Dorothy and Guardian of the Gates

The Guardian of the Gates is the first official of the Emerald City whom Dorothy and her companions encounter, and he plays a crucial role as both a gatekeeper and a guide, enforcing the city's distinctive green-spectacle rule and later facilitating the travelers' return after their triumph over the Wicked Witch of the West.

Identity and Role

The Guardian of the Gates is a little man about the same size as the Munchkins, clothed entirely in green, from his head to his feet, and even his skin has a greenish tint. He carries a large green box at his side. When Dorothy and her companions first arrive at the great gate studded with emeralds, he asks what they wish in the Emerald City. Upon hearing that they have come to see the Great Oz, he is so surprised that he sits down to think it over, remarking that it has been many years since anyone asked to see Oz. He warns them that Oz is powerful and terrible, and that if they come on an idle or foolish errand, he might be angry and destroy them all in an instant. The Scarecrow insists their errand is important, and the Guardian acknowledges that Oz rules the Emerald City wisely and well, but that to those who are not honest or who approach him from curiosity, he is most terrible.

Enforcing the Spectacles Rule

The Guardian explains that before entering the city, Dorothy and her friends must put on spectacles, because the brightness and glory of the Emerald City would blind them without them. He reveals that even those who live in the city must wear spectacles night and day, and that they are all locked on, for Oz so ordered it when the city was first built. The Guardian alone possesses the only key that will unlock them. He opens his big box, which is filled with spectacles of every size and shape, all with green glasses. He finds a pair that fits Dorothy and puts them over her eyes, fastening them with two golden bands that pass around the back of her head, locked together by a little key at the end of a chain he wears around his neck. He then fits spectacles for the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Lion, and even little Toto, locking all of them fast with the key. After putting on his own glasses, he takes a big golden key from a peg on the wall, opens another gate, and leads them through the portal into the streets of the Emerald City.

Guidance and Farewell

When Dorothy and her companions later leave the Emerald City to seek the Wicked Witch of the West, the Guardian unlocks their spectacles and puts them back in his great box. He politely opens the gate for them. When Dorothy asks which road leads to the Wicked Witch of the West, he replies that there is no road, because no one ever wishes to go that way. He explains that when the Witch knows they are in the country of the Winkies, she will find them and make them all her slaves. The Scarecrow declares they mean to destroy her, and the Guardian responds that no one has ever destroyed her before, so he naturally thought she would make slaves of them. He advises them to keep to the West, where the sun sets, and they cannot fail to find her. Upon their return after melting the Witch, the Guardian is astonished to see them again and asks if the Witch let them go. The Scarecrow explains that she could not help it, for she is melted. The Guardian exclaims, "Melted! Well, that is good news, indeed," and when the Lion gravely says it was Dorothy who melted her, the Guardian bows very low before her. He then leads them into his little room and locks the spectacles on their eyes again, after which they pass through the gate into the Emerald City. When the people hear from the Guardian that Dorothy has melted the Wicked Witch of the West, they gather around the travelers and follow them in a great crowd to the Palace of Oz. When Dorothy bids the Guardian a last farewell, she tells him she has been very kindly treated in the city and that everyone has been good to her. He answers that they would like to keep her with them, but if it is her wish to return to Kansas, he hopes she will find a way. He then opens the gate of the outer wall, and they walk forth to start their journey south.