Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Wizard of Oz, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Self-Doubt vs. Self-Confidence
Home and Belonging
Good vs. Evil
Friendship
Summary
Analysis
Dorothy awakens as the house lurches suddenly and violently. After seeing the sunlight outside and noticing that the house is no longer moving, she and Toto rush to the front door to see where they’ve landed. They find themselves in a beautiful country, full of colorful flowers, fruits, trees, and singing birds. As she admires the interesting landscape, Dorothy spies a group of strange people approaching. The people are roughly Dorothy’s size, but they appear to be adults wearing blue clothing and pointed hats. One of the figures, however, is an older woman wearing all white. She bows and calls Dorothy a sorceress, thanking her for killing the Wicked Witch of the East.
The colorful land that Dorothy finds herself in is a stark contrast to the gray prairies of Kansas. This place couldn’t be more different from Dorothy’s home, emphasizing that the cyclone has completely uprooted her from where she belongs. Even the small people’s attire suggests that this land is as far from ordinary as possible. Dorothy can be sure she’s landed in a place of fairy tales when the old woman mentions a wicked witch. The dreary mundanity of Kansas is gone, and a strange new world of goodness and wickedness has taken its place.
Themes
Literary Devices
A confused Dorothy explains to the woman that she, Dorothy, hasn’t killed anyone. But the woman shows Dorothy that the farmhouse landed on someone whose legs are clearly sticking out from underneath the building. While Dorothy is distressed at this sight, the old woman explains that the victim of this accident was the Wicked Witch of the East, who’s been keeping the Munchkins (the people of this area) enslaved for years. The woman goes on to explain that she’s also a witch herself, but that she’s a good witch and a friend of the Munchkins: the Witch of the North. She tells Dorothy that there were only four witches in the Land of Oz, and now that the Witch of the East is dead, the only wicked witch left is the Witch of the West.
During this conversation, the Witch of the North fully confirms the idea that Dorothy has landed in a fantasy world of good vs. evil. The Witch’s open admission that she’s one of the “good” witches is a sign of how straightforwardly the Land of Oz defines good and evil. Dorothy doesn’t question whether this witch is good or the dead witch is wicked because it seems to be self-evidently true. The fact that Dorothy killed the Wicked Witch of the East by accident also highlights her childlike innocence.
Themes
Dorothy mentions that Aunt Em told her that there haven’t been witches in the world for many years. The Witch of the North explains that this is only true in “civilized countries,” and mentions that she’s never heard of Kansas. The Munchkins suddenly interrupt their conversation, pointing to where the feet of the Witch of the East have disappeared, leaving only a pair of silver shoes behind. The Witch of the North explains that the Witch of the East was so old that exposure to sunlight turned her to dust, and that the silver slippers belong to Dorothy now.
This moment marks the first appearance of the silver slippers, a symbol tied to the theme of self-doubt vs. confidence that will become more important later. Meanwhile, the Wicked Witch’s withering away in the sunlight is yet another sign that good and evil are absolute in the Land of Oz. It seems the wicked witches of Oz are decrepit and fragile, while the good witches are beautiful and wholesome. In other words, it seems like everything in Oz is just as it appears to be.
Themes
Dorothy figures that Aunt Em and Uncle Henry must be worried about her, so she asks how she might get home to Kansas. The Witch of the North and the Munchkins tell her that the entire Land of Oz is surrounded by a vast, uncrossable desert, and that Dorothy must therefore live here with them. Dorothy begins to cry at the thought of never returning home, at which point the Witch of the North conjures a slate that seems to tell her what to do. She tells Dorothy to travel to the Emerald City, as the powerful Wizard of Oz who lives there could help her return to Kansas. The Witch cannot accompany Dorothy on this journey, but she kisses Dorothy’s forehead and leaves a shining mark there. She explains that no one would dare to harm someone who has the blessing of the Witch of the North.
The Witch of the North once again proves her essential goodness by blessing Dorothy’s journey and seemingly giving her some extra protection. Notably, however, despite the beauty of Oz and the kindness of its good inhabitants, Dorothy is eager to express her wish to go back home. This is a sign that she hasn’t changed her mind one bit; she still believes that she can only belong in Kansas, no matter what Oz is like. Once more, Dorothy reveals herself to be a static character with a strong resolve.
Themes
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