Hugh rockoff of rutgers university, the wizard of oz as. The political and economic symbols hidden inside the wizard of oz. The wizard of oz film study guide contains a biography of richard thorpe, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. It has since seen several reprints, most often under the title the wizard of oz, which is the title of the popular 1902 broadway musical. Frank baums the wonderful wizard of oz was an allegory or parable about the politics of bimetallism during the mckinleybryan presidential campaigns. Wizard of oz pins kansapedia kansas historical society. The books and movie have been exceptionally popular. Frank baums the wizard of oz, master paper engineer robert sabuda has created a popup version of dorothys.
Monetary policy was a huge political issue at the time, with big businessmen generally supporting tight money and the gold standard while reformers favored an enlargement of the money supply through the coinage of. Frank baums the wonderful wizard of oz, however, is not only a childs tale but also a sophisticated commentary on the political and economic debates of. This set the legal price of silver in terms of gold at roughly 16. May 18, 2017 theres a wellknown theory that the wizard of oz is a political parable about the conflict between those who supported the gold standard and those who supported the silver standard. Quotes from the story such as toto, i have a feeling were not in kansas anymore, lions, and tigers, and bears.
They travel along the yellow brick road the gold standard to see the. Sep 30, 20 finally, the 1960s interpretation of the wonderful wizard of oz as a parable on populism posits that oz was taken from the standard abbreviation for ounce, in accordance with the gold. In the book, oz is portrayed as much more of a real land, rather than a dreamscape populated with versions of dorothys kansas family and friends. Frank baum published the wonderful wizard of oz and became the father of the american fairy tale. Frank baum published his the wonderful wizard of oz in 1900, the book has become one of the most beloved american tales of adventure. His opponent, william jennings bryan who littlefield suggested was represented by the cowardly lion in the wizard of oz was famous for his cross of gold speech. Along the way, dorothy meets the scarecrow the western farmer. The real story of dorothy and the wizard of oz youtube.
At the november 1989 coinage of the americas conference americas gold coinage, walter breen delivered a talk suggesting that l. In the book and the play the shoes are silver, not ruby as they were famously depicted in the 1939 film. In the wizard of oz, the yellow brick road and dorothys slippers, which were silver in the book, referenced the eras debates over the gold standard and use of silver coin. Oz was an american fairy tale telling the story of dorothy, a young orphan living with her uncle henry and aunt em in kansas. They believed that adopting silver in addition to the gold standard. Frank baum was not a democrat or a bryan supporter. Monetary policy was a huge political issue at the time, with big businessmen generally supporting tight money and the gold standard while reformers favored an enlargement of the money supply through the coinage of silver or the issuance of paper money. The wonderful wizard of oz, in 1900, and underneath the surface of the story, with all its whimsy and childish delights. So dorothy journies clad in silver shoes on the yellow brick gold road, to the land of oz ounce, of gold or silver. Frank baums classic childrens novel the wonderful wizard of oz was published in 1900. The wonderful wizard of oz 1939, like many fairy tales depicting a series of fantastic adventures, is really the story of an individuals inner journeya story of personality integration and coming of age. The wizard of oz and the gold standard business insider.
The wonderful wizard of oz a monetary reform parable this article appeared in prosperity, january 2001 alistair mcconnachie writes. The most pertinent difference between the book and the film is, in the book, the slippersshoes dorothy gets from the wicked witch of the east are silver, not ruby. The following is a compilation of several views of the monetary reform symbolism used by l. In his book the wonderful wizard of oz in american popular.
So dorothy journies clad in silver shoes on the yellow brick gold road, to the. In 1964 a high school history teacher wrote of the wizard of oz that it was an allegory referring to the monetary debate of the late 19 th century. Frank baum chicago, 1900 is a parable about money reform and the 1890s midwestern political movement led by william jennings bryan 18601925. Few students of money and banking or economic history will forget the battle between the advocates of free silver and the defenders of the gold standard when it is explained through the wizard of oz.
Wizard of oz todays top gold news and opinion usagold. Is there a hidden political allegory in the wizard of oz. Speculation of the parallels between the characters in the book and history of the united states began with a history teacher by the name of henry littlefield. Frank baums the wonderful wizard of oz, however, is not only a childs tale but also a. Frank baums childrens book the wonderful wizard of oz, released in movie theaters in 1939 and nominated for an oscar award for best cinematography and color the internet movie database. The yellow brick road gold standard,the wicked witch of the west cleveland banker j. To get there she must follow the yellow brick road gold standard, and her journey.
Millions of both children and adults have taken great pleasure in reading about dorothy, a little girl living in the midst of the kansas prairies with her aunt, who is carried away by a tornado to. Not unlike the way the characters in the wizard of oz correlate to important elements in the crusade against the gold standard, they also just happen to map out the various figures described in. According to this view, for instance, the yellow brick road represents the gold standard, and the silver shoes ruby slippers in the 1939 film version represent the silverite sixteen to one silver ratio dancing down the road. Heres the real, forgotten meaning of the wizard of oz. Oz is the abbreviation of ounce, which is how they measured gold. Oz is the abbreviation for the word ounce, which is how gold and silver are measured. Oz was an american fairy tale telling the story of. Lobby card from the original 1939 release of the wizard of oz. Hugh rockoff of rutgers university, the wizard of oz as a. The real story of dorothy and the wizard of oz business insider. The characters in the story represent real figures such as william jennings bryan. The wizard of oz is now almost universally acknowledged to be the earliest truly feminist american childrens book, because of spunky and tenacious dorothy, wrote the american literary. The famous musical tells a story of a young girl dorothy who gets lost in the land of oz and travels long and. The wizard of oz as a monetary allegory cameron school.
It has since seen several reprints, most often under the title the wizard of oz, which is the title of the popular 1902 broadway musical adaptation as well as the iconic 1939 liveaction film. In his reading of the wizard of oz, littlefield believed that dorothy was a standin for the average american, and that the magic silver shoes represented the late. Hugh rockoff suggested in 1990 that the novel was an allegory about the demonetization of silver in 1873, whereby the cyclone that carried dorothy to the land of oz represents the economic and political upheaval, the yellow brick road stands for the gold standard, and the silver shoes dorothy inherits from the wicked witch of the east represents the prosilver movement. The wizard any president of the united states, whose power was ultimately illusory. Oct 26, 2018 the most pertinent difference between the book and the film is, in the book, the slippersshoes dorothy gets from the wicked witch of the east are silver, not ruby. The wonderful wizard of oz, perhaps americas favorite childrens story, is also an informed comment on the battle over free silver in the 1890s. Glenn beck goes deep into the wonderful wizard of oz. Menu icon a vertical stack of three evenly spaced horizontal lines. In baums book, the road to oz was paved with yellow bricks, symbolizing the gold standard. Frank baum wrote the wonderful wizard of oz over a century ago. Critics of the allegorical reading of the wonderful wizard of oz have made much of the discovery that l.
Turns out the book and movie may be an economic fairy tale about america in the late 1800s and gold. Apr 05, 2017 frank baums classic childrens novel the wonderful wizard of oz was published in 1900. Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz wikipedia. Mar 17, 2009 soon after publication, baum adapted his book into a stage musical for adults which opened in 1902. Strange tales and forgotten stories about the wizard of oz. Prosperity uk money reform miscellaneous the wonderful. Sep 18, 1998 roger baum and michael genovese agree on one thing toto was just a dog. Oz oz represents the flawed utopia, which is based on the economical perspectives of the u. Populism and the world of oz national museum of american history. The first book, the wonderful wizard of oz, is illustrated with the classic w. Links to free, fulllength audio recordings of all the oz books in this collection. What is the deeper meaning of the wonderful wizard of oz. Roger baum and michael genovese agree on one thing toto was just a dog. Gold, silver and the wonderful wizard of oz daily reckoning.
Thus interpreted, the wizard of oz becomes a powerful pedagogic device. Sep 02, 2016 the wonderful wizard of oz 1939, like many fairy tales depicting a series of fantastic adventures, is really the story of an individuals inner journeya story of personality integration and coming of age. The 1939 film starring a young judy garland was based on lyman frank baums book, the wonderful wizard of oz, published in 1900. From 18911895 bryan served in the house of representatives, where he advocated the coinage. The yellow brick road was the gold standard, and dorothys silver slippers the 1939 mgm movie made them ruby red stood for the coinage of silver, a big issue in the late nineteenth century. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the publication of l.
Pledging support for american workers, he sought high tariffs to make foreign manufactured goods unattractive and he supported the gold standard. The wizard of oz was about the gold standard the reformed. What the wizard of oz can teach us about inequality in the. Oh, my, and theres no place like home, are ones that will always pop into our heads when someone. Frank baums book the wonderful wizard of oz, published in 1900. The wizard of oz film symbols, allegory and motifs. Mckinleys reelection and the statutory adoption of the gold standard in 1900 spelled political oblivion for the populists. His reading of the book sees the wizard of oz as an allegory about american monetary policy of the time with implications for what came later as a result of conflict over maintaining the gold standard and the free silver movement of the day. Dorothy sets out on the yellow gold brick road to the emerald green color of u. What the wizard of oz can teach us about inequality in the 21st century. What is the deeper meaning of the wonderful wizard of oz by.
May 30, 2014 turns out the book and movie may be an economic fairy tale about america in the late 1800s and gold. Jun 25, 2018 the yellow brick road was the gold standard, and dorothys silver slippers the 1939 mgm movie made them ruby red stood for the coinage of silver, a big issue in the late nineteenth century. Dec 10, 20 obviously oz is an abbreviation for ounce. For most numismatists, this was as surprising as the events of the story were to dorothy. A monetary reformers brief symbol glossary by patrick s. Glenn beck goes deep into the wonderful wizard of oz, book.
Beyond that, the wizard of oz is either the greatest childrens novel ever written or a story about the collapse of. The books related political undertones were first identified in 1964 in an. The wizard of oz as a monetary allegory journal of. Many people are not aware that the wonderful wizard of oz is suspected to have referenced several political issues of the late 1800s. In his reading of the wizard of oz, littlefield believed that dorothy was a standin for the average american, and that the magic silver shoes represented the late 1890s free silver movement.
The silver slippers also represented the power to vote. The wizard of oz as an allegory for the 1896 presidential. The political and economic symbols hidden inside the. The wizard of oz is more than just a childrens story. The city was ruled by the wizard of oz gold ounce, marcus hanna the wizard of banking. Oct 16, 2009 gold, silver and the wonderful wizard of oz. Aug 19, 2014 the wizard of oz is now almost universally acknowledged to be the earliest truly feminist american childrens book, because of spunky and tenacious dorothy, wrote the american literary. Rockefeller and the wicked witch of the east ny banker j. He wrote thirteen additional oz books, and the film adaptation. Come take a tour, visit our exhibitions, and view the gorgeous main reading room. Finally, the 1960s interpretation of the wonderful wizard of oz as a parable on populism posits that oz was taken from the standard abbreviation for ounce, in accordance with the gold. More than just a childrens story by lauren houlberg the wizard of oz is a classic, a legend, and a childrens story that will never grow old. The city of oz earns its name from the abbreviation of ounces oz in which gold and silver are measured.
Jan 25, 2012 few students of money and banking or economic history will forget the battle between the advocates of free silver and the defenders of the gold standard when it is explained through the wizard of oz. This paper interprets the allegory for economists and economic historians, illuminating a number of elements left unexplained by critics concerned with the politics of. Ps, read the book, if you haventit is far different from the movie in the book, dorothy takes the silver slippers from the vanquished witch. Theres a wellknown theory that the wizard of oz is a political parable about the conflict between those who supported the gold standard and those who supported the silver standard.
The scarecrow said he had no brains because his head is stuffed with straw. Gold, silver and the wonderful wizard of oz the daily. The yellow brick road is the gold standard that is supported by the eastern establishment. Frank baum and originally published in 1900, may have been inspired by the reallife economic struggles during the gold standard. Oz the abbreviation for ounce, which was significant because bimetallists wanted silver coined along with gold at a ratio of sixteen ounces of silver for each ounces of gold. Morgan, the emerald city of oz greenback money, even dorothys silver slippers changed to ruby slippers for the movie version were symbols of the beliefs of baum and bryan that adding silver. He wrote thirteen additional oz books, and the film adaptation staring judy garland was released in 1939. Populism and the world of oz national museum of american. Frank baums book was penned in 1900 following unrest in the agriculture arena read.
The wizard of oz was about the gold standard the reformed broker. Is the wizard of oz an allegory highlighting female. Forever allied with kansas, the the wonderful wizard of oz was a book written by l. Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz. From greek myth to computer chips, purports that the wizard symbolizes bankers who support the gold standard and oppose. The question and answer section for the wizard of oz film is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.
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