Scarecrow

The Scarecrow is one of the most memorable characters in L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, a living figure made entirely of straw who joins Dorothy on her journey to the Emerald City. His quest for brains, his humble origins, and his eventual rise to become the wise ruler of the Emerald City embody the novel's central theme that true intelligence and self-worth are gained through experience, not bestowed by magic.

Identity and Origins

The Scarecrow was created by a Munchkin farmer to scare crows from the ripe corn. His head is a small sack stuffed with straw, with eyes, nose, and mouth painted on to represent a face. He wears an old, pointed blue hat that belonged to some Munchkin, and a blue suit of clothes, worn and faded, also stuffed with straw. On his feet are old boots with blue tops, and he is raised above the corn stalks by a pole stuck up his back. He was made only two days before Dorothy met him, and his first memory is of the farmer painting his ears and eyes. He heard the farmer say, "This fellow will scare the crows fast enough," and felt proud, thinking he was "just as good a man as anyone." However, an old crow soon saw through the deception, perching on his shoulder and declaring, "Any crow of sense could see that you are only stuffed with straw." The crow comforted him by saying, "If you only had brains in your head you would be as good a man as any of them, and a better man than some of them. Brains are the only things worth having in this world, no matter whether one is a crow or a man." This encounter set the Scarecrow on his quest for brains.

Arc Through the Plot

Dorothy discovers the Scarecrow when she stops to rest by a cornfield. She is surprised to see one of his eyes slowly wink at her, and then he nods his head in a friendly way. When she lifts him off the pole, he thanks her and explains his wish to get brains from the Great Oz. He joins her party, and throughout the journey, he proves to be a resourceful and thoughtful companion, despite his self-proclaimed lack of brains. He is the one who suggests using the Tin Woodman's axe to chop down a tree to cross the second ditch, and he devises the plan to have the field mice rescue the Cowardly Lion from the poppy field. When the Winged Monkeys capture the group, they pull all the straw out of his clothes and head, throwing his hat, boots, and clothes into the top branches of a tall tree. After the Wicked Witch of the West is melted, the Winkies help Dorothy retrieve his clothes and stuff them with nice, clean straw, restoring him to his former self. Upon returning to the Emerald City, the Scarecrow is the one who insists that Oz keep his promises, and he is the first to discover that Oz is a humbug when Toto knocks over the screen hiding the little old man.

Relationships and Conflict

The Scarecrow forms a deep bond with Dorothy, who is the first person to treat him with kindness and respect. He is grateful to her for lifting him from the pole and bringing him to the Emerald City, and he later declares, "If it wasn't for Dorothy I should never have had brains." He also develops a close friendship with the Tin Woodman, with whom he debates the relative merits of brains versus a heart. The Scarecrow argues, "A fool would not know what to do with a heart if he had one," while the Tin Woodman counters, "Brains do not make one happy, and happiness is the best thing in the world." The Scarecrow's primary conflict is with his own perceived foolishness, which drives his quest. He is also afraid of fire, a fear he reveals to Dorothy early in their journey: "There is only one thing in the world I am afraid of... a lighted match." This fear is practical, as a spark could easily burn his straw body.

Change and Ending

The Scarecrow's wish is granted when Oz, the humbug, gives him a "lot of bran-new brains" by filling his head with a mixture of bran, pins, and needles. After this, the Scarecrow feels wise and declares, "When I get used to my brains I shall know everything." When Oz departs in the balloon, he appoints the Scarecrow as the ruler of the Emerald City, commanding the people, "The Scarecrow will rule over you. I command you to obey him as you would me." The people are proud of their new ruler, saying, "There is not another city in all the world that is ruled by a stuffed man." The Scarecrow proves his wisdom by thinking hard about how to help Dorothy return to Kansas, and he decides to travel with her to the South to seek Glinda's help. After Glinda reveals the power of the Silver Shoes, the Scarecrow is carried by the Winged Monkeys back to the Emerald City, where he rules wisely and well. His final words in the story reflect his satisfaction: "I am quite satisfied with my lot."

Thematic Significance

The Scarecrow's journey from a helpless figure on a pole to the wise ruler of a city embodies the novel's central theme that intelligence and self-worth are not innate but are developed through experience, relationships, and the courage to face challenges. His belief that he lacks brains is a misconception; throughout the story, he consistently demonstrates cleverness, resourcefulness, and emotional insight. His transformation is not the result of Oz's magic but of his own actions and the journey itself. The Scarecrow's story also highlights the value of friendship and loyalty, as he remains devoted to Dorothy until she is safely on her way home. His final contentment as a ruler, despite being made of straw, reinforces the idea that one's worth is determined not by one's physical composition but by one's character and deeds.