Gender In The Wizard Of Oz

681 Words2 Pages

Mohamed Awale
Wizard of Oz Paper
Final Paper

Almost Oz

In Alison Lurie’s text “The Oddness of Oz” (2000), she shows us the many ways in which the Wizard of Oz was ahead of it’s time. Asides from talking animals, Lurie takes note of many other oddities in Oz. First, of which being a present and thriving female elite that controls much of Oz. Secondly, a major monopoly of power benefiting women and disenfranchising men. Lurie claims that Baum, in essence switches the gender norms in his world and transfers it into Oz, creating a world quiet different from his own. In the world of Oz, women are the ruling class. Who is the major protagonist ? Dorothy. Who are the major antagonists ? The wicked witches. Dorothy’s very existence in the book as an active protagonist is ground breaking but, adding to the fact that the entire land of Oz is filled with female powerhouses is earth shattering. Now let us stop and underline the term “active protagonist”. When talking about Dorothy, Lurie writes (2000) “Her virtues are those of a Victorian hero rather than a Victorian heroine: she is brave,active,independent,sensible,and willing to confront authority.” ( p. 3). Dorothy isn’t the normal heroine that sits by and lets others save her, she is …show more content…

Their goals differ from the typical vain female antagonist for example, the queen from Snow White seeking beauty. The wishes best resembled the men of the Axis forces in WW2, malicious and greedy for power. Malice isn’t the only stereotypical male quality that women get in the world of Oz. Good Female rulers aren’t just beautiful but just. Lets take a quote form Ozma, a female leader of Oz, “I am a ruler of all the land of Oz,….it is my duty to make all my people-wherever they may be -happy and contented and to settle their disputes” (2000, p. 3). Ozma isn’t just a beautiful queen with very little to do but a daunting ruler. Women are the elite in the world of Oz now, where do men stand in this

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