I don’t have any idea how many times I have watched The Wizard of Oz, but I do remember the first time. My siblings and I set in front of our small-screen TV in our living room dressed in our PJs. It was a big deal and we couldn’t miss it, because nobody had a DVR back in those days.
When it came to the scene where the flying monkeys were dispatched, I ran from the room. I sat on the basement stairs through a lot of the rest of the film, eyes covered. You know the parts I missed. Every time that ominous music played similar to the first time Almira Gulch (the wicked witch) rides up on her bike to get Toto, back to the stairs I ran. But in the end, there was one thing that kept me going back to face my fears. Dorothy and her comrades warmed my heart. They borrowed courage from one another to make it through the scary parts, and I borrowed courage from them.
It’s the power of the arts. As we share our stories with others, our story becomes part of their biography. Dorothy taught me that I can live through scary things. Not just as a child, but even as an adult. When I read The Wizard of Oz for the first time as an adult, I was shocked at how different it is from the movie, but more so how many really scary things the characters go through. The story clearly shows the evil intent of the witch. She’s angry and powerful and calls a pack of wolves to tear Dorothy and her friends to pieces. She sends a flock of wild crows—enough to darken the sky—to peck out their eyes. Hardships are hard, and that we can’t escape. They throw us into turmoil and we need help know how to weather the storms.
When we read about hardships in other people’s lives, it normalizes suffering in our own. It prevents us from thinking that bad things only happen to other people. Then we are less likely to be thrown into a panic by suffering. It’s one of the reasons I love reading the Old Testament. There are great stories of real people trying to hold to their faith in a cyclone of trouble. Their stories become part of my biography and I draw from them. Some teach me who to avoid and others teach me what to who to run toward. Either way, they are invaluable. I needed (and still do) models of courage. Not all of us are born brave. Some of us build our courage by battling our fears.
Note: If you have children, reading stories of hardship to them helps them to see that suffering is a normal part of life and that they can live through it, too. Although The Wizard of Oz tells of the things nightmares are made of, it is a fantasy story and can be discussed in that context. I wouldn’t read it to children just before bed, but I would read it to them. Situations in any story that make a child ask questions out of curiosity, concern, or for clarity, provide an opportunity to instruct them without it feeling like you’re trying to teach them something. That’s always good for you and them.
If you want an abridged version of the book, I own The Wizard of Oz illustrated by Charles Santore. The illustrations are stunning and I am happy to have it. I am an Amazon Affiliate and when you click on the link, Amazon rewards me a little. Just so you know, I am not trying to get you to buy a book, but just letting you know this is the one I love.
FOR PARENTS: Here is a free guide if you’re reading the book together with your children.