The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Chapters 16-19
Chapters 16-19
The following day, the companions visit Oz, one after the other to have their wishes fulfilled. The first to receive his wish is the Scarecrow, whose head Oz repackages with bran and some pins and needles. The Tin Woodman follows and Oz cuts his tin breastplate and stuffs inside it a heart made of silk stuffed with sawdust. Then it is the Lion's turn, and Oz gives him courage by making him drink a liquid that he pours into a golden dish from a green vial that he claims will turn into courage once it is inside of him. Oz is worried about Dorothy's wish to return to Kansas for he knows that such a wish cannot be fulfilled by just being a humbug.
Oz called Dorothy and explained that he believed the way out of the country was through the air using a balloon, and although he was not certain about the direction in which Kansas lay, he was certain that they would be able to find it after crossing the desert. He had also decided to leave the land along with Dorothy for he had grown tired of being stuck in the same room as he was afraid of venturing out and being found out as a humbug. On the day of departure, the balloon was lifting off the ground, and Oz was already inside, but Dorothy had lost Toto and she couldn't get into the basket without him. Just as she had recovered Toto and nearly reached the basket, the rope that held the balloon to the ground snapped and it floated away. Oz disappeared into the clouds, and that was the last anyone saw of him, but the people were happy under the rule of the wise Scarecrow.
Although Dorothy is sad that Oz has left, she does not quite regret not being on the balloon. The companions meet in the throne room, where now the Scarecrow sits on the throne. The scarecrow has an idea, and he suggests that Dorothy use the Winged Monkeys to cross the desert and return to Kansas. Dorothy summons the Winged Monkeys but when she makes her request, the King Winged Monkey refuses outright. He explains that they are of this country and they can never leave it. The Winged Monkeys disappear, and the Scarecrow then summons the soldier of the palace and questions him about how Dorothy could cross the desert. The soldier explains that no one besides Oz has crossed the desert but Glinda, the Good Witch of the South may be able to help. He tells them about Glinda, who is said to be the most powerful witch of all and the ruler of the Quadlings. All of the companions including the Scarecrow are determined to accompany Dorothy to Glinda and remain with her until she can find a way home.
The next day, Dorothy and her companions depart for the country in the south. They come upon a dark and dense forest whose end they can't see, and so they try and venture into the trees. The Scarecrow goes first but as soon as he comes underneath the tree, the branches move and twine around him. The tree picks him up and hurls him out of the forest and back towards his waiting friends. The Tin Woodman attempts to enter the forest next, and when the tree tries to grab a hold of him, he chops away the branch with his axe. The companions make their way through the forest smoothly, undisturbed by any of the other trees, but they soon come upon a huge wall made of china.
Analysis
In these chapters we witness yet again the ingenuity of Baum and his wordplay, he gives the Scarecrow some 'Bran new Brains' and adds needles to it, where they symbolise mental sharpness. To the Tin Woodman, he gives a tender heart made of silk and stuffed with sawdust. At last, he gives the Cowardly Lion some liquid that could have been alcohol. Oz also admits that he may be unable to help Dorothy in the same manner since she desires to go back home, this admittance automatically makes the character a lot more likeable.
Toto also functions as a crucial character that propels the plot of the book forward, here yet again we see how he intervenes in events for Dorothy just in the nick of time. First, he prevents her from getting into the storm cellar back in Kansas when the cyclone hits her home, then he accidentally knocks down the screen in the throne room and this leads to the discovery of Oz.
Baum makes use of another popular element from fairy tales by introducing the moving trees, however, there is very little development and their introduction to the plot seems unnecessary.
