Archetypes In The Wizard Of Oz

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The classic fantasy The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a story written by L. Frank Baum, who suffered from a heart condition. Since he was unable to do many things as a teen he resulted in writing, allowing him to escape the real world and live through his fantasies. Starting in Kansas and moving into the Land of Oz it is the reoccurring patterns of symbolic and situational archetypes that bring the story to life. Although originally written as a piece of children's literature, it is a story that people of all ages love. “If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities” says Maya Angelou a poet, author and playwright. Literature has the ability to take readers to another place better than the real world. Expressive …show more content…

In time, Dorothy’s dull life in Kansas gets interrupted as a cyclone hits her home. This unexpected whirlpool of wind caused Aunt Em to seek shelter but Dorothy gets thrown off course as Toto runs off and they end up stuck in the house. As stated by H. Blavatsky another author “least possible evil motive” representing that the cyclone although initially bad was not added in for evil intentions but to add some adventure. Dorothy describes the cyclone to be “…very dark, and the wind howled horribly … being rocked gently, like a baby in a cradle” (Baum, 5) representing it had been initially scary but then calmed down. Baum shows that although nature can be destructive it can have a bright side. As a result, Dorothy ends up in the colourful, magical Land of Oz, a place she always dreamed of. Readers can relate as often bad things happen in life but ultimately better things could arise from it. Dorothy meets new friends she would have never met if it was not for the cyclone such as the munchkins, good witch, scarecrow, tin woodman and the lion. In addition, the red poppy field gets in the way of Dorothy and her friends path just as they’re about to reach the emerald city. The poppies are described as “great clusters of scarlet poppies, which were so brilliant in colour they almost dazzled Dorothy’s eyes” (Baum 50) representing the hypnosis effect they had on Dorothy. …show more content…

At the start of her journey Dorothy meets the scarecrow and helps him down allowing him to “feel like a new man” (Baum 20). She meets the tin woodman to whom she provided “great comfort” (Baum 29) when she put oil on his joints. In contrast meeting the lion did not go as smoothly when she meets the lion, Dorothy is afraid but as soon as the lion runs after Toto Dorothy immediately sticks up for her small dog. Dorothy exclaims “don’t you dare to bit Toto! You ought to be ashamed of yourself, a big beast like you, to bite a poor little dog!” (Baum 35) showing the change in Dorothy from a small scared girl into brave girl who knows she must protect what she loves. They all have the goal to reach Oz to ask the Wizard for a brain, a heart, courage and a way to get back home. Dorothy made friends that she will never forget about even as she goes back to Kansas. Throughout the journey it is evident that her three friends already have the traits they desire but do not realise it. Since Dorothy is an orphan and lives with her aunt and uncle with no other children around to play with accept her dog Toto. She is grateful for the new friends she acquired because without them she would not have been able to find her way home. Similarly Dorothy shows her bravery when the Wicked Witch takes away her shoe Dorothy refuses to let her take something that is hers

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