The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz

by

L. Frank Baum

The Tin Woodman Character Analysis

The Tin Woodman is the second companion Dorothy encounters on her way to the Emerald City. Upon hearing about Dorothy’s and the Scarecrow’s plan to see the Wizard of Oz and have their wishes granted, the Tin Woodman joins the two of them in order to ask the Wizard for a heart. Back when he was a person of flesh and blood, the Tin Woodman fell in love with a Munchkin girl, who promised to marry him once he’d saved enough money to build them a house. But a wicked witch intervened and cursed the Woodman’s axe to slip. One by one, he lost his limbs and had them replaced with tin until he was made entirely of metal, and presumably became heartless as a result. Now, he desperately wants a heart again so that he can be loving and kind, but it becomes clear during his adventure that he’s already a gentle and compassionate soul. He’s easily one of the kindest members of Dorothy’s group, shedding tears at the mere thought of harming an innocent creature. While the Tin Woodman functionally already has a heart, he still doesn’t believe he does until the Wizard gives him a silk heart full of sawdust. This trinket makes the Woodman feel whole again at last, but he never seems to realize that he had what he wanted all along.

The Tin Woodman Quotes in The Wizard of Oz

The The Wizard of Oz quotes below are all either spoken by The Tin Woodman or refer to The Tin Woodman. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Self-Doubt vs. Self-Confidence Theme Icon
).
Chapter 5: The Rescue of the Tin Woodman Quotes

‘While I was in love I was the happiest man on earth; but no one can love who has not a heart, and so I am resolved to ask Oz to give me one. If he does, I will go back to the Munchkin maiden and marry her.’

Related Characters: The Tin Woodman (speaker), Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Wizard of Oz, The Wicked Witch of the East
Page Number: 40-41
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6: The Cowardly Lion Quotes

Once, indeed, the Tin Woodman stepped upon a beetle that was crawling along the road, and killed the poor little thing. This made the Tin Woodman very unhappy, for he was always careful not to hurt any living creature; and as he walked along he wept several tears of sorrow and regret.

Related Characters: Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tin Woodman, The Cowardly Lion, The Wizard of Oz
Page Number: 48
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7: The Journey to the Great Oz Quotes

‘We are lost, for they will surely tear us to pieces with their sharp claws. But stand close behind me, and I will fight them as long as I am alive.’

Related Characters: The Cowardly Lion (speaker), Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tin Woodman, The Wizard of Oz
Page Number: 55
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8: The Deadly Poppy Field Quotes

‘Aren’t they beautiful?’ the girl asked, as she breathed in the spicy scent of the flowers.

‘I suppose so,’ answered the Scarecrow. ‘When I have brains I shall probably like them better.’

‘If only I had a heart I should love them,’ added the Tin Woodman.

Related Characters: Dorothy (speaker), The Scarecrow (speaker), The Tin Woodman (speaker)
Page Number: 63
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 9: The Queen of the Field Mice Quotes

‘Is there anything we can do,’ it asked, ‘to repay you for saving the life of our Queen?’

‘Nothing that I know of,’ answered the Woodman; but the Scarecrow, who had been trying to think, but could not because his head was stuffed with straw, said, quickly, ‘Oh, yes; you can save our friend, the Cowardly Lion, who is asleep in the poppy bed.’

Related Characters: The Scarecrow (speaker), The Tin Woodman (speaker), Dorothy, The Cowardly Lion
Page Number: 68
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 10: The Guardian of the Gates Quotes

‘Because if you did not wear spectacles the brightness and glory of the Emerald City would blind you. Even those who live in the City must wear spectacles night and day. They are all locked on, for Oz so ordered it when the City was first built, and I have the only key that will unlock them.’

Related Characters: Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tin Woodman, The Cowardly Lion, The Wizard of Oz
Related Symbols: The Green Spectacles
Page Number: 80
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13: The Rescue Quotes

When, at last, he walked into Dorothy’s room and thanked her for rescuing him, he was so pleased that he wept tears of joy, and Dorothy had to wipe every tear carefully from his face with her apron, so his joints would not be rusted. At the same time her own tears fell thick and fast at the joy of meeting her old friend again, and these tears did not need to be wiped away.

Related Characters: Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tin Woodman, The Cowardly Lion, The Wizard of Oz, The Wicked Witch of the West
Page Number: 117
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 16: The Magic Art of the Great Humbug Quotes

Oz, left to himself, smiled to think of his success in giving the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman and the Lion exactly what they thought they wanted. ‘How can I help being a humbug,’ he said, ‘when all these people make me do things that everybody knows can’t be done?’

Related Characters: The Wizard of Oz (speaker), Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tin Woodman, The Cowardly Lion
Page Number: 145-146
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 21: The Lion Becomes the King of the Beasts Quotes

‘It seems gloomy,’ said the Scarecrow.

‘Not a bit of it,’ answered the Lion; ‘I should like to live here all my life. See how soft the dried leaves are under your feet and how rich and green the moss is that clings to these old trees. Surely no wild beast could wish a pleasanter home.’

Related Characters: The Scarecrow (speaker), The Cowardly Lion (speaker), Dorothy, The Tin Woodman
Page Number: 172-173
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 23: Glinda Grants Dorothy’s Wish Quotes

‘Your Silver Shoes will carry you over the desert,’ replied Glinda. ‘If you had known their power you could have gone back to your Aunt Em the very first day you came to this country.’

Related Characters: Glinda (speaker), Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tin Woodman, The Cowardly Lion, Aunt Em
Related Symbols: Dorothy’s Silver Slippers
Page Number: 185
Explanation and Analysis:

She threw her arms around the Lion’s neck and kissed him, patting his big head tenderly. Then she kissed the Tin Woodman, who was weeping in a way most dangerous to his joints. But she hugged the soft, stuffed body of the Scarecrow instead of kissing his painted face, and found she was crying herself at this sorrowful parting from her loving comrades.

Related Characters: Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tin Woodman, The Cowardly Lion
Related Symbols: Dorothy’s Silver Slippers
Page Number: 187
Explanation and Analysis:
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The Tin Woodman Quotes in The Wizard of Oz

The The Wizard of Oz quotes below are all either spoken by The Tin Woodman or refer to The Tin Woodman. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Self-Doubt vs. Self-Confidence Theme Icon
).
Chapter 5: The Rescue of the Tin Woodman Quotes

‘While I was in love I was the happiest man on earth; but no one can love who has not a heart, and so I am resolved to ask Oz to give me one. If he does, I will go back to the Munchkin maiden and marry her.’

Related Characters: The Tin Woodman (speaker), Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Wizard of Oz, The Wicked Witch of the East
Page Number: 40-41
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6: The Cowardly Lion Quotes

Once, indeed, the Tin Woodman stepped upon a beetle that was crawling along the road, and killed the poor little thing. This made the Tin Woodman very unhappy, for he was always careful not to hurt any living creature; and as he walked along he wept several tears of sorrow and regret.

Related Characters: Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tin Woodman, The Cowardly Lion, The Wizard of Oz
Page Number: 48
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7: The Journey to the Great Oz Quotes

‘We are lost, for they will surely tear us to pieces with their sharp claws. But stand close behind me, and I will fight them as long as I am alive.’

Related Characters: The Cowardly Lion (speaker), Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tin Woodman, The Wizard of Oz
Page Number: 55
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8: The Deadly Poppy Field Quotes

‘Aren’t they beautiful?’ the girl asked, as she breathed in the spicy scent of the flowers.

‘I suppose so,’ answered the Scarecrow. ‘When I have brains I shall probably like them better.’

‘If only I had a heart I should love them,’ added the Tin Woodman.

Related Characters: Dorothy (speaker), The Scarecrow (speaker), The Tin Woodman (speaker)
Page Number: 63
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 9: The Queen of the Field Mice Quotes

‘Is there anything we can do,’ it asked, ‘to repay you for saving the life of our Queen?’

‘Nothing that I know of,’ answered the Woodman; but the Scarecrow, who had been trying to think, but could not because his head was stuffed with straw, said, quickly, ‘Oh, yes; you can save our friend, the Cowardly Lion, who is asleep in the poppy bed.’

Related Characters: The Scarecrow (speaker), The Tin Woodman (speaker), Dorothy, The Cowardly Lion
Page Number: 68
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 10: The Guardian of the Gates Quotes

‘Because if you did not wear spectacles the brightness and glory of the Emerald City would blind you. Even those who live in the City must wear spectacles night and day. They are all locked on, for Oz so ordered it when the City was first built, and I have the only key that will unlock them.’

Related Characters: Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tin Woodman, The Cowardly Lion, The Wizard of Oz
Related Symbols: The Green Spectacles
Page Number: 80
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13: The Rescue Quotes

When, at last, he walked into Dorothy’s room and thanked her for rescuing him, he was so pleased that he wept tears of joy, and Dorothy had to wipe every tear carefully from his face with her apron, so his joints would not be rusted. At the same time her own tears fell thick and fast at the joy of meeting her old friend again, and these tears did not need to be wiped away.

Related Characters: Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tin Woodman, The Cowardly Lion, The Wizard of Oz, The Wicked Witch of the West
Page Number: 117
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 16: The Magic Art of the Great Humbug Quotes

Oz, left to himself, smiled to think of his success in giving the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman and the Lion exactly what they thought they wanted. ‘How can I help being a humbug,’ he said, ‘when all these people make me do things that everybody knows can’t be done?’

Related Characters: The Wizard of Oz (speaker), Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tin Woodman, The Cowardly Lion
Page Number: 145-146
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 21: The Lion Becomes the King of the Beasts Quotes

‘It seems gloomy,’ said the Scarecrow.

‘Not a bit of it,’ answered the Lion; ‘I should like to live here all my life. See how soft the dried leaves are under your feet and how rich and green the moss is that clings to these old trees. Surely no wild beast could wish a pleasanter home.’

Related Characters: The Scarecrow (speaker), The Cowardly Lion (speaker), Dorothy, The Tin Woodman
Page Number: 172-173
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 23: Glinda Grants Dorothy’s Wish Quotes

‘Your Silver Shoes will carry you over the desert,’ replied Glinda. ‘If you had known their power you could have gone back to your Aunt Em the very first day you came to this country.’

Related Characters: Glinda (speaker), Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tin Woodman, The Cowardly Lion, Aunt Em
Related Symbols: Dorothy’s Silver Slippers
Page Number: 185
Explanation and Analysis:

She threw her arms around the Lion’s neck and kissed him, patting his big head tenderly. Then she kissed the Tin Woodman, who was weeping in a way most dangerous to his joints. But she hugged the soft, stuffed body of the Scarecrow instead of kissing his painted face, and found she was crying herself at this sorrowful parting from her loving comrades.

Related Characters: Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tin Woodman, The Cowardly Lion
Related Symbols: Dorothy’s Silver Slippers
Page Number: 187
Explanation and Analysis: