The Wizard, Us And The Yellow Brick Road
I just listened to a song by Iselin Solheim, 'The Wizard of Us and it seems such an apt way of understanding the book and movie 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', published in 1900 by L Frank Baum. Most know the story from the 1939 movie; few being aware that Baum wrote 13 more novels based on places and people of the 'Land of Oz'. The first book and its movie seem enough; even today grownups and children are fascinated as the movie shifts from grim black and white Kansas to the almost garish technicolour world of Munchkin land and Oz. Why is the old movie so timeless? What does it teach that we find so appealing even today? Why have so many writers and thinkers looked for deeper meanings within it? The story and movie begin with the young, lonely and misunderstood Dorothy and her pet dog Toto being swept away from their Kansas home by a cyclone, and goes on to chronicle their adventures in the magical Land of Oz, and the various interesting characters she encounters along the way, tills he finds a way to get back 'Home'. Joey Green in 'The Zen of Oz ‘finds Zen insights in it, seeing Glinda, the Good Witch as a Zen master who sets Dorothy on the Yellow Brick Road to enlightenment. Dorothy stumbles upon companions on the way: The Scarecrow stands for all those who let others stifle their dreams and aspirations; the Tin Man represents soul often paralysed by indecisiveness; the Cowardly Lion symbolises those who can't find the courage to make the spiritual journey alone. Everything that happens to Dorothy on her 'Journey' is part of the process of finding her own true self. Salman Rushdie feels that The Wizard of Oz is more than a children's story-it has been successful because it embodies some of our most enduring values. In fact Rushdie side-steps the conventional view that its fantasy of escape from reality ends with a comfortingreturn to home, sweet home. He rather believes it shows that imagination can become reality, the only home is the one we go out and make for ourselves. Many have felt that each of the characters represent different aspects of oneself. Dorothy is the rather naïve but curious and open part,the aspect most likely to lead us to deeper discovery and meaning. The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion are other aspects of ourselves; afraid of not being smart, loved, or courageous enough. Toto is the instinctual part that notices what others don't and often saves the day According to Steve Adams in hiss ‘The Wizard of Ozas a Parable', it is a allegorical tale of the soul's journey athe spiritual path, or 'the yellow brickroad'. In fact, when lured off the road seekers are overcome by the sleep-inducing poppies and they are helped toback on path' by the helpful Good With acts as Dorothy's protectorandgWhat's brought out beautifully isthe story shows that what each one thought they lacked-and were lookthe Wizard to give them-they reallyalready possessed, butjust didn't knThe Wizard turns out to be the illsion of being dependent on a teacher guru to solve all our problems. It toolexperiences,some time, a few challeand working togetherto support eacother even as a very disparate-seemiteam, to show them they possessed theary thingthey thought they did not
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Marguerite Theophil kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy : Marguerite Theophil Speaking Tree ,Times of India
The Wizard, Us And The Yellow Brick Road
I just listened to a song by Iselin Solheim, 'The Wizard of Us and it seems such an apt way of understanding the book and movie 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', published in 1900 by L Frank Baum. Most know the story from the 1939 movie; few being aware that Baum wrote 13 more novels based on places and people of the 'Land of Oz'. The first book and its movie seem enough; even today grownups and children are fascinated as the movie shifts from grim black and white Kansas to the almost garish technicolour world of Munchkin land and Oz. Why is the old movie so timeless? What does it teach that we find so appealing even today? Why have so many writers and thinkers looked for deeper meanings within it? The story and movie begin with the young, lonely and misunderstood Dorothy and her pet dog Toto being swept away from their Kansas home by a cyclone, and goes on to chronicle their adventures in the magical Land of Oz, and the various interesting characters she encounters along the way, tills he finds a way to get back 'Home'. Joey Green in 'The Zen of Oz ‘finds Zen insights in it, seeing Glinda, the Good Witch as a Zen master who sets Dorothy on the Yellow Brick Road to enlightenment. Dorothy stumbles upon companions on the way: The Scarecrow stands for all those who let others stifle their dreams and aspirations; the Tin Man represents soul often paralysed by indecisiveness; the Cowardly Lion symbolises those who can't find the courage to make the spiritual journey alone. Everything that happens to Dorothy on her 'Journey' is part of the process of finding her own true self. Salman Rushdie feels that The Wizard of Oz is more than a children's story-it has been successful because it embodies some of our most enduring values. In fact Rushdie side-steps the conventional view that its fantasy of escape from reality ends with a comfortingreturn to home, sweet home. He rather believes it shows that imagination can become reality, the only home is the one we go out and make for ourselves. Many have felt that each of the characters represent different aspects of oneself. Dorothy is the rather naïve but curious and open part,the aspect most likely to lead us to deeper discovery and meaning. The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion are other aspects of ourselves; afraid of not being smart, loved, or courageous enough. Toto is the instinctual part that notices what others don't and often saves the day According to Steve Adams in hiss ‘The Wizard of Ozas a Parable', it is a allegorical tale of the soul's journey athe spiritual path, or 'the yellow brickroad'. In fact, when lured off the road seekers are overcome by the sleep-inducing poppies and they are helped toback on path' by the helpful Good With acts as Dorothy's protectorandgWhat's brought out beautifully isthe story shows that what each one thought they lacked-and were lookthe Wizard to give them-they reallyalready possessed, butjust didn't knThe Wizard turns out to be the illsion of being dependent on a teacher guru to solve all our problems. It toolexperiences,some time, a few challeand working togetherto support eacother even as a very disparate-seemiteam, to show them they possessed theary thingthey thought they did not
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Marguerite Theophil kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy : Marguerite Theophil Speaking Tree ,Times of India