Introduction
Today, The Wizard of Oz is an American classic of children’s literature and a written work recognized and appreciated globally. Baum’s most famous book teaches readers essential wisdom of life. In order for an individual to find their proper place, their home, in this world, they need to make an effort, test themselves, and challenge their status quo. It can even be said that the book can provide psychological support for doubting and hesitating young and adult people. All of these statements can also be applied to the 1939 movie adaptation. This essay will focus on Dorothy Gale, her ruby slippers, and their journey.
Dorothy Gale and Her Journey
Dorothy appears on screen without the well-known embellished shoe in both the book and the movie. After entering the Land of Oz, the heroine achieves her iconic look by landing on the Wicked Witch of the East. She was moved here from Kansas by a tornado that swept away her farmhouse, where she decided to hide from the natural disaster (Fleming). From the moment Glinda grants her the ruby slippers, these serve as Chekhov’s gun in the story.
Glinda says that the heroine can return home by finding the Wizard of Oz and following the yellow brick road (Fleming). Along the way, the protagonist discovers the symbolic trio of the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion. They meet with the mysterious wizard Oz, who promises to help them in exchange for the broomstick of the Western Wicked Witch. During their quest, the ruby slippers serve as Dorothy’s magical protection from the winged monkeys. After defeating the Wicked Witch of the West with water and receiving rewards from the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy uses her shoes to teleport back home.
Conclusion
The Wizard of Oz is a multi-genre American and world literature and cinema classic piece of art. The story’s central character is Dorothy Gale, with her silver slippers in the book and ruby ones in the movie. This paper briefly describes the main storyline and explains the plot function of the protagonist’s magic shoes. From the perspective of literary studies, this embellished shoe is Chekhov’s gun.
Work Cited
The Wizard of Oz. Directed by Victor Fleming, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1939.