Occult Symbolism In Wizard Of Oz

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During 1939, The Wizard of Oz made its debut in the United States. Based off the 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, the movie displays the mystical adventure of a young girl, Dorothy Gale. Beginning in Kansas on Dorothy’s aunt and uncle’s farm, the film focuses around Dorothy and her monotonous life. Shortly into the movie, Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are swept away by a twister and dropped off in the magical Land of Oz. Here she meets the Good Witch of the North, Glinda. She advises Dorothy to follow the Yellow Brick Road and find the Wizard, who can grant Dorothy her wish of returning to Kansas. Along her path to the Emerald City, where the Wizard of Oz lives, she encounters the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. Each …show more content…

In relation to occult symbolism, the above quotes have illustrated these features. Toto, the inner voice, led Dorothy along her trek . Glinda, the guide, gave Dorothy the resources to lead her in the direction to what she ultimately desires, a way to return to Kansas. Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion searched for a want or need, while supporting Dorothy. In whole, each of these characters displayed good behavior in assisting the young girl in her exploration to illumination and enlightenment. “Like Dorothy’s journey, ours lead to a better self-understanding and, hopefully, to wisdom. But what does “wisdom” mean? I suspect it consists precisely in having discovered the brightness, the enchantment inside everything we have encountered all our lives.” …show more content…

Swift centers on maintaining his luxurious lifestyle, which includes high-fashioned dinner parties and exquisite taverns. The author strays from helping the less fortunate, although he reiterates the fact that his proposal will help the poor. Ironically, his proposal follows in the direction of genocide and ethnic cleansing. Additionally, near the end of A Modest Proposal, Swift writes this line stating that he lacks self-interest, “I have no children by which I can propose to get a single penny; the youngest being nine years old, and my wife past childbearing.” (A MODEST

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