The Return to Kansas

The Return to Kansas is the climax of Dorothy's journey, the moment when her long-held wish to go home is finally fulfilled through the power of the Silver Shoes. After Glinda the Good Witch reveals the shoes' secret, Dorothy bids a sorrowful farewell to her companions and, in three swift steps, is transported from the ruby throne room of Glinda's castle to the broad Kansas prairie, where she is joyfully reunited with Aunt Em.

The Revelation of the Silver Shoes' Power

After Dorothy has told her entire story to Glinda and expressed her greatest wish to return to Kansas, the Good Witch leans forward and kisses the little girl's upturned face. Glinda then reveals the secret that has been with Dorothy since the beginning of her adventure: the Silver Shoes have wonderful powers. One of the most curious things about them, Glinda explains, is that they can carry the wearer to any place in the world in three steps, each step made in the wink of an eye. All Dorothy must do is knock the heels together three times and command the shoes to carry her wherever she wishes to go. Glinda adds that if Dorothy had known their power, she could have gone back to Aunt Em the very first day she came to the Land of Oz.

The Farewell to Companions

Before she departs, Dorothy takes a tender leave of her friends. She throws her arms around the Cowardly Lion's neck and kisses him, patting his big head tenderly. She then kisses the Tin Woodman, who is weeping in a way most dangerous to his joints. Finally, she hugs the soft, stuffed body of the Scarecrow in her arms instead of kissing his painted face, and finds herself crying at this sorrowful parting from her loving comrades. Glinda the Good steps down from her ruby throne to give the little girl a good-bye kiss, and Dorothy thanks her for all the kindness she has shown to her friends and herself.

The Journey Home

Dorothy now takes Toto up solemnly in her arms. Having said one last good-bye, she claps the heels of her shoes together three times and says, "Take me home to Aunt Em!" Instantly she is whirling through the air, so swiftly that all she can see or feel is the wind whistling past her ears. The Silver Shoes take but three steps, and then she stops so suddenly that she rolls over upon the grass several times before she knows where she is. At length she sits up and looks about her. She cries out, "Good gracious!" For she is sitting on the broad Kansas prairie, and just before her is the new farmhouse Uncle Henry built after the cyclone had carried away the old one. Uncle Henry is milking the cows in the barnyard, and Toto has jumped out of her arms and is running toward the barn, barking furiously. Dorothy stands up and finds she is in her stocking-feet, for the Silver Shoes have fallen off in her flight through the air and are lost forever in the desert.

The Reunion with Aunt Em

Aunt Em has just come out of the house to water the cabbages when she looks up and sees Dorothy running toward her. She cries out, "My darling child!" and folds the little girl in her arms, covering her face with kisses. She asks where in the world Dorothy came from, and Dorothy answers gravely, "From the Land of Oz. And here is Toto, too. And oh, Aunt Em! I'm so glad to be at home again!"