An Analysis of the Development of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, a Movie Essay

The Development of DorothyThe movie "The Wizard of Oz" opens on a farm in Kansas. The lead character is a twelve-year-old girl named Dorothy. Dorothy exists in a world limited by aged beliefs and fears, which make up a great part of her reality. In Kansas, Dorothy is a twelve-year-old girl, with twelve-year-old needs and emotions. I feel that the movie is a device by which we can analyze Dorothy in all states of mind, her conscious, pre-conscious, and unconscious. I believe that Sigmund Freud's principles on the structure of personality and dreaming will aid in understanding Dorothy's growth, wants, and needs. Dorothy in her conscious state struggles to be heard and understood. She is distressed and unable to impart her feelings of upset and fright to an open ear. Her id manifests itself with the desire for immediate gratification, stimulated by her fear that the character Ms. Gulch will destroy Toto. Just as Dorothy is able to explain herself to her nurturing Aunt and Uncle, the Gulch character enters. Gulch takes Toto from Dorothy, with no remorse, stuffs the dog in a basket, and leaves. Dorothy runs to her room to weep and curls up into a fetal position. The fetal position is her unconscious desire for soothing and belonging. Her weeping is cut short by the return of her dog Toto, who was able to outwit Gulch. Immediately Dorothy begins brewing ideas of running away so as to protect her beloved Toto from danger. Still motivated by id like intuition, Dorothy runs off with Toto. I believe that her id is strong, but is also being checked by ego. Running away is id like, but protecting Toto is ego's ability to keep id in check.A wandering professor interrupts Dorothy's exodus from her farm. Professor Marvel produces feelings of wonder and comfort in Dorothy. She hopes he will be able to save her and Toto from the evil clutches of Ms. Gulch. Marvel sits...

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