The Wizard of Oz
symbolism of characters
Dorothy represents American values.
Oz represents the president. Throughout the movie is made out to be a powerful wizard who knows all. At the end of the movie it is revealed that he is just a normal person.
The scarecrow represents American famrers. The scarecrow wants a brain and farmers were stereotyped as stupid. At the end of the book the scarecrow finds out he had a brain all along just like the farmers unit and solve their own problems.
The tin man represents a machine factory worker. The tin man keeps on getting his body parts replaced with tin after he keeps in chopping off his limbs and starts to become more "robotic" just like the workers in factories operated with machines.
The cowardly lion represents the politician the Nation Grange ran for president, Williams Jennings Brain. Williams Jennings Brain was a very good speaker but never backed up anything with actions. Therefore, he was thought to have no courage like the cowardly lion.
Wicked Witch of the East
The Wicked Witch of the east represented eastern factory owners.
The yellow brick road represents the promise of gold and silver out west.
Silver Shoes
The silver shoes represent the silver and gold the farmers wanted as their currency.
The Munchkins represent eastern factory workers. When the Wicked Witch of the East dies, the munchkins rejoice because she is no longer in control of them.
The Wicked Witch of the West represents mother nature. For a long period of time, farmers in the south-west had to deal severe drought and dust storms. At the end when Dorothy pours water on her, it is symbolization for when the farmers overcome mother nature and the drought ends
The flying monkeys are representation of the average american working class and how they are controlled by a higher power.