August 22nd

The story of the Wizard of Oz has become one of the best known classic North American movies of the 20th Century. I say North American, because it's not as well known outside of this region, at least not in such a traditional and cultural way as we see here.

The story was a hit not only with children but also with the older public. It became a revolutionary film because its known as the first to be presented in color. Using this particular skill to their advantage making it part of their story.

The basic plot of the story is about a small girl from Kansas, who is swept by a tornado along with her dog and taken into a completely different and new world. The story depicts her journey and adventures in trying to get back home.


It's a story full of symbolism, that has been criticized numerous times for different interpretations people have towards the events and characters in the story. Although it becomes difficult to give an exact definition and conclusion about these interpretations, and whether or not that is what the author intended to portray; I will attempt to make a recollection of the most important symbols and visual metaphors found within the story.

The first symbolism we notice is with the introduction of the characters.
Dorothy: the main character of the story, represents the values of the traditional american society, respectful, loyal, determined etc.

Uncle Henry: stereotypical dedicated farmer from the 1800s

Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow and cowardly lyon: all of these represent the notion of possibilities, and recognition of ones own capabilities and strengths that wether we feel it or not, we all have within us the ability to do and achieve what we want, we just have to have more faith in ourselves.

The Wicked witch of the East: represents all of the anti values within the american society. Our biggest fears, and temptations, with which we have to fight daily in order to stay as little affected by them as possible.

Good witch of the North: Represents the hope and faith Americans have towards their culture. The idea that within all the negative and bad things one may find, there's always a way out, and always someone willing to help you no matter how difficult the situation may seem.

Yellow brick road: is in a way a representation of knowledge and success. The path you ought to take in order to reach your goal, and in a way it also represents naiveness. In the story it was the path the characters were told to take to find what they were looking for, and blinded by this without asking questions they followed instructions. Only to find at the end that it had all been a lie and that what they thought they would find was in fact a simple fraud.

Ruby slippers: Although silver in the original story. They chose to make them ruby in the movie, one of the reasons being because of how the color looked along with the color scheme of the movie. Nonetheless both in the book and the film, the slippers are a metaphor for the power that so many strive to have.

Although all of these visual metaphors and symbols were interpreted by many viewers and critics; it was never affirmed by the author that this was in fact what he was trying to portray, or transmit through his story. Nonetheless it's interesting to see how the more times one sees the movie or reads the book, the more things you discover and bigger understanding you get of the North American Culture.