Color is something that we encounter all the time, everyday. It is something that we don’t always appreciate. In the Wizard of Oz, I noticed a theme of colors representing different lands. The Emerald City is represented by the color green, Munchkin Land is represented by the color blue, Quadling Country is symbolized by red, Winkie Country is symbolized by yellow and the Wicked Witch’s domain is represented by the color black.
The color green is associated with jealousy and envy; however, there is also a different aspect of the color, green can also symbolize growth and nature. The Emerald City could represent growth because Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Lion are able to grow into the people they aspire to be, mentally and physically. Each companion, except Dorothy, physically obtains what they desired, but they already had what they wanted,
they just did not realize they already had their gifts. Dorothy also grows to her full potential, she gains a loyalty to her comrades that she never had before. She easily left the Scarecrow in the river and the Lion in the poppy field when she was traveling to the Emerald City so she could find a way back to Kansas. However, after staying in the Emerald City, Dorothy says that she must find the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman after the Wicked Witch destroys them. She also brings food to the Lion each night when he is the Wicked Witch’s prisoner risking her own life so he will not starve.
Munchkin Land is the color of water and the sky, and these ideas have two opposing connotations. Water can symbolize stability, a clear path and calmness but it can also symbolize uncertainty and disorder. The sky can represent heaven, which goes along with the concept of faith, and serenity but it is known to be a symbol of turmoil and confusion when there is a storm. Munchkin land welcomed Dorothy when she arrived to the Land of Oz. They gave her a clear path on how she can get home. The Wizard of Oz is not a religious book, but the concept of faith could give Dorothy a sense of purpose and something to believe in. This is exactly what Munchkin Land does for Dorothy; it gives her hope as well as a solution to get back home to Kansas. However, there is also another side to Munchkin land, even though the Munchkins provide her with clear directions; they cannot help her in any other way. There is a lot of uncertainty in her plan, she does not know her way around Oz and she does not know what the Wicked Witch is capable of doing.
It is ironic that the Winkie Country is represented by the color yellow because yellow is connected with the sun which implies joy and happiness. The Winkies, however, are enslaved by the Wicked Witch, and cannot make their own decisions meaning they have no independence or freedom. The color black represents the Wicked Witch, which is linked to power and evil, both of these traits characterize the Wicked Witch. The Wicked Witch craves power, and wants to be seen as evil; however, she is creating a facade so people will be intimidated by her.
The Quadling Country is represented by the color red, which is the color of fire and blood, and embodies energy, strength, power, danger and passion. This is where Dorothy finally figures out how to get home, and I think this is where Dorothy and her companions finally gain their strength. The Lion becomes the King of the Animals, the Scarecrow is going to rule the Emerald City and the Tin Woodman is going to rule over the Winkies. The Quadling Country, though, does not pose any danger to Dorothy and her companions which makes you question Baum’s original purpose of using color to represent the lands of Oz, maybe he did it on purpose, or maybe it is just a coincidence.
You state that Dorothy was not loyal to her companions before they reached the Emerald City; however, I do not think this is true. Although Dorothy had to leave the Lion in the field and the Scarecrow in the river for a short period of time, she did not abandon them there to pursue her own goals. Rather, she and the other companions did not continue their journey until they were able to rescue the stranded companions and continue together; I believe this shows a great deal of loyalty. Moreover, I believe this loyalty is something innate to Dorothy, something which makes her the true American hero that Baum was trying to portray
ReplyDeleteI agreed in your observations of color and how they describe the overall lands. Green symbolic of growth in terms of the Emerald City proves a good point that Emerald City is indeed the center of growth and commerce in the land of Oz. Though I am not sure that the characters necessarily grow. Instead, they seem to acquire their traits, it could be said however that at the end of the story with Galinda they do grow into the people they wish to be. Also, it is interesting that Quadling Country is red and that it is the place where Dorothy goes home. Therefore symbolizing Dorothy's power in achieving her goal, however what about the poppy field? Poppies are usually depicted as red poppies? How would that be interpreted in terms of color?
ReplyDeleteWhen I was reading what was said about he color yellow for the winkies it made me think about the sun and how appropriate that was. The color of the wicked witch of the west is black and she rules over the winkies. The winkies were once happy and joyful but the witch took over and blocked out their freedom and happiness like how the blackness of night and the lack of the sun. Now that the witch is dead, they can shine again.
ReplyDeleteGreen can symbolize nature. It is ironic that the Emerald City is green when nothing in the city is natural: powered by electric with no animals. Even the color green is artificial as it comes from the green spectacles required to be worn.
ReplyDeleteYellow can also be the color of sickness and disgust in which case concords with the enslaved country. The Winkies are ruled by the Wicked Witch, so they have no freedom and are imprisoned in a sickly state.
I did not even think about the poppy fields when I was writing about the theme of color. So if red represents energy, strength, power, danger and passion, then the poppy fields definitely symbolize danger. The poppy field separates the companions, and the companions are the strongest when they are all together. Also, the Lion could not handle the poppy’s fragrance, and was going to stay asleep in the fields forever because the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman could not carry the Lion. However, the poppy field could also symbolize strength and power because Dorothy meets the Queen of the mice, who saves the Lion and unites the companions.
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