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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
As the group makes camp in the forest, the Lion offers to kill a deer for Dorothy to eat, as her supplies are running low. The Tin Woodman begs the Lion not to kill a deer, as this would surely make the Tin Woodman cry and rust again, so the Scarecrow gathers some nuts for Dorothy to eat instead. The next day, they come to a wide, deep ditch that seems impossible to cross or to go around. After some thinking, the Lion guesses he can jump across and carry another member of the party on his back one by one. The Scarecrow insists that he should be the first to cross the gorge with the Lion, as the sharp rocks at the bottom pose no threat to his straw-filled body if he falls.
During this sequence of events, all three of Dorothy’s new friends unwittingly prove that they might already have what they want. The Tin Woodman compassionately asks that an innocent creature be spared, the Scarecrow cleverly finds an alternative source of food for Dorothy, and the Cowardly Lion bravely offers to jump across a dangerous gorge several times. In light of these actions, it might be possible that all three of them simply need self-confidence more than they need brains, a heart, or courage.
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Despite his fear, the Lion successfully carries each member of the group across the ditch by jumping back and forth across it. The forest on the other side of the ditch is even darker and gloomier than before, and the Lion whispers a fearful warning about the local Kalidahs: ferocious beasts with tiger heads and bear bodies. The group soon comes to yet another wide gorge, and this one seems truly impossible to cross, even for the Lion. Eventually, the Scarecrow has an idea: the Tin Woodman should chop down a tree so that they can lay it across the ditch and use it as a bridge. Just as they set this plan in motion and begin to cross the makeshift bridge, Kalidahs emerge behind them in pursuit.
Once again, the Scarecrow unknowingly proves that he might have some brains after all as he comes up with a clever plan to cross the ditch. The Lion swallowing his fear as he jumps over the gorge is also a sign of courage that he doesn’t seem to notice. During this sequence, the group works together and relies on one another’s skills, illustrating how each of them becomes more useful as a team. As their friendship grows stronger, they each grow stronger individually as well.
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The group hurries desperately across their thin bridge to flee from the Kalidahs. The Lion seems to swallow his fear and roar at the beasts, but they only stop momentarily, for they know that they’re bigger than the Lion and have him outnumbered. The Lion tells Dorothy to stand behind him, and he promises to fight the creatures to his last breath. Just then, the Scarecrow gets another idea. He urges the Tin Woodman to quickly chop the end of the tree on their side of the ditch, and the Kalidahs fall with the tree as they try to cross. The Kalidahs are killed by the sharp rocks at the bottom of the ditch, and the relieved group continues on their way. When they come to a broad river blocking their way, the Scarecrow suggests that the Tin Woodman should construct a raft for them to ride across.
When faced with a terrifying and life-threatening danger, the Cowardly Lion demonstrates his hidden reserve of bravery more strongly than ever. His newfound friendship with Dorothy inspires him to push past his fear and find the self-confidence to be brave. Similarly, the Scarecrow hatches another clever plan despite not having any brains. The group’s willingness to kill the Kalidahs also brings the theme of good vs. evil back into focus. While the Tin Woodman shed tears over accidentally stepping on an innocent beetle earlier in their adventure, he doesn’t hesitate to brutally end the lives of evil creatures.
Themes
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