Rulership

Rulership in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a central and evolving condition that shapes the political landscape of the Land of Oz. It appears in multiple forms: the cruel enslavement of the Munchkins by the Wicked Witch of the East, the deceptive and theatrical reign of Oz the Great and Terrible, the grateful and capable rule of the Scarecrow over the Emerald City, the Tin Woodman's leadership of the Winkies, and the Lion's kingship over the forest beasts. The narrative consistently contrasts illegitimate, coercive rule with legitimate, service-oriented governance, and ultimately suggests that true rulership is earned through action and character rather than inherited or claimed through fraud.

Oppressive Rulership: Bondage and Fear

The first form of rulership encountered is the oppressive tyranny of the Wicked Witch of the East, who held all the Munchkins in bondage for many years, making them slave for her night and day. This rule was based on fear and force, and the Munchkins were freed only when Dorothy's house accidentally fell on the Witch. Similarly, the Wicked Witch of the West ruled the Winkies with cruelty, treating them harshly and making them work hard for many years. Her reign ended when Dorothy melted her with a bucket of water, after which the Winkies rejoiced and kept the day as a holiday. These examples establish that rulership in Oz can be a form of violent subjugation, but also that such power is vulnerable to unexpected forces.

Deceptive Rulership: Oz the Humbug

Oz himself represents a different kind of rulership: one built entirely on illusion and fear. He ordered the construction of the Emerald City and his Palace, and to make the name fit better, he put green spectacles on all the people so that everything they saw appeared green. He shut himself up in his Throne Room and refused to see anyone, maintaining the pretense that he was a Great Wizard. He admitted that he lived in deadly fear of the Wicked Witches for many years, and that his greatest fear was being found out. When the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, Lion, and Dorothy discovered his true identity as a common man and a humbug, Oz confessed that he had fooled everyone for so long. His rulership was a performance, sustained by secrecy and the complicity of the ruled, who believed in his power because they had no evidence to the contrary.

Earned Rulership: The Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Lion

After Oz's departure, rulership passes to those who have earned it through their journeys and personal growth. The Scarecrow becomes the ruler of the Emerald City, and the people are proud of him, noting that there is not another city in all the world ruled by a stuffed man. He takes his role seriously, thinking hard about how to help Dorothy return to Kansas. The Tin Woodman is offered the rulership of the Winkies, who are fond of him and want him to rule over them after the Wicked Witch died. He accepts this role, and Glinda confirms that he will rule the Winkies wisely and well. The Lion becomes the King of Beasts after killing the great spider that threatened the forest animals, and they bow down to him as their King. He promises to return and rule over them as soon as Dorothy is safely on her way to Kansas. In each case, rulership is a reward for service, courage, and wisdom, not a birthright or a deception.

Thematic Significance: The Nature of Legitimate Authority

The treatment of rulership in the novel challenges the idea that authority is inherent or magical. The Wicked Witches rule through fear and magic, but their power is brittle and easily undone. Oz rules through illusion, but his authority collapses the moment his secret is revealed. In contrast, the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Lion earn their positions through demonstrated competence, loyalty, and the fulfillment of their own quests. The narrative suggests that legitimate rulership is based on the consent and well-being of the governed, and that true leaders are those who serve others rather than exploit them. The Winkies' desire for the Tin Woodman to stay and rule, the forest beasts' voluntary submission to the Lion, and the Emerald City's pride in the Scarecrow all point to a model of governance rooted in mutual respect and earned trust. Ultimately, the novel implies that the best rulers are those who, like the Scarecrow, are "unusual" and wise, and who, like the Tin Woodman, are "bright" when polished, and who, like the Lion, have proven their courage in action.