Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz · Theme
Transformation and Identity
How Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz develops Transformation and Identity.
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.
Where it surfaces
- 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.