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Chapter 2: The Council with the Munchkins
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Wizard of Oz, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Self-Doubt vs. Self-Confidence
Home and Belonging
Good vs. Evil
Friendship
Summary
Analysis
Dorothy washes up, gathers a breakfast for herself, and prepares for her journey. She changes into a blue and white checkered dress and decides to wear the silver slippers, as they seem unlikely to wear out. Dorothy and Toto set off on the road of yellow brick which, according to the Witch of the North, eventually leads to the Emerald City. Despite her desire to get home, Dorothy enjoys her walk through this colorful and pleasant country. She passes farmland and plenty of strange little blue houses, as blue seems to be the favored color in the land of the East. She spends a night at the home of a wealthy and friendly Munchkin named Boq, who considers Dorothy to be a good witch and appreciates her blue clothing.
Dorothy’s encounter with Boq and the other Munchkins builds on the themes of home and belonging in a very straightforward sense. Between the Emerald City, the blue land of the Munchkins, and Dorothy’s gray home in Kansas, the locations in the novel are practically color-coded. Everyone belongs somewhere, and the consistent color choices make it very clear who belongs where. Boq mistaking Dorothy for a good witch also illustrates how all of Oz seems to view the world through a binary lens of good vs. evil.
Themes
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On the next day of her journey, Dorothy rests on a fence by the road as it passes by a large cornfield. As she stares curiously at a Scarecrow in blue clothing, she suddenly sees it wink at her. She wanders over to it and discovers that it can speak as well. The two of them introduce themselves, and the Scarecrow tells Dorothy that he’ll be very grateful if she could take him down from the pole he’s affixed to. Dorothy does as he asks, and the Scarecrow delights in moving around freely. He soon explains to Dorothy that he’s ashamed of having straw instead of brains in his head. Dorothy explains that she’s on her way to see the Wizard of Oz, who might be able to give the Scarecrow a brain as well as send Dorothy home. They resolve to continue the journey together.
Unlike Dorothy, the Scarecrow seems to doubt himself due to his alleged lack of brains. However, there may already be some holes in his beliefs about himself, as he seems perfectly capable of speaking, thinking, and walking around like a person, even without a brain in his head. Regardless, his willingness to follow Dorothy on her potentially dangerous journey emphasizes how committed he is to feeling more confident in himself. And Dorothy’s earnest compassion for him makes their fast friendship possible.
Themes
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