The Wizard of Oz

Next... let's do a study on the Wizard of Oz... This might take some time as there are so many "lessons" to be learned. I don't just merely want to talk about the book (as L Frank Baum wrote it)... I want to add another component to it. Of course there are several theories regarding the meaning behind the story (some declare ties to Populism, Buddhism, Jungian-ism and etc...). I lean toward a Jungian interpretation... Now... buckle up, this may take a few days... (cuz my little mind only works so fast)... Ready?

Since its publication in 1900, L. Frank Baum’s, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has delighted children and adults of all ages. Its characters Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion, and, of course, the Wizard himself have intrigued large audiences of readers and moviegoers who certainly see some of themselves in the portrayal. Witches, small dwarfs, strange animals, cyclones, magic, and fairies add further fantasy material. The story has a moral, or perhaps numerous morals, and a happy ending. There are many ways that this universal story can be interpreted through Jungian theory.

Carl Jung refers to four functions in the consciousness as ways of perceiving the world; sensation, thinking, feeling, and intuition. Sensation is our sense of function; it tells us that something is, that something exists, but nothing else. Thinking tells us what something is; it adds perception and judgment. Feeling tells us the value of things; what it is worth to us. Intuition enables us to look around corners and be concerned with the future; it allows us to see the future in the now. (Jung 11-17) Jung points out that each individual is strongest in one of these functions, and during one’s youth it is wise to develop that strong function and then, later on in life, to attempt to develop one or two of the others. Each function, as it becomes well-developed, has its counterpart that is weak; thinking’s counterpart is feeling, while sensation’s counterpart is intuition. These functions are also matched with the attitudes of extroversion and introversion. Extroversion looks outward toward objective facts and other people for reality; introversion looks inside oneself for answers and feelings. Thus, by combining one’s functions and attitudes, one can understand much about one’s individual personality. In addition to the concept of personal unconscious, Jung refers to a collective unconscious which contains the primeval general characteristics of man. His concept of the personal unconscious is called the shadow, a result of a compensatory reaction of one’s unconscious to conscious self or persona. To discover these unconscious parts is viewed by Jung as important if one is to continue development or individuation. Jung’s well adjusted self-actualized personality has not only developed two or three functions during his progression in life, but also has become aware of elements of his unconsciousness. As one moves toward understanding of unconscious, one becomes acquainted with one of the more mysterious of the archetypes, the anima (for the male) or the animus (for the female). Jung views this figure as necessary for understanding the opposite sex. When one becomes acquainted with this his anima, then he can begin the journey into his unconscious mind and discover parts of himself that otherwise would remain concealed, giving mere hints of their existence by behavior that to most is unexplainable.

It is imperative to get a handle on Jung's basic theory to fully comprehend the character analysis... So...chew on this for today and tomorrow we will begin to examine the character's individually... :)

If you pay close attention to this BloP in the next few days... you'll find several hidden meanings and messages... so keep up! I have LOTS to say.