Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz · Question
How does Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz develop the theme of Transformation and Identity?
Answer
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum develops Transformation and Identity across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
Characters undergo changes in form and status, such as Ozma’s transformation from a boy to a girl, the Sawhorse being brought to life, and Jim the cab-horse receiving respect and a new home, exploring how identity can shift.
The animals gain the ability to speak, and the characters' appearances are altered by the colored lights, hinting at changes in their nature.
The Mangaboos grow on bushes and are 'picked' to gain life, highlighting a unique cycle of birth, rule, and replanting that contrasts with the human experience.
Zeb's change of clothes and the Wizard's explanation of his name both explore themes of personal reinvention.
Evidence in the book
- The Glass City
The animals gain the ability to speak, and the characters' appearances are altered by the colored lights, hinting at changes in their nature.
- The Vegetable Kingdom
The Mangaboos grow on bushes and are 'picked' to gain life, highlighting a unique cycle of birth, rule, and replanting that contrasts with the human experience.
- Old Friends Are Reunited
Zeb's change of clothes and the Wizard's explanation of his name both explore themes of personal reinvention.
- XVI: Jim, the Cab-Horse
Jim grapples with his identity as a 'real horse' in a land of magical creatures, while the Sawhorse accepts its artificial nature.
