Vanquishing a narcissists enablers may lie in their ‘Wizard of Oz’ origin story. Learn how Dorothy Gale saw the flying monkey destroyed.
Dorothy Gale
In L. Frank Baum’s seminal children’s book, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy Gale is a young protagonist whose narrative arc serves as a compelling allegory for the process of socialization and the acquisition of agency. Dorothy, a denizen of the austere Kansas plains, is abruptly displaced, transported via meteorological anomaly to the liminal space of Oz, a realm replete with fantastical signifiers.
Her subsequent journey along the Yellow Brick Road, a potent symbol of life’s linear yet unpredictable trajectory, constitutes a classic hero’s journey. This odyssey, driven by a nostalgic yearning for the familiar comforts of home, is, in essence, a profound exploration of the self. The tribulations encountered along this path, far from being merely punitive, function as catalysts for the deconstruction of her pre-adolescent naiveté. Through these experiences, Dorothy gains a nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics of power, both external and internal, and recognizes the inherent strength of her own moral virtues.
Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, an embodiment of benevolent authority, discerns within Dorothy a rare convergence of ethical attributes: kindness, courage, and unwavering loyalty. This recognition prompts her to bestow on Dorothy the magical ruby slippers, objects of considerable symbolic weight. This act underscores the fundamental distinction between Dorothy and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, whose corruption stands in stark contrast to Dorothy’s inherent purity and resilience. Dorothy, unlike her antithetical counterpart, possesses the ethical fortitude to wield such power for the advancement of communal good, rather than for self-aggrandizement.
Thus, Baum’s narrative provides a rich tapestry for sociological analysis, exploring themes of displacement, social learning, and the ethical dimensions of power.