The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The Scarecrow is an intelligent and discerning, although naive and inexperienced, character. The Scarecrow is only a few days old when he meets Dorothy and misunderstands his lack of experiential knowledge (he has spent his short life on a pole in a field) for the absence of a brain. It is clear that the Scarecrow can reason thoughtfully and solve problems, and that he is fully sentient even though he does not have a literal brain.

The Scarecrow joins Dorothy on her journey toward the Emerald City; he plans to ask the Wizard of Oz for a brain. He demonstrates his existing intelligence through saving his friends in many difficult situations, such directing the Woodman to chop down a tree to form a bridge that allows the group to cross a crevasse. The Scarecrow is given the gift of “brains” by Oz, but putting bran, pins, and needles into his head does not make him any more intelligent—it merely provides him with greater Confidence and Self-Belief. The Scarecrow ends up as ruler of the Emerald City after Oz departs in a balloon. The Scarecrow is pleased with his change in situation after his journey with Dorothy: “When I remember that a short time ago I was up on a pole in a farmer’s cornfield, and that now I am the ruler of this beautiful City, I am quite satisfied with my lot” (154).

The Tin Woodman was cursed by the Wicked Witch of the West; as a man, he chopped off his limbs, head, and body. His body parts were incrementally replaced with tin until he was made entirely of tin. Dorothy and the Scarecrow discover the Woodman’s frozen form, begging for help. They oil his joints until he can move again. Once he learns of their mission, the Woodman decides to join the group on their journey to see the Wizard of Oz; he desperately wishes to have a heart.

The Tin Woodman interprets his faded affection for the Munchkin woman he was in love with as evidence of his lack of heart; however, he proves that he is kind-hearted numerous times on the journey to the Emerald City. He weeps when he accidentally crushes a beetle in his path, and he saves a mouse from a wildcat. The Woodman enjoys the company of the Winkies of the West; these people invite him to rule after the Wicked Witch of the West is dispatched by Dorothy. The Wizard of Oz gives the Woodman a small satin heart, and the Woodman believes that this object allows him feelings and emotions. However, the Woodman already had a rich emotional experience and a caring attitude toward others. As with the Scarecrow, what the Woodman lacked was Confidence and Self-Belief. Once Dorothy returns to Kansas, the Woodman plans to return to the West to rule benevolently in the Wicked Witch’s place.

The Cowardly Lion is a caring and courageous individual. He joins Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodman on their journey to the Emerald City, hoping that the Wizard of Oz will give him the gift of courage. Although the Lion’s courage is revealed many times over during the group’s journey through the Land of Oz, he does not believe himself to be brave until he drinks Oz’s green liquid. Like the other characters, the Lion already possesses the bravery that he so ardently seeks, but he lacks the Confidence and Self-Belief to see it. Before the Wizard of Oz’s intervention, he roars at the terrifying Khalids and faces the armed Winkies to save his friends. The Wizard correctly explains that it is normal to feel fear, and that courage means taking action despite those fears. This is something the Lion was already capable of doing.

The Lion finds a home in the dense, old forest of the South, where he is hailed by the other animals as King of the Forest after defeating a fearsome giant spider. He returns to the forest after Dorothy finds her way back to Kansas.