Analytic Lessons from Behind the Curtain
The Wizard of Oz — Perception vs Reality
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has a colorful history, all puns intended. It began as children’s book classic of 1900, which may or may not have been a political discourse on the dangers of populism and the battle over bi-metalism. Successful musicals soon followed in Chicago and New York. Finally, the version which most of us know, arrived on the big screen in brilliant Technicolor in 1939.
In each iteration, the story line of books, musicals, and movies have been altered. Originally, this was done by L. Frank Baum himself as he consulted on the early musicals which started in 1902. Baum’s role making him a much earlier version of George R. R. Martin and his early plot revisions create a battle for the throne of Oz.
Lessons on Perceptions
The theme of MGM’s adaptation is persistently evident. From a young girl’s perceptions of a black and white life in rural Kansas, springs a technicolored world of gold and emeralds. Dorothy’s adventures in the Land of Oz are full of symbols and metaphor as she follows the yellow brick road in her quest to return home.
Along the way, the stranded Dorothy meets powerless munchkins, a brainless scarecrow, a heartless woodsman, and a cowardly lion in her quest to find an all-powerful wizard. At least those are the perceptions.
By the end of the tale, the wizard is proven a con, the lion brave, and the scarecrow merely in need of a diploma. The genius of the wizard proves to be his deep understanding that perceptions and realities are often quite different.
In the final scenes, once again perception is questioned. When Dorothy fails to return with the wizard over the rainbow, her initial misery is alleviated when the good witch reveals that Dorothy’s ruby slippers have always given her the power to return whenever she wanted. A few clicks of the heal and our young heroine returns to Kansas to learn it was all just a dream… so fitting.
Another Level
It would be another two decades before speculation would begin that Baum’s original tale was a metaphor for the American political landscape at the turn of the century. The patterns are deep and whether purposeful symbolism or opportunistic inspiration, there is a story to be found.
The writers and producers at MGM did not have Frank Baum on staff. He had died to decades earlier. And Baum never spoke of his books as anything more than fanciful children’s novels about a wonderful and marvelous land of imagination. Yet, while the story line was consistently altered, the theme of every Oz adaptation hinges on perception vs reality.
Behind the Curtain
Analyst can never ignore the man behind the curtain. How are you misinterpreting reality? How is perception leading you astray? Perhaps like Dorothy, your silver-turned-ruby slippers have always given you the answer.
For more examples of common things that aren’t what they seem read this -
For a deeper understanding of perception vs reality consider this-
