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