Winkie Country
The Winkie Country is the western quadrant of the Land of Oz, a land of yellow as its dominant color, ruled for many years by the Wicked Witch of the West. It is a region defined by its subjugation under a cruel tyrant and its eventual liberation, after which it finds a wise and kind ruler in the Tin Woodman. The country's identity is closely tied to its people, the Winkies, and their journey from bondage to freedom, making it a key location in the narrative of Dorothy's quest.
Geography and Appearance
The Winkie Country lies to the west of the Emerald City, a land where the sun sets. Unlike the blue of the Munchkin Country in the east, the Winkie Country is characterized by the color yellow. The landscape is described as having fields of buttercups and yellow daisies, and the houses and fences are painted a bright yellow. The country is not as fertile or well-tended as the lands nearer the Emerald City; it is rougher and hillier, with untilled ground, reflecting the neglect of the Wicked Witch's rule. The Wicked Witch's castle, a formidable structure, is located in this country, and it is from here that she commands her forces and terrorizes the Winkies.
History and Rule
The Winkie Country was under the oppressive rule of the Wicked Witch of the West for many years. She held the Winkies in bondage, forcing them to work as her slaves night and day. The Witch's power was maintained through fear and her magical abilities, including the use of the Golden Cap to command the Winged Monkeys. She used the Winged Monkeys to enslave the Winkies and to drive Oz himself out of the Land of the West. The Winkies were not a brave people, but they were forced to obey the Witch's commands, even when sent to attack Dorothy and her companions with sharp spears. The Witch's cruelty was such that she beat them with a strap when they failed. The country's liberation came when Dorothy melted the Wicked Witch of the West with a bucket of water. Upon the Witch's death, Dorothy immediately called all the Winkies together and declared them free from slavery. The Winkies celebrated with great rejoicing, keeping that day as a holiday ever after, spending it in feasting and dancing.
The Winkies and Their Character
The Winkies are described as a people who are not naturally brave, but they are kind and loyal. They are skilled craftsmen, particularly as tinsmiths and goldsmiths. After the Witch's defeat, they prove themselves to be generous and grateful. They help Dorothy rescue the Tin Woodman, carrying him tenderly back to the castle and working for three days and four nights to mend his battered and dented body, hammering, twisting, bending, soldering, and polishing him back to his old form. They also help retrieve the Scarecrow's clothes from a tall tree. When Dorothy and her friends prepare to leave, the Winkies give them gifts: a golden collar 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. They are sorry to see the travelers go, having grown fond of the Tin Woodman, and they beg him to stay and rule over them.
The Tin Woodman's Rule
After the Wicked Witch's death, the Winkies express their desire for the Tin Woodman to stay and rule over them and the Yellow Land of the West. The Tin Woodman, who has grown fond of the Winkies, eventually agrees. Glinda the Good Witch, using the Golden Cap, commands the Winged Monkeys to carry him safely back to the land of the Winkies. She assures him that he will rule the Winkies wisely and well, noting that he is brighter than the Scarecrow when well polished. The Tin Woodman's rule marks a new era for the Winkie Country, one of kindness and justice under a leader who, despite having no heart, takes great care never to be cruel or unkind to anything. His reign is a direct contrast to the tyranny of the Wicked Witch, bringing peace and prosperity to the land.
