Theatrical Adaptation

Meditation #1 - Katie Marchant

Throughout The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, both before and after they are allowed to meet with the Wizard, the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow, and the Lion all show characteristics of what it is they are hoping to gain from the Wizard. The Tinman must overcome feelings of compassion, that he supposedly he doesn't have, to kill the wolves and save Dorothy. (Baum 207) The Lion must use the courage he doesn't possess to scare off the Winkies (Baum 211) and the Scarecrow must prepare a plan to protect the group from the crows and the bees using the brain he is hoping for. (Baum 209) Because Dorothy came to Oz these characters had to use the attributes that they desired even before they received them to assist her on her journey.

Because of these seemingly impossible acts of love, courageousness, and ingenuity these three seemingly lowly characters are offered positions of power by those that they assisted. Because of how the Tinman shows compassion for the Winkies after Dorothy melts the Witch they ask him to return and be their ruler. (Baum 236) Because of the Scarecrows problem solving and leadership qualities the Wizard leaves him in charge of Oz when he returns to Omaha. (Baum 290) Because of how the Lion saves the animals from the "great spider" he becomes, as a lion should be, the King of the Forest. (Baum 335)

If Dorothy had never come to Oz her friends would have never had the chance to prove themselves worthy and to become more than what they were. Near the end of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Dorothy expresses that she is very happy to have helped her friends but that now it is time for her receive what she wanted all along. "...and I am glad that I was of use to these good friends. But now that each of them has had what he most desired, and each is happy in having a kingdom to rule beside, I think I should like to go back to Kansas." (Baum 351) Without Dorothy the Tinman would have remained rusted in the forest, the Scarecrow would have stayed up on the pole in the cornfield and the Lion would have still been cowardly skulking around the forest. But because she included them on her journey and because she helped them get what they so desired she left them with a sense of pride and accomplishment and worth.

posted by Katie Marchant @ 3:23 PM