The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: the concept of the American dream
There are very few creations from the year 1900 that still hold their relevance in society. The novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum is one such creation. For over a century, this novel has been able to adapt and fit different situations and ideologies of American society over time.
Once I started to analyze the novel, I observed that one of the most protruding and important concepts of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is the concept of the American dream- living a successful, happy life, and discovering love. Fiction novels often act as an ideal model for authors to express the conditions of an ideal society and the dreams of the period during which they were created. When applied to different social and political situations in American society, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz can still find relevance.
It has been said that there is no reasonable substitute for pure and painful hard work. A very evident relation between The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the American dream is the very well-known idea that hard work can give you amazing results. In the novel, the character of Dorothy, as well as the characters of the Tin Woodsman, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion, must walk along the yellow brick road in the Land of Oz to reach the Emerald City and help Dorothy get back home. Like that of the American dream, working hard is rewarded with the ability to achieve big goals. As far as the character of Dorothy is concerned, the goal is returning home and she eventually succeeds. In America, working hard can provide that perfect family in a suburban house with a white fence.
In the novel, the things that the tin woodsman, cowardly lion, and scarecrow are pursuing, are also relevant to the concept of the American dream. Intellect, strong will, and courage are important characteristics to triumph as Americans. The brain is necessary to secure a good job in America and to work effectively and make money. All these can be compared to the definitive phases of the classic American dream: get an education, secure employment, get married, raise kids, and live a happy life.
In many cultures, the heart is considered the place where the feeling of love resides. The heart, or to be more precise, love, is considered to be a key factor in achieving the classic American dream and the associated rewards. In the novel, the story of how the tin man lost his heart is an interesting element that relates to the perception of a happy marriage. Further, this element also relates to the concept of raising children, since, according to the classical idea of the American dream, children are the product of a happy marriage.
The last and most important trait to be identified is courage. There are several definitions of courage, which usually vary according to the situation. In the context of the novel, courage is identified as fighting for one's beliefs and doing the right thing. Although this trait is not as clear as some of the other perfect traits for Americans, it was still crucial in order to live the classic American dream in the period of the early 20th century.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz can also be identified as a promotion for increasing patriotism towards America. Although the character Dorothy described her home, Kansas, as desolate, she realizes that there is no place as beautiful as home. During Dorothy’s adventure, there are various places that she comes across in the Land of Oz. While some of these places are illustrated as beautiful, she realizes that even though her life in Kansas might be boring, she loves her home and the family she has there. All these bear a resemblance to the classic picture of the American dream.
Another concept of the classic American dream is maintaining a beautiful and rich life. In the story, the Emerald City is portrayed at the peak of success and represents the upper class of American society, which helps us realize that behind every pile of money lies a very simple man. Thus, it gives a broad idea; the American dream identified in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz includes living a successful life, leading to a happy family and happy life, and that even people on the bottom strata of society can flourish.
