The Road to Oz · Chapter
The Way to Butterfield explained
Dorothy meets the Shaggy Man and agrees to show him the road to Butterfield, but he tricks her into getting lost at a crossroads with many roads.
What happens
Dorothy meets the Shaggy Man and agrees to show him the road to Butterfield, but he tricks her into getting lost at a crossroads with many roads. They become lost together, and the Shaggy Man reveals his Love Magnet, which makes everyone love him.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
Dorothy’s encounter with the tin statue of herself—a perfect replica of her first appearance in Oz—triggers an…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Journey and Discovery
Dorothy and the Shaggy Man become lost at a mysterious crossroads, beginning an unexpected journey.
- Innocence and Curiosity
Dorothy's innocent willingness to help leads her into a strange situation, and she curiously examines the Love Magnet.
Characters to notice
- Dorothy
Dorothy tries to help the Shaggy Man find the road to Butterfield but becomes lost herself.
- Shaggy Man
The Shaggy Man tricks Dorothy into getting lost and shows her his Love Magnet.
- Toto
Toto is put in the Shaggy Man's pocket and later released, trying to find the way home.
Key passages
“Please, miss, can you tell me the road to Butterfield?”
The Shaggy Man asks Dorothy for directions to Butterfield.
This begins the interaction that leads to Dorothy getting lost.
“I don't want money, my dear. Money makes people proud and haughty. I don't want to be proud and haughty. All I want is to have people love me; and as long as I own the Love Magnet, everyone I meet is sure to love me dearly.”
The Shaggy Man explains that he avoids money because it makes people proud, and he prefers to be loved thanks to his Love Magnet.
Introduces the Love Magnet and the Shaggy Man's philosophy.
“I'm 'fraid, Shaggy Man, that we're lost!”
Dorothy realizes they are lost and expresses her worry.
Dorothy acknowledges their predicament.
