Theatrical Adaptation

First response Blog

Liz Webb

Now, as I was finishing the Wizard of Oz, I was stopped by some strange wording that was used by Baum. After reading more of the imagery, I starting thinking why any child would want to listen to this part of the story. Though I will admit, it definitely showed me why it was not part of the movie or the stage version. I’m sure I will now have nightmares because of the following images:
“So the Woodman raised his axe, and as the wildcat ran by he gave it a quick blow that cut the beast’s head clean off from its body, and it rolled over at his feet in two pieces,” (Baum 148)
“…the Tin Woodman swung his arm and chopped off the wolf’s head from its body, so that it immediately died,” (Baum 207)
“The King Crow flew at the Scarecrow, who caught it but the head and twisted its neck until it died,” (Baum 208)
Plus, there were many, many more. As a child, I don’t believe I would have wanted to hear about this, or get the imagery of these characters killing anything. Just the thought of it now makes me ill and gives me the hint of a nightmare. I’m not sure what Baum was exactly thinking when he wrote those bits and pieces of imagery. I am sure, however, that he was not thinking about how the children would be lying in their beds trying to sleep, only to be thinking about the friendly Woodman chopping off the head of the wolves and the wildcat; or the sweet Scarecrow twisting the heads of birds. Yes, the Scarecrow hates these birds, and they were attacking, but there’s another way to put things other than bluntly stating how they are killed.
This helps me understand why these parts were not in the movie. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is not a horror film. But had they put these parts in, the once beloved movie would have been a horrible movie that turns away not only children, but also their parents, and the easily upset people in between. I know Baum only wanted to entertain the children of the world, or at least of the places his books were sold, but does entertainment really have to involve the vivid imagery of how one kills other things? I think these parts are morbid. Yes, they are entertaining to read because they go against everything you thought about the characters, and yes, the imagery is wonderful, and Baum’s use of words and images really brings these scenes to life. But, the life form of killing animals by chopping off heads, or twisting heads, or even pouncing and clawing off the head, are just not great to imagine.

posted by LilmissKS @ 4:36 AM