Romeo And Juliet Vs. The Wizard Of Oz

“Romeo, Romeo, Wherefore art thou Romeo?” “We’re not in Kansas anymore!” These are two quotes that you have probably said or heard in your lifetime. But how could these two possibly be related? These stories are related because they are classics. The two classics Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written by F.L. Baum, are very similar in terms of present references and follow ups, timeless themes, and their wide audience appeals.

There is no denying that both Romeo and Juliet and The Wizard of Oz are classics. But one thing that makes them both a classic are their many future references and follow-ups. Both stories have been made into multiple movies over the years, especially Disney movies. Specifically, Romeo and Juliet was recently made into a Disney movie called

Gnomeo and Juliet.

In addition, The Wizard of Oz has had been made into a Disney movie entitled Oz the Great and Powerful. The Wizard of Oz also had a famous Broadway follow up of the movie called Wicked. Even though Romeo and Juliet has not had any famous Broadway productions, it has had multiple remakes of the plotline of the story. These remakes include West Side Story, Titanic, The Hunger Games, and Twilight. Yet one thing both stories have are famous lines and quotes, including the ones you read in the introduction. However, The Wizard of Oz has the more famous lines than Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet and The Wizard of Oz are two stories that will stand forever. Their timeless themes have survived for years and will continue to teach us more lessons. The themes that Romeo and Juliet have are more complex to understand

than the Wizard of Oz. It has lessons like impulsiveness and relationships. It also teaches us about suicide and rebelling. For instance, in Act III, Scene 1, Romeo kills Tybalt out of revenge for killing Mercutio. This is teaching us about revenge and being impulsive which is definitely too complicated for the audience of The Wizard of Oz. In Act V, Scene 3, when four characters die, two of suicide, Shakespeare is trying to teach themes that are probably too complex for some people. In contrast, The Wizard of Oz is teaching lessons about childhoods, good vs evil, and self-esteem. These are themes that are more suitable for children. For example, when Dorothy met the scarecrow, tinman, and the lion, they all had self-esteem issues. Likewise, when Dorothy clicks her heels together and chants “There’s no place like home”, she is teaching a simple lesson about how there really is no place like your home. However, both stories have a lesson that they both teach, and that lesson is selflessness. Shakespeare and Baum are both trying to tell us that we are better off with a person, or group of people that we love, than being alone. Romeo loved Juliet, and vice versa. They never wanted to be with any other person. Likewise, Dorothy probably never would have made it to the Wizard without her three friends whom she acquired on the way. It is better to be with people we love and be happy, than to be alone and miserable.

Romeo and Juliet and The Wizard of Oz are both known for being appealing to many audiences. When the famous The Wizard of Oz movie came out, it definitely appealed to a broad audience, which was mostly made up of children. The movie made $3 million in the box office. The original book also sold 3 million copies. But of course, with Romeo and Juliet, it is difficult to tell how it appealed to audiences when it was released four hundred years ago. But we know how it appeals today. When the Romeo and Juliet movie was released in 1968, it made or 39 million in the box office. And just to know how wide of an audience it has, 93% of 9th grade classes in America read Romeo and Juliet. 9th grade is the best time to start reading the story, because you are a young adult headed into the real world, and you are just starting to catch on to the difficult themes in it.

With their broad audiences, timeless lessons, and influencing follow-ups, Romeo and Juliet and The Wizard of Oz are two very similar classics. Even if The Wizard of Oz story was meant for children, and taught lessons of childhood and imagination, or Romeo and Juliet teaching adult lessons of impulsiveness and suicide, the two stories have a lot in common. That is why both have stayed with us in pop culture, and in our minds. It is why we know those two famous lines. “Romeo, Romeo, Wherefore art thou Romeo?” “We’re not in Kansas anymore!”