1-2주 영어독후감 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Saturday, April 17, 2010 Justin Title: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Author: Baum Publisher: Penguin Story:            Dorothy who was living with her uncle and aunt in a dry land of Kansas met a cyclone. While she was still in the house, cyclone brought the house up and dropped it at the land of the Oz. The first place she arrived was the land of Munchkins. There, Dorothy was considered to be a great sorceress and was respected because the Wicked Witch of the East who was ruling the Munchkins cruelly died under her house by accident.  Taking the witch’s silver shoes, she tried to go back to Kansas. Then, the Good Witch of the North gave her tip that she should go to Oz who was the Great Wizard. Then she left with her little dog Toto.  On her way, she met a Scarecrow who was in the field. He wanted to have brain. They went along. On the way the met the Tin Woodman who wanted to have a heart and the Cowardly Lion who wanted to have courage. They went along to the Emerald City where the Oz ruled.  But when they arrived at the City through all the hardships, Oz ordered to kill the Wicked Witch of the West in exchange of their wishes.  They headed west and when the witch who was farseeing discovered them coming, he summoned the Winged Monkeys who were in service of her because of the enchantment of Golden Cap she owned.  The Winged Monkeys dropped the Tin Woodman to rough rocks and tore the Scarecrow and brought the Lion to the witch’s yard. They could not harm Dorothy for she was blessed by the Good Witch of the North. Neither the Wicked Witch could harm her so she made her a slave.  There the witch tried to steal Dorothy’s silver shoes because they were powerfully enchanted. Dorothy was mad at this and threw water at the witch. Witch melted away and she got the golden cap and rescued Tin Woodman and Scarecrow and Lion.  Then they went back to Oz but they found out that Oz was a humbug. He was a ventriloquist and a balloonist of the circus who accidentally came to Oz like Dorothy and pretended to be the Great Wizard.  However Oz knew that all of Dorothy’s company already had what they wanted-wisdom, kind heart and courage. So he pretended to grant something and suggested Dorothy to go with great balloon floating. However, Dorothy could not join his flight accidentally and Oz went alone to find his home.  Then Dorothy went to the Good Witch of the South whose name was Glinda and she taught her that the silver shoes could bring her anywhere she wanted. Then she went back home.   Impression:            I always have thought of this story as children’s story only. Well, as I always have, I regret it. This is fantastic. I just found out that this book also contains good deal of parodies.  The Scarecrow, as some says, implies the Middle-Eastern America’s farmers and the Lion is William Jennings Brian a candidate, and the Tin Woodman is laborers. East Witch is banker of the East and the West Witch is western railroad corporation. Oz is president McKenley and the Yellow Brick Road means gold standard policy, and the silver shoes means silver standard policy. But, maybe it is just a fairy tale. And it is just great about it. The paradoxes are just amusing as it is. The brainless Scarecrow always gives the best ideas always and the heartless Tin Woodman is kindhearted and hates evil. The Cowardly Lion always fights for his friends fearlessly. Only Dorothy seems to be lacking something-her home. They look for their answers. They find Oz but he had no ability to give them what they wanted but he knew that they already had them so he just pretended to give. They believe that they already have, and are satisfied and believe that they got better. What does it mean? I think, it means that ‘we already have.’ Brevity, wisdom, a kind heart, and wishes for good deeds……We already have. We just think we lack them and seek for them in prayers and trainings. If we believe we have, then we have. And see that Oz, who was ‘the Great and Terrible.’ It just sounds like some god or goddess from Greek Mythology. But it turned out that he was a fake. We cannot just look for someone to solve my problems at once, with a great and terrible magic. We need to find our ways for it.