TEST essay.

A French Feminist Look at the 'Wizard of Oz'

Mr. P. Murray
ENG 4UE
Department of English
October 28th, 2008

From a French feminist’s point of view, endless objects, acts, and movements can be perceived differently. Whether one agrees or disagrees with the ideas themselves, it is apparent after explanation that some of their points are valid and worth checking out. In the movie ‘Wizard of Oz’ there are many possible underlying jabs at women and man-praising. Some examples of these can be found in the movie by; noting the shape and importance of the city of Oz, noting the fact that Dorothy must rely on the men surrounding her for help, and seeing how the good Witch of the North uses a wand for her powers.

The whole journey to Oz, to get help from the wizard, is top priority in the movie. It’s what Dorothy is aiming for and is relying on to get back home. Oz is the highest importance, needing to be achieved. Now, consider the appearance of the outside of the city with a critical eye, thinking the way a feminist might. The towers and protective wall are all extremely tall, slender, and pointy, getting wider at the base. This could be seen as a phallic form and therefore characterized as a man’s “area” so to say. With all the hype surrounding these GIANT penises, it seems Dorothy is intent on getting to the ‘man’, stopping at nothing for him and doing whatever it takes. Also, because the city is where everyone is trying to get to, it’s importance can relate to the idea of men and it can be assumed that the movie is portraying the idea that men are the greater, more important gender, with all the focus and hope lying on them. This is just some what theoretical of course, however, judging from the time the movie was made and the views of that time, women-men views were different and the male was still slightly more dominant in control and decisions. Is the movie saying Dorothy is striving for male genitalia? Who knows, but it would be in such a subtle way as to keep it innocent for the younger viewers, then unconsciously relating pointy objects to important power.

To continue on with the idea that ‘Wizard of Oz’ is displaying phallic objects and giving them more meaning, think of how Glinda, the good Witch, uses a slender, pointy wand as her tool and source of power, controlling things around her and solving problems with it. If the wand is also viewed as a male part, then all of the power and solutions are “coming” out the end of this object, to the happiness of all those around. This can be seen as another obvious form of male control, leaving Glinda herself actually at service of the wand and relying upon it for everything she needs. As back-up, the crown she is wearing also has the same general shapely idea behind it, with two big “poufs” on her dress to act as other parts, connecting the bigger picture. Concerning this good witch, one can go further into the French feminist idea and say, telling Dorothy to follow the yellow brick road is another way she is leading her into a man’s world, by allowing her to rely on the opposite sex and not by just helping her out on her own, which she was fully able to do.

Throughout Dorothy’s journey on the yellow brick road, she runs into 3 different men, gaining each as a friend and at one point or another seeking help or guidance from them in some way. In a French feminist state of mind, Dorothy should be fine doing this whole quest on her own, not needing to ask anything of the men, nor of anything from the wizard, who himself, is a man. The fact that all of the male characters have such big roles in the way things turn out for Dorothy and her goals, says something about the way things work in Oz and, it being an imaginary, ideal world, made up in her mind, the way Dorothy views the male sex in her own life and dreams. Having a man be the target solution to her problems in this dream land ‘over the rainbow’, signifies the importance of men and their powerful abilities and control they have over her. For example, the wizard said to get him a broom, she got him one, end of story, she obeyed his demands no matter how dangerous for herself. One contrary fact to this whole idea in this specific movie is the fact that her three friends; the scarecrow, tin man and cowardly lion, are all incomplete, missing parts therefore making them imperfect. This portrayal shows man as less than great and her as a little above them in a sense. She is not missing anything, only wanting to get home, not changing herself in any way.
Over all, the movie ‘Wizard of Oz’ has a morally good storyline and idea behind it. It is more the visual props and depictions that give different meanings. It could have been three female characters instead of her three old friends, though this might have lead to a negative portrayal on women (for example, saying the have no brain). In most ways, this movie depicts men as the greater sex, have an important role in life and the deciding factor when it comes to how to deal with problems that may arise. With the use of shapes and character personalities/roles, ‘Wizard of Oz’ gives Dorothy a chance to seek after the male gender for all of her answers and get her world back in order.