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Following
the Yellow Brick Road
A
Journey to Self-Actualization
by
Catherine Mendelsohn
Several
scholars have interpreted
The Wizard of Oz as
a commentary on the political
landscape of the late 19th
century. Although certain
corollaries do apply, it is
surely not these political
innuendoes, nor even the rich
creative fantasy that make
this story a classic, which
continues to touch the hearts
of children and adults alike.
I believe that the reason
this story strikes such a
deep chord with so many is
that it reveals some of the
most basic universal truths
of the human condition and
depicts the journey to self-actualization.
One
important theme is that we
already possess the virtues
that we covet, although our
fear and self-doubt may blind
us to that truth. The Scarecrow
thought he lacked brains,
but in truth was very clever.
He hatched the plan
for
getting apples from the enchanted
trees and developed the strategy
for gaining access into the
witch's castle to rescue
Dorothy.
The
Tinman lacked a heart and
so believed himself incapable
of giving or feeling love,
but he was actually the most
tender and compassionate member
of the group, being easily
moved to tears when the Wicked
Witch tried to thwart them
with the cursed poppy field.
Later, when the monkeys abducted
Dorothy to the Witch's
castle, the Tinman sobbed,
“I can't bear to
think of her in that awful
place.”
Now,
the Lion truly was very fearful.
However, in the end he showed
the most courage because he
took the same risks as the
others, yet was even more
afraid than they, hence requiring
more courage on his part,
(courage, by definition, being
not the lack of fear but the
ability to act in spite of
it).
Dorothy
left Kansas to find a place
where she was loved and valued,
where her dearest dreams could
come true. Yet after arriving
in Oz as Munchkinland's
national heroine and had the
love and loyalty of her companions,
her deepest quest was to go
home. She learned that Home,
that place of utmost love
and understanding, wasn't
a place “somewhere over
the rainbow”; home was
where she already was, and
most importantly, she had
the power to go there “at
any time” if she only
chose to do so. She tells
the Good Witch: “If I
ever go looking for my heart's
desire, I won't go any
farther than my own backyard.
Because if it isn't there,
I never really lost it in
the first place.” Her
own backyard symbolizes her
own being. She learns that
the most cherished treasures
are already abundant inside
her. Thus, to find true peace
and happiness she need only
look within.
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