The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of OzPopulism TheoryPopulism Theory

By Luke OstranderBy Luke Ostrander

Populism: A political philosophy Populism: A political philosophy supporting the rights and power of the supporting the rights and power of the people in their struggle against the people in their struggle against the privileged elite. privileged elite.

Background:Background:

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

L. Frank Baum, author of L. Frank Baum, author of

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz The Wonderful Wizard of Oz , written in , written in 1900, was a supporter of the Populist 1900, was a supporter of the Populist and supported presidential candidate and supported presidential candidate

William Jennings BryanWilliam Jennings Bryan

The 1896 election, between Republican The 1896 election, between Republican William McKinley and Populist - William McKinley and Populist - Democrat William Jennings Bryan, Democrat William Jennings Bryan, Congressman from Nebraska, revolved Congressman from Nebraska, revolved around the issue of gold vs. silver. around the issue of gold vs. silver.

Populists saw silver as the answer to Populists saw silver as the answer to America’s problems, offering free and America’s problems, offering free and unlimited coinage of silver. The unlimited coinage of silver. The republican party disagreed and wanted to republican party disagreed and wanted to remain with the gold standard.remain with the gold standard.

The Land of Oz

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was written as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was written as an allegory to the situation that was an allegory to the situation that was happening in the Midwest. Every main happening in the Midwest. Every main character can be traced to either a character can be traced to either a particular person or group of people. particular person or group of people. Even the word “Oz” is used to represent Even the word “Oz” is used to represent the measurement of gold. the measurement of gold.

Dorothy:Dorothy:

Represents everyman. She is an innocent Midwest girl who is able to see what is really going on in Oz.

Munchkins:Munchkins:

Represent the Represent the common common people, people, controlled by controlled by the Wicked the Wicked Witch of the Witch of the East (who East (who represented represented the Eastern the Eastern Industrialists Industrialists and Bankers.and Bankers.

Scarecrow:Scarecrow:

Represents the Represents the wise but naïve wise but naïve western western farmer, taken farmer, taken advantage of advantage of by the by the industrialists industrialists and bankers. and bankers.

TinmanTinman::

Represents the Represents the dehumanized industrial dehumanized industrial worker. He is turned worker. He is turned into a machine back into a machine back the industrialists the industrialists because of his hard because of his hard work ethic and not work ethic and not having another craft to having another craft to succeed in. He succeed in. He eventually becomes eventually becomes unable to love.unable to love.

Cowardly Cowardly Lion:Lion:Represents Represents

William William Jennings Jennings Bryan, having Bryan, having a loud roar a loud roar but was but was unable to unable to back it up back it up (bite). (bite).

Wicked Witch of the Wicked Witch of the West:West:

Represents the Represents the Western Western industrial industrial influence and is influence and is ultimately ultimately destroyed by destroyed by water water (representing (representing pure nature, a pure nature, a removal of removal of machines).machines).

"Your Silver Shoes will carry you over the "Your Silver Shoes will carry you over the desert.....If you had known their power desert.....If you had known their power you could have gone back to your Aunt you could have gone back to your Aunt Em the very first day you came to this Em the very first day you came to this country.". Glinda explains, "All you have country.". Glinda explains, "All you have to do is knock the heels together three to do is knock the heels together three times and command the shoes to carry times and command the shoes to carry you wherever you wish to go." (p.257). you wherever you wish to go." (p.257).

"The Silver Shoes had fallen off in her flight "The Silver Shoes had fallen off in her flight through the air, and were lost forever in through the air, and were lost forever in the desert" (p.259).the desert" (p.259).

The drive for the gold standard to be The drive for the gold standard to be replaced with silver was lost when Bryan replaced with silver was lost when Bryan lost the election and the Populist party lost the election and the Populist party lost its motivation or drive.lost its motivation or drive.

Although the silver had been lost, the Although the silver had been lost, the important message is a return to the important message is a return to the Midwest farmer/family. It is where true Midwest farmer/family. It is where true happiness remains. Back in Oz, the happiness remains. Back in Oz, the Scarecrow now runs the Emerald City, Scarecrow now runs the Emerald City, the Tinman rules in the west, and the the Tinman rules in the west, and the Lion rules over smaller animals in the Lion rules over smaller animals in the forest. Power has been returned to the forest. Power has been returned to the people.people.

Sources Used:Sources Used:

http://www.wccusd.k12.ca.us/elcerrito/history/oz.http://www.wccusd.k12.ca.us/elcerrito/history/oz.htmhtm

http://www.amphigory.com/oz.htmhttp://www.amphigory.com/oz.htm

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~rgs/wizoz10.htmlhttp://www.cs.cmu.edu/~rgs/wizoz10.html

http://www.halcyon.com/piglet/Populism.htmhttp://www.halcyon.com/piglet/Populism.htm

http://images.google.com/images?http://images.google.com/images?q=Wizard+of+Oz&hl=enq=Wizard+of+Oz&hl=en