The Wizard of Oz is among the most well-known films of all time, and it has been handed down through generations as a true classic. L. Frank Baum’s children’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, was originally published in 1900. The book was tremendously successful, becoming a classic of children’s literature, with a uniquely American setting, a wonderfully calm, reasonable, forceful protagonist, and interesting supernatural characters.
The story is about Dorothy, a lively young girl who resides with her aunt and uncle on the desolate Kansas plains. She is bright and bubbly and adores her dog, Toto. Her adventure begins when Dorothy Gale, together with her dog, is thrown overboard by a tornado from their farm in Kansas and transported to the mythical realm of Oz, where they embark on an adventure with three new companions to find the Wizard, who can help bring her back to her home and grant the desires and wishes of the others.
The book’s film adaptation first aired in 1939. From Dorothy and Toto to The Wicked Witch of the West and her scary Winged Monkeys, this classic includes some well-defined characters with distinct personalities, as well as some of the finest musical sequences in cinema history.
The Wizard of Oz adaptation is a musical fantasy movie released in 1939 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The movie was originally directed by Victor Fleming, who left the project to take over the struggling Gone with the Wind film- George Cukor and Mervyn LeRoy. The film starred Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Bert Lahr, Billie Burke, Ray Bolger, Margaret Hamilton, and Jack Haley.
Speaking of the characters, The Wizard of Oz has a diverse set of characters that every viewer loves or even hates. So here are the Top Five The Wizard of Oz characters that catch everybody’s hearts.
1. The Scarecrow
The Scarecrow is unquestionably the friendliest and most charming of all the characters Dorothy meets on her adventure to the Land of Oz. He is Dorothy’s first companion, and he is someone who is looking for a brain to help him become a little wiser.
Throughout the adventure, he displays an amazing amount of love, strength, and bravery, and he is also one of the film’s funniest characters. Even when he is clumsy, this adds to his charm, which is what makes the Scarecrow such a compelling character.
2. Glinda The Good Witch
Glinda The Good Witch, as her name implies, is one of the loveliest and kindest characters in Wizard of Oz, willing to assist Dorothy in her fight against evil. When Glinda appears in the film, she carries a genuine warmth, sincerity, and friendliness with her, despite not being frequently featured in the film like the other characters are.
At multiple moments throughout the film, she is there to assist others and give everybody the positive mindset and confidence they require. Glinda develops a bond with Dorothy, which she maintains throughout the film, and since she’s such a lovely person, she is very simple to like.
3. The Cowardly Lion
The Cowardly Lion is Dorothy’s third and last companion down the yellow brick road. This lion surely has his lovable moments. Of all, he is a cowardly creature that is frightened of most stuff, as his name implies, so he isn’t always as direct about assisting Dorothy like The Tin Man and Scarecrow are.
However, he genuinely cares deeply about improving, and he does it passionately, which makes this lion charming. However, his excessive wailing and whimpering might be irritating at times, but he is a charming Wizard of Oz character nonetheless.
Many people enjoy this character because he is amusing, and he adds comedy to the picture. He’s humorous and has a distinct personality that catches the audience’s attention.
4. Toto
Toto may only be a dog, but he is one of the most endearing and entertaining characters in the Wizard of Oz. He’s a cinematic star and the epitome of the phrase “A dog is a man’s best friend.”
He is such an incredible character since he resembles a human being. He adores Dorothy and accompanies her on her whole adventure. He is also an intelligent dog since when Dorothy was imprisoned in the castle of the witches, Toto rushed to find the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow come to save her.
Toto is constantly there for Dorothy, beside her, assisting her whenever he can, and he has a lot of personality. Toto’s enthusiasm surges through the screen, making him be among the greatest Wizard of Oz characters. He may not be able to communicate or interact as the other characters do, but he still plays such an essential role in the story of Dorothy.
5. Dorothy Gale
In the end, Dorothy comes out as the most lovable of all the Wizard of Oz characters. The story is all about her experience, and everything that transpires is seen through her eyes, so she ought to be a nice character, or the audience would lose interest in the film.
Dorothy is lovely and genuine, and she embodies both traditional and idealistic moral beliefs. She lives in the moment and is not preoccupied with fear or stress.
She has a lot of compassion and is always willing to help the people she meets all along the way, striving to get the most out of everyone. Even though she has her downtimes, it just adds to her relatability, but there is no question that she’s cheerful and optimistic most of the time.
Many viewers adore Dorothy because she is a kind, soft-spoken, and delicate young lady who would never hurt a fly. Another nice thing about Dorothy’s character is that as much as she wants to return to Kansas, Dorothy is loyal to her companions and does whatever she can to assist her new friends, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow.
Aside from the few characters mentioned above, several characters are also included in the crowd’s favorites. There are the charming Munchkins, who’ve always been moviegoers’ favorites. They became such pleasant and likable characters because of their optimistic and welcoming attitude.
Who can miss Auntie Em, Uncle Henry, and the farmworkers, Hunk, Hickory, and Zeke, who each represents the honest, industrious people who dominated most of America’s countryside in the early twentieth century? There is also the Wizard, who is likable but also easy to despise. The audience learns that he was also born in Kansas but was transported to Oz by a rogue hot air balloon, which he volunteers to use to return Dorothy to Kansas.
The Wizard of Oz is packed with memorable characters who play essential roles in the story. Each of them has such endearing personalities and relatable experiences that will undoubtedly win the hearts of many.