Jinhe Weber: Response to Salman Rushdie

The Wizard of Oz is one of the films that has transcended its own time and has truly become a classic film, viewed by people of all generations. The story of Dorothy’s adventures in Oz is one that will most likely continue to entertain people for many years to come, much as it has influenced Salman Rushdie. Rushdie’s perspective as a child in India is interesting as well, and demonstrates how certain films and stories can have an impact outside of the “Western” perspective, and also be interpreted differently while the core themes remain the same. I found it very interesting how Rushdie pointed out that Dorothy’s last name is Gale, which parallels the force that Dorothy has both in Kansas and in Oz. The movie is full of parallels, particularly with the way that the characters back in Kansas represent characters in Oz. Additionally, I really enjoyed the background that Rushdie gave about the production of the film, as it helped to better my appreciation of the technologically advanced approaches that were used, especially in terms of color.

The observation that Rushdie makes, that Dorothy is rather literally “homeless” from the point of the tornado until reaching the Emerald City. While traveling along the Yellow Brick Road, Dorothy and her companions never once have a roof over their head. This is an interesting point that Rushdie makes, especially when one considers how he questions the widely held belief that the film’s main message is the trope that “there’s no place like home”. Rather, Oz is where Dorothy truly finds her place.

The point that struck the most, however, was Rushdie’s observation about the lack of a male hero in the film. The Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow obviously do not fit in the traditional notion of masculinity in Hollywood. Additionally, the Wizard himself is merely a facade. The central conflict is between the female characters, and Dorothy’s adventure in Oz leads to her emerging as the true heroine of the story. Rushdie also challenges the film’s cliche and undeveloped portrayals of good and evil. Rushdie’s analysis that the Wicked Witch of the West represents a better portrayal of a powerful woman compared to Glinda. This reminded me of the popular book and musical Wicked, which explored this particular backstory. 

Rushdie’s analysis of The Wizard of Oz will stick with me for changing the way that I view the characters, particularly the Wicked Witch as well as Judy Garland’s portrayal of Dorothy, from a feminist perspective.