The Audience with the Terrible Beast

The third of the four private audiences granted by the Wizard Oz to Dorothy's companions was the one sought by the Tin Woodman, who hoped to receive a heart. The event took place the morning after the Scarecrow's audience with the lovely Lady, when the Soldier with the Green Whiskers came to the Tin Woodman and said, "Oz has sent for you. Follow me." The Woodman followed him into the great Throne Room, uncertain whether he would find Oz as a lovely Lady or as the great Head Dorothy had described. He hoped for the Lady, reasoning that "if it is the head, I am sure I shall not be given a heart, since a head has no heart of its own and therefore cannot feel for me. But if it is the lovely Lady I shall beg hard for a heart, for all ladies are themselves said to be kindly hearted."

The Appearance of the Terrible Beast

When the Tin Woodman entered the Throne Room, he saw neither the Head nor the Lady. Instead, Oz had taken the shape of a most terrible Beast, nearly as big as an elephant, and the green throne seemed hardly strong enough to hold its weight. The Beast had a head like that of a rhinoceros, but with five eyes in its face. Five long arms grew out of its body, and it also had five long, slim legs. Thick, woolly hair covered every part of it, making it a more dreadful-looking monster than could be imagined. The Tin Woodman, being made of tin, was not at all afraid, although he was much disappointed. The Beast spoke in a voice that was one great roar: "I am Oz, the Great and Terrible. Who are you, and why do you seek me?"

The Woodman's Plea and Oz's Condition

The Tin Woodman answered, "I am a Woodman, and made of tin. Therefore I have no heart, and cannot love. I pray you to give me a heart that I may be as other men are." Oz demanded, "Why should I do this?" The Woodman replied, "Because I ask it, and you alone can grant my request." Oz gave a low growl and said gruffly, "If you indeed desire a heart, you must earn it." When the Woodman asked how, the Beast answered, "Help Dorothy to kill the Wicked Witch of the West. When the Witch is dead, come to me, and I will then give you the biggest and kindest and most loving heart in all the Land of Oz."

Consequences and Aftermath

The Tin Woodman was forced to return sorrowfully to his friends and tell them of the terrible Beast he had seen. They all wondered greatly at the many forms the Great Wizard could take upon himself. The Lion, hearing this, declared that if Oz appeared as a Beast when he went to see him, he would roar his loudest and frighten the Wizard into granting his wish. The Woodman's audience thus reinforced the pattern Oz had established with Dorothy and the Scarecrow: each visitor saw a different form, and each was given the same impossible task—to destroy the Wicked Witch of the West—before any wish would be granted. This event deepened the mystery of Oz's true nature and set the stage for the entire party's journey to the West.