이야기꾼의 "초록 안경"

Storyteller's Green Spectacles: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The purpose of this article is to explore Oz's role as a storyteller in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz written by Frank Baum. He wanted to make modernized fairy tales different from traditional European fairy tales, so created a beautiful utopia Oz without evil, revenge, hate, and sadness. Dorothy who is eager to turn back to her hometown gray Kansas always helps the characters who are facing with difficulties; the Scarecrow is depressive not to have brains, the Tin Woodman is suffering from his lost heart, and the Cowardly Lion is in desperate need of courage. These virtues brains, heart and courage as necessary values for children to acquire are emphasized through Dorothy and three companions's adventure. While encountering with various characters, Dorothy and the three companions can realize the inner power of their own. Nonetheless, the three companions don't have any confidence of their inner ability and ask for brains, a heart, and courage to Oz. However, Dorothy realizes that she should solve her own problem by herself, not by Oz's help. In the Emerald City Oz built, people must put on green spectacles which are "all locked on night and day" for not being blind by the "brightness and glory" of the City. However, only through the spectacles people can see the brightness of the City. If people don't wear them, they could see "pure white". Designed by the Great Wizard Oz, the green spectacles make people live in a beautiful fantasy happily. Even though the Great Wizard is just a bad humbug and he deceives people and Dorothy, he is forgiven owing to his making beliefs and storytelling. The green spectacles are not only Oz but also Baum himself.