Wicked Witch of the West and Winkies

The Wicked Witch of the West held the Winkies, the inhabitants of the western Land of Oz, in a state of brutal bondage for many years. She made them slave for her night and day, treating them with great cruelty and ruling through fear. The Winkies were not a brave people, and they obeyed her commands out of terror, even when ordered to attack Dorothy and her companions with sharp spears; they fled at the first roar of the Cowardly Lion, only to be beaten with a strap by the Witch upon their return. This dynamic of oppression and subjugation defined the relationship between the Witch and the Winkies, mirroring the tyranny of the Wicked Witch of the East over the Munchkins.

The Witch's Rule and the Winkies' Enslavement

The Wicked Witch of the West established her dominion over the Winkies with the aid of the Winged Monkeys, whom she commanded using the Golden Cap. The Winged Monkeys helped her enslave the Winkies and set herself to rule over their country. The Winkies were forced to work hard for many years, and the Witch's cruelty was a constant presence in their lives. Unlike the Munchkins, who were freed by the accidental death of the Wicked Witch of the East, the Winkies remained in bondage until Dorothy directly confronted and destroyed their oppressor.

Liberation and Rejoicing

Dorothy's accidental melting of the Wicked Witch of the West with a bucket of water brought an abrupt end to the Witch's reign. Dorothy's first act after freeing the Cowardly Lion was to call all the Winkies together and tell them that they were no longer slaves. The news sparked great rejoicing among the yellow Winkies, who kept that day as a holiday, then and ever after, spending the time in feasting and dancing. Their liberation was complete and immediate, a stark contrast to the years of suffering they had endured.

Gratitude and a New Ruler

The Winkies' gratitude toward Dorothy was profound. They eagerly helped her rescue the Tin Woodman, carrying his battered body back to the Yellow Castle and providing tinsmiths who worked for three days and four nights to hammer, twist, bend, solder, and polish him back into his old form. They also helped retrieve the Scarecrow's clothes from a tall tree. When the travelers prepared to leave, the Winkies gave them generous gifts: a golden collar each for Toto and the Lion, a diamond-studded bracelet for Dorothy, a gold-headed walking stick for the Scarecrow, and a silver oil-can inlaid with gold and set with precious jewels for the Tin Woodman. Most significantly, the Winkies 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. After Dorothy's departure, Glinda the Good Witch commanded the Winged Monkeys to carry the Tin Woodman safely back to the land of the Winkies, where he became their wise and well-loved ruler, a fitting end to their long subjugation.