The King of Beasts

The King of Beasts is a title that represents the ultimate fulfillment of the Cowardly Lion's quest for courage. Throughout his journey with Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodman, the Lion is tormented by his own timidity, despite being physically imposing. He confesses that he was born a coward and that his great roar only frightens creatures who are even more fearful than he is. The title of King of Beasts, which he eventually earns, is not merely a ceremonial honor but a concrete proof of the bravery he has developed through action and self-sacrifice.

The Lion's Self-Image and the Ideal of Kingship

From his first appearance, the Cowardly Lion is acutely aware of the gap between his reputation and his true nature. He tells Dorothy that all the other animals in the forest naturally expect him to be brave, because the Lion is everywhere thought to be the King of Beasts. He has learned that if he roars very loudly, every living thing is frightened and gets out of his way, but he admits that whenever he has met a man he has been awfully scared. He confesses that if the elephants, tigers, and bears had ever tried to fight him, he would have run himself, because he is such a coward. This internal conflict makes his life very unhappy, and he joins Dorothy's party specifically to ask Oz for courage, hoping that this gift will allow him to truly become the King of Beasts that others already believe him to be.

The Encounter with the Forest Animals and the Spider Monster

After leaving the Dainty China Country, the travelers enter a vast, ancient forest where the trees are bigger and older than any they have ever seen. The Lion declares this forest perfectly delightful and says he would like to live there all his life. As they walk deeper, they hear a low rumble of growling animals and come upon an opening in the wood where hundreds of beasts of every variety—tigers, elephants, bears, wolves, and foxes—are gathered. The biggest of the tigers approaches the Lion and bows, addressing him as "O King of Beasts" and explaining that they are all threatened by a fierce enemy: a tremendous monster like a great spider, with a body as big as an elephant and legs as long as a tree trunk. The monster has already eaten all the other lions in the forest. The tiger tells the Lion that he has come in good time to fight their enemy and bring peace to all the animals once more.

The Lion's Victory and Coronation

The Lion, though still inwardly afraid, agrees to help. He asks the animals if they will bow down to him and obey him as King of the Forest if he puts an end to their enemy, and they all roar their assent. He then marches proudly away to do battle. He finds the great spider lying asleep, its body covered with coarse black hair and its head joined to its pudgy body by a neck as slender as a wasp's waist. Seeing this vulnerability, the Lion gives a great spring, lands directly on the monster's back, and with one blow of his heavy paw knocks the spider's head from its body. He watches until the long legs stop wiggling, confirming the creature is dead. He returns to the opening and announces proudly that the animals need fear their enemy no longer. The beasts then bow down to the Lion as their King, and he promises to come back and rule over them as soon as Dorothy is safely on her way to Kansas.

The Significance of the Title

The title "King of Beasts" is not given to the Lion by any external authority; it is earned through a genuine act of courage that involves facing a terrifying enemy alone. This event marks the climax of the Lion's personal arc, transforming him from a creature who was afraid of everything into a leader who protects others. The title also carries a thematic weight: it demonstrates that true kingship is not a matter of birth or reputation but of demonstrated bravery and service to the community. The Lion's victory over the spider monster is the concrete proof that he has finally acquired the courage he sought, and the title becomes the permanent symbol of his transformation.