Winkies

The Winkies are the people who live in the western country of the Land of Oz, a region ruled for many years by the Wicked Witch of the West. They are first mentioned as a subject population, held in bondage by the Witch, who forced them to work as her slaves night and day. When Dorothy and her companions set out to find the Witch, the Guardian of the Gates tells them that the Witch will make them all her slaves, as she has done with the rest of the Winkies. This establishes the Winkies as a people defined by their subjugation and their lack of agency under a tyrannical ruler.

Enslavement and the Witch's Cruelty

The Wicked Witch of the West ruled the Winkies with an iron hand. When her initial attacks on Dorothy's party failed, she called a dozen of her Winkie slaves, gave them sharp spears, and ordered them to destroy the strangers. The Winkies, however, were not a brave people; they marched forward only because they had to do as they were told. When the Cowardly Lion gave a great roar and sprang toward them, the poor Winkies were so frightened that they ran back as fast as they could. Upon their return to the castle, the Wicked Witch beat them well with a strap and sent them back to their work. This incident reveals both the Witch's cruelty and the Winkies' enforced obedience, as well as their inherent timidity. The Witch's castle was constantly guarded by the yellow Winkies, who were too afraid of her not to do as she commanded, ensuring that Dorothy and the Lion could find no way to escape.

Liberation and Rejoicing

The Winkies' liberation comes directly from Dorothy's accidental destruction of the Wicked Witch. After Dorothy melted the Witch with a bucket of water, she immediately called all the Winkies together and told them that they were no longer slaves. The response was one of great rejoicing: the Winkies, who had been made to work hard for many years and treated with great cruelty, kept that day as a holiday, then and ever after, spending the time in feasting and dancing. This moment marks a complete reversal of their condition, from bondage to freedom, and establishes a deep bond of gratitude between the Winkies and Dorothy.

Gratitude and Service to Dorothy's Party

The Winkies' gratitude is expressed through concrete acts of service. When Dorothy asked if any of them were tinsmiths, they eagerly brought their tools and, working for three days and four nights, hammered, twisted, bent, soldered, and polished the Tin Woodman back into his old form, patching him so well that he was as good as ever. A goldsmith among them made a new axe-handle of solid gold to replace the broken one, and others polished the blade until it glistened like burnished silver. When the Scarecrow's clothes were recovered from the top of a tall tree, the Winkies carried them back to the castle and stuffed them with nice, clean straw, restoring the Scarecrow to his former self. These acts demonstrate the Winkies' skill, industry, and heartfelt willingness to help those who freed them.

The Offer of Kingship and the Farewell Gifts

When Dorothy and her friends decided to return to the Emerald City to claim Oz's promises, the Winkies were sorry to see them go. They had grown so fond of the Tin Woodman that they begged him to stay and rule over them and the Yellow Land of the West. Though the Woodman initially declined to stay, the Winkies' affection was clear. As a parting gesture, they gave Toto and the Lion each a golden collar; presented Dorothy with a beautiful bracelet studded with diamonds; gave the Scarecrow a gold-headed walking stick to keep him from stumbling; and offered the Tin Woodman a silver oil-can, inlaid with gold and set with precious jewels. Every one of the travelers made the Winkies a pretty speech in return, and all shook hands with them until their arms ached. The Winkies then gave them three cheers and many good wishes as they departed.

Narrative Role and Significance

The Winkies function as a collective character representing the oppressed people of Oz who are liberated by the heroes' quest. Their transformation from terrified slaves to joyful, generous, and skilled artisans underscores the theme of freedom and the positive consequences of defeating tyranny. Their offer of kingship to the Tin Woodman provides a fitting resolution for his character arc, giving him a purpose and a community to rule over after he receives his heart. The Winkies' existence also serves to highlight the Wicked Witch's cruelty and the genuine goodness of Dorothy and her companions, who not only destroy the oppressor but also restore the oppressed to a state of dignity and self-determination.