The Wizard of Oz as Political Allegory

Background: The depression of the 1890s was the worst in U.S. history up to that time. Farm prices sunk to new lows. Unemployment caused havoc, desperation and union militancy among the urban working class.

The Coinage of Silver The allegory starts with the name of Oz – Oz is the abbreviation for ounce which is the standard measure for gold & silver.

The characters and who they represent

DOROTHY EVERYMAN LEVEL-HEADED, HUMAN, GOOD THINKS OF OTHERS

TOTO – MORE THAN A DOG “TEETOTALER” – WAS A SLANG TERM FOR A PRUDE. TOTO IS A PLAY ON THE TERM – FOR THE WESTERNERS WHO CHOSE NOT TO DRINK.

FARM – described as dreary DEADLY ENVIRONMENT IMPERSONAL NATURE BLEAK, LONELY, ISOLATED

TORNADO POPULISM  ROARING IN FROM WEST

MUNCHKINS SLAVERY- HELD CAPTIVE BY THE WICKED WITCH OF THE EAST GENERAL PUBLIC: CHILDLIKE, NAÏVE REPRESENTS THE OPPRESSED PEOPLE

Wicked Witch of the East REPRESENTS THE BANKERS AND CAPITALISTS (FACTORY OWNERS) WHO OPPRESS THE “LITTLE PEOPLE”

In the book, Dorothy’s shoes are silver. FARMERS DEMAND GOVERNMENT COIN SILVER MONEY TO INFLATE CURRENCY & RAISE FARM PRICES

Follow the Yellow Brick Road In the book, Dorothy travels in her ideal silver shoes across the world covered by the yellow-brick (gold-dominated) world.

SCARECROW – NO BRAIN FARMERS IGNORANT IRRATIONAL CONFUSED

TIN WOODSMAN–NO HEART LABOR BECOMING MACHINES LOST MOST HUMAN SENTIMENT: LOVE RUSTED SOLID –CLOSING OF FACTORIES IN THE 1893 DEPRESSION

COWARDLY LION WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN “MORE BARK THAN BITE”

EMERALD CITY WASHINGTON, DC GREEN IN COLOR – SHOWS HOW GOVERNMENT IS CONTROLLED BY THE RICH

WIZARD OF OZ PRESIDENT McKINLEY SHIFTS APPEARANCE TO FIT AUDIENCE ALL STYLE – NO SUBSTANCE REPRESENTS RICH PEOPLE

WICKED WITCH OF WEST RAILROAD BARONS BAD FORCES OF NATURE

WINGED MONKEYS INDIANS GOOD OR BAD DEPENDS UPON WHOSE INFLUENCE

The End of the Book – The Populist Dream that Never Happened SCARECROW RULES OZ AND THE WOODSMAN RULES THE EAST REPRESENTS THE DREAM THAT NEVER HAPPENED-THAT FACTORY WORKERS AND FARMERS COULD UNITE AND TAKE POWER IN THE GOVERNMENT

END OF THE DREAM LION RETREATS TO FOREST – BRYAN LEFT POLITICS DOROTHY’S SILVER SHOES FALL OFF – THE END OF SILVER COINAGE ISSUE