Earning Her Way Home: A Book Review of L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"



Kindle edition

   All of us have seen the classic 1939 musical-movie of "The Wizard of Oz," watching Judy Garland (as Dorothy) dance down the road with the other colorful characters, singing  We're off to see the Wizard! Not as many of us, though, have read the original story by Lyman Frank Baum.

   Baum wrote "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" with the thought in mind that children's fairy tales were too happy. He wanted fairy tales where the characters were put into dangerous predicaments, but where good also triumphs over evil. He wanted to break away from the stereotypical fairy tales of the day and write a new children's tale, the result being "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

SUMMARY

   Dorothy, a young girl, lives on a Kansas farm with her Uncle Henry and Aunt Em (as well as her beloved dog Toto). Her surroundings are described as gray. Further on into the story, she is sucked up into a cyclone and whisked off to a magical land called Oz.

   The minute Dorothy reaches Oz, she is hailed as a hero by the Munchkin people. She killed a wicked witch and angered another one. She decides she wants to return home to the Kansas farm and is told only the great wizard Oz can do this. On the way, she meets a Scarecrow, a Tin-man, and a cowardly Lion. They all wish to get something from the wizard of Oz, so they join Dorothy on her quest.

   Finally, they reach the Emerald City, capital city of Oz. To "earn" what they want, the four characters must do as Oz says. They find themselves on yet another quest.

   Dorothy and the Lion are captured by the Wicked Witch of the West and their friends must figure out how to rescue them. The book continues for a long while yet, but this covers what is (more or less) seen in the classic movie. The ending is a happy one. Though it is not quite the end! Baum wrote thirteen more books in the Oz Chronicles, though the first of them is the most popular.

CONTENT

   For a children's book, this includes some rather intense violence. Older stories such as Mother Goose Rhymes, Hans Christian Andersen tales, etc., include violent themes as well. For example, while protecting their friends, the main characters must fight off creatures sent by the Wicked Witch. During this, there is much violence, such as when the Tin-man chops off the head of one of these creatures. Also, during Dorothy's travels in Oz, she comes across a town of porcelain people. One is broken and killed. There is much more violence than mentioned here. Parents may want to read the book themselves before allowing very young children to read it. Now, though, there is really nothing immoral in the book.

   In "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," it is taught that we can earn salvation for ourselves. In order to reach home, Dorothy must do things on her own, as the wizard commands her. In Christianity, salvation comes not from ourselves, but from Christ. It is only through repentance and belief that we may be saved (and that is after Christ has sought us, not the other way around). Also, there are good and evil witches in the land of Oz. Witchcraft is something evil and cannot be used for good.

   This story is delightful (and goes into much more detail than we are shown in the film), though I think children will enjoy it the most. Anyone who reads this, I think, can still get something out of it. The primary audience was  meant to be children, and I think that is still the same today. I would recommend, though, looking for the "A-list Collection" audiobook of this story, read by Anne Hathaway (who does a marvelous job). She made it enjoyable for really all ages. 

 GENERAL INFORMATION

Number of pages: 137

Author of book: L. Frank Baum

Published in: 1900
First in a fourteen-book series

Primary audience: Children, Pre-teens