2007-02-23 02:08:58 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Being a wizard myself, I knew the Wizard of Oz. The man was a phoney hiding behind a curtin. That's the parallel.
2007-02-23 02:14:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
The Wizard of Oz is actually a fairly good metaphor for the process of repentence...especially how Judaism views repentence. The adventure that Dorothy goes thru and the characters she meets along the way, in the order that she meets them is exactly parallel. If one were to read the classic work 'Shaare Teshuvah' - The Gates of Repentence by Rabbeinu Yonah along with The Wizard of Oz, one would see the relationship very clearly.
2007-02-23 10:15:42 · answer #2 · answered by mzJakes 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Dorothy is looking for happiness and a better life....instead of realizing that she has it within herself to create her own happiness she goes looking else where. She finds good and evil in her search for answers. When she finally first meets the "Wizard" she is amazed and humbled by his great power. Much like Christians when they first get saved") She is put to the test...she puts her trust in the great wizard and trust what he is telling her must be the right way to reach her happiness. Much like people today that put there faith in a priest or an organized religion, they look up to these people as if they had some kind of special ability to harness the power and thoughts of "God".when in reality they are just imperfect men making themselves seem powerful and knowledgeable. When all was said and done Dorothy, , just like Christians today, had put her faith in a man behind a cloak,....When she finally wakes from her dream like state of unconsciousness she realizes that her happiness could have been found within herself and the loving people around her all along.
The other thing that I find interesting is that she found others like herself that felt that they were missing something too. The lion, the scarecrow, and the Tin man, lead by blind faith to follow and trust someone preaching a better life, because they too were searching for peace and happiness .When All they really had to do is look with in themselves. There is no great wizard.....just self righteous men pretending to know the answers to lifes questions. And if you have half a brain, a little courage,and a bit of love in your heart for yourself and those around you, you dont have to go looking any further than your own home for your happiness.
2007-02-23 11:14:08 · answer #3 · answered by skipper 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Wicked Witch of the West certainly parallels Satan, but I have a hard time with the Wizard being a parallel of God!...hiding behind that curtain and taking off for Kansas without Dorothy! He reminds me more of GWB!
2007-02-23 10:13:22 · answer #4 · answered by bradxschuman 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
LOL
I know you know the whole William Jennings Bryant as Oz....the political and cultural satire....etc.....
Modern ones.......the creationists saying pay no attention to the scientist behind the curtain.
The evil pagan...maybe even atheist...which using monkeys to do her dirty work.....we evolutionists.
The tin man, instead of becoming the symbol for labor, becomes the Catholic Church.....he works so hard...but every time he works he keeps cutting off body parts.
The Lion is probably how they would view Evangelicals....they have all the power, are unafraid to use it....and are now roaring.
We are probably the scarecrow...well meaning....but mindless....we'll recieve our brain from the man behind the curtain.
Dorothy is still the good little sweet, wholesome, Christian every girl.
You should hear my old stoned college theories on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
2007-02-23 10:18:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wizard - God or pastor
Witch - Satan
Flying Moneys - Temptations
Glenda - Holy Ghost or Christ (I have heard both)
Loin, Scarecrow, Tin-man and Dorthy - imperfect people
yellow brick road - Path to Righteousness
2007-02-23 10:22:46 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Bible and its stories have been inspiration for all kinds of literature for a long time. Why would it be a surprise?
2007-02-23 10:13:55 · answer #7 · answered by Love Shepherd 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have characters lacking a brain and a heart so they are a figurative representation of evangelical Christians.
2007-02-23 10:12:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 1⤋
Whatever parallels you want there to be.
2007-02-23 10:13:57 · answer #9 · answered by It Co$t To Be Around The Bo$$ 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Brainless people, heartless people, cowards and people looking for somewhere to belong going in search of someone who can provide them with those things.
2007-02-23 10:13:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋