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Forum #1 - Thursday, January 18, 2007
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Figuring Disability in L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
This paper, which is part of a book-in-progress, explores the complex representation of disability in Baum's classic children's story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. We argue that Baum uses the figures of the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion (who are searching for a brain, a heart, and courage respectively) not only to embody disability but also to examine society's perceptions of and misconceptions about disability. In so doing, Baum's book becomes a pedagogical tool that allows his young readers to learn difficult lessons about empathy and individuality.
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