Wizard of Oz - L. Frank Baum

📖 Book Information

Title: The Wizard of Oz

Author: L. Frank Baum

Year: 1900/2021

Publisher: Penerbit Kakatua

ISBN: 978-623-7543-27-5

Pages: 192

Version: Indonesian, paperback

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The Wizard of Oz, a children book with moral lessons about the roles heart, mind, and courage.

75/100

Synopsis

Dorothy thinks she is lost forever when a great whirlwind hits Kansas and abandons her and her dog far away in the magical Land of Oz. To get back home, Dorothy must travel to the Emerald City and find the mysterious Wizard of Oz. Along with her friends—the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion, whom she meets along the way—Dorothy embarks on a strange and wondrous adventure.

Review

The first time I heard the name "Oz" was from the Spanish band Mägo de Oz, which literally translates to the same title; it was only later that I realized the name came from a classic novel.

Since it is likely intended for children, the language used is quite simple, sometimes even carrying a repetitive, rhythmic quality. For instance, Baum frequently repeats the desires of the three companions—heart, brains, and courage—or the recurring number of 40 in the hordes sent by the Wicked Witch of the West to deal with our protagonists. Furthermore, the regions of the land being color-coded is very striking. The all-green Emerald City, in particular, feels rather gaudy and even a bit eerie when you picture it as the central setting. And those illustrations of the Tin Woodman’s head... uh, a bit horrific!

I have a few thoughts on certain points that crossed my mind. For example, when the Witch of the North explains that the absence of wizards in Kansas (the United States) is a sign of it being a "civilized" country. This reminded me of the witch hunts in Europe and America that eventually led to the Age of Enlightenment, where science began to dominate. This means the use of logic via the "brain" became paramount, a sentiment Baum touches upon through the Scarecrow: "I shall ask for brains instead of a heart; for a fool would not know what to do with a heart if he had one." Logical, yes, but things become lopsided if the heart isn't involved wisely and in balance. Humans can cheat, manipulate, and even destroy the world due to such an imbalance.

Oh, and while it's called a "civilized" land, the reality is that magical or spiritualistic practices still exist in the modern era there, and many people still believe in magic. Just look at the global elites revealed through the Epstein Files. Does a country steeped in mysticism, or one that thrives on science but lacks moral superiority, qualify as "uncivilized"? Yes and no...?

Other moral lessons to be gathered include friendship, cooperation, helping one another, and the importance of support—both from oneself and from others. The most fundamental lesson, however, is: believe in yourself.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, this is one of the first children's literary classics I've read, so I can't compare it to Alice in Wonderland or The Little Prince just yet. Regardless, the name The Wizard of Oz is so legendary that it doesn't really need any further recommendation or suggestion from me.