The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Key Characters

• Dorothy Gale: A young orphan girl from Kansas whose journey through Oz forms the central narrative. Dorothy is characterized by her kindness, practicality, and deep desire to return home. Her direct, honest approach to problems and her loyalty to her friends embody the novel's values.
• Toto: Dorothy's small black dog who accompanies her throughout her adventures. Though he cannot speak, Toto serves as Dorothy's constant companion and occasionally influences the plot through his actions, representing loyalty and instinctive wisdom.
• Scarecrow: A figure stuffed with straw who joins Dorothy to ask the Wizard for brains. Despite his belief in his own stupidity, the Scarecrow consistently demonstrates intelligence and problem-solving skills throughout their journey, ultimately discovering that he possessed wisdom all along.
• Tin Woodman: Originally a human woodcutter who was enchanted and gradually transformed into a being made entirely of tin. He seeks a heart from the Wizard, yet repeatedly shows compassion and emotional sensitivity, revealing that his quest is more about symbolic recognition than actual need.
• Cowardly Lion: A lion who lacks courage and joins the group hoping the Wizard can grant him bravery. Throughout their adventures, he repeatedly acts courageously despite his fears, eventually realizing that true courage is acting despite fear rather than the absence of it.
• The Wizard of Oz: A seemingly powerful and mysterious figure who rules the Emerald City, later revealed to be an ordinary man from Nebraska who arrived in Oz by hot air balloon. His character represents the difference between perceived authority and actual ability, as well as the power of confidence and showmanship.
• Wicked Witch of the West: The primary antagonist who attempts to capture Dorothy and her friends. One-eyed and cruel, she represents the malevolent forces that the protagonists must overcome, though Baum portrays her as a complex character with weaknesses rather than as pure evil.
• Glinda, the Good Witch of the South: A powerful and beautiful sorceress who ultimately helps Dorothy return home. Glinda represents wisdom, benevolence, and the proper use of power.