The Wizard of Oz | The Mortal Master of the Emerald City
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – L. Frank Baum (1900)
At the center of Baum’s magical land stands the Wizard of Oz, a figure both imposing and enigmatic. Dorothy and her companions encounter him in the Emerald City, a metropolis of gleaming green spires and streets paved with emerald-colored bricks. To the citizens of Oz, he is a being of immense power, capable of granting wishes and commanding magic. Yet Baum’s novel reveals that this reputation is carefully constructed: the Wizard is, in fact, a mortal man from Omaha, Nebraska, transported to Oz by balloon.
The Wizard functions as a symbol of perception versus reality. For the Munchkins, the Emerald City dwellers, and even Dorothy’s companions, he represents authority, wisdom, and magical ability. His tools of persuasion include a grand throne, a booming voice, and carefully orchestrated illusions. Baum emphasizes that his power lies not in sorcery but in the management of belief - the skill of appearing greater than he is, which shapes the moral and political structure of the city.
Despite the illusions, the Wizard is fundamentally human, fallible, and capable of error. He provides Dorothy with guidance, advice, and ultimately the means to achieve their desires, but these are framed as collaborative solutions rather than unilateral magic. For instance, he equips the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion with the symbolic rewards they sought - a diploma, a heart, and a medal - revealing that their virtues existed prior to his intervention.
Baum’s portrayal highlights the relationship between reality and expectation in fairyland. The Wizard’s mortally human nature contrasts with the vivid, enchanted environment of Oz, reminding readers that magic often depends on context, belief, and perception. His final act, returning to his balloon to leave Oz, underscores the transient nature of power in the land: it is not innate to the individual but contingent on circumstances and the faith of those around him.
The Wizard’s story also reinforces Dorothy’s central theme: human qualities, courage, compassion, and intelligence, are discovered through experience and journey rather than bestowed externally. While he is celebrated as a magical figure, Baum’s novel clarifies that true influence comes from human agency within the rules of the Emerald Land.
In sum, the Wizard of Oz exemplifies Baum’s innovative myth-making: a mortal ruler in a fantastical realm, whose authority is constructed, whose magic is illusion, and whose presence allows the story’s heroes to recognize their own innate abilities.
