head to inspire intellect; gives a silk heart to the Tin Woodman to inspire love; and a drink to the Cowardly Lion to inspire bravery. Lyman Frank Baum believes in our natural characteristic, and although under appreciated, at time when in need they take care of us without our fully conscious decision. 

One grown-up feature in Wizard of Oz is Lyman Frank Baum’s subtle political satire. Almost everyone in Oz is afraid of someone believed to be more powerful than they are, and the objects of fear are in turn afraid of the fearful. Even when their inadequate rulers are removed, the people of Oz quickly look for new ones. When the Wizard, for instance, escapes from the Emerald City, the town folks install the Scarecrow, reasoning that his Wizard-given brain will make him a wise leader, “For there is not another city in all the world that is ruled by a stuffed man.” 

The religious satire, unlike the political, is less direct. Here the Wizard is telling Dorothy how he came to Oz from Nebraska in a hot air balloon. He confesses that he “found himself in the midst of a strange people, who, seeing me come from the clouds, thought I was a great Wizard. Of course, I let them think so, because they were afraid of me, and promised to do anything I wished them to.” There’s that Oz fear again, only here it serves more of a religious end rather than a political one.

Oz has a timeless message - the challenge of valuing oneself during hardship. This has not lessened during the prior 100 years, hence why this story continues to resonate and connect with contemporary humans.