Sanjna Medari 

 
Alstot 
 
Child Literature 10, Period 4 
 
4 March 2020 
 
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz 
 

Undiscovered… obscure...undwelled up, all characteristics of both children, the silver 

shoes and Dorthy portray in L. Frank Baum's​ The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. ​This American 

classic was written in 1939 and is read by children all over the world as it brings a fantasy-like 

aspect, but also as it allows for children to connect subconsciously fostering the developmental 

stages of their life. As the silver shoes of the wicked witch of the West were represented through 

Dorothy's bravery and power for killing the witch, there was something more special about them 

than the shoes within themselves. Baum further expands his writing, allowing it to be applicable 

to children reading the novel as certain characteristics aid in a child's development. ​Nevertheless, 

Baum utilizes the symbol of the silver shoes and Dorthy to guide children in teaching them the 

value of special characteristics they withhold but may be unaware of through social and 

emotional development.  

To start off,​ Baum´s use of the symbol, the shoes; as it can be compared to a child in the 

toddler age aiding them in developing their emotions. The silver shoes have the interpretation of 

this special magic/ power they hold, and can be initiated as Dorthy has the capability to do so but 

is unaware of. Through this, Dorthy goes on this whole journey just to find out all she needed 

was her self and the ability to believe. ​When Dorthy was first given the shoes she was told by the 
good witch that and there was said to be ¨ ​[a] special charm connected with [the shoes]; but what 

it [was she] never knew¨ (Baum 25). Balm uses the words ¨special charm¨ as it can be interpreted 

as Dorothy as she is special and unique. The shoes as shown through this have a special ability in 

which no one has been able to figure out yet, but the good witch leaves that up to Dorthy to 

figure it out. This shows the shoes symbolize the magic/ power they hold, and can be initiated as 

Dorthy has the capability to do so. Similarly to how children reading the book also can interpret. 

This can further foster a child as they can put in perspective their own life and how they are 

¨special” in ways they are unaware of. Similar to Dorthy, kids who are developing can see the 

value in this and put themselves in her shoes allowing for them to develop their emotional aspect 

of their life as they figure out unique and special in their own way.   

Yet another instance Balm uses the symbol of the shoes to foster the emotional 

development of a child reading the story is when the good witch has a conversation with Dortohy 

about she could of gone right back home to Kansas the second she arrived in Oz land. Once 

again Dorthy questions her power and herself when she is capable of doing it.​ The good witch 

further claims that ¨​If [Dorthy] had known [her] power¨ then she would have been able to ¨go 

back to [her] Aunt Em¨ the very first day she arrived (Baum 210). The words ¨power¨ and ¨gone 

back the first day¨ show the capability, to power Dorothy had but was unaware of. As relating 

back to a child reading this book and for being able for them to connect; it displays a way in 

which children have the ability to do anything they want, but sometimes question their ability. 

This helps them expand their emotional development as they learn that they are good and special 

at certain things too which makes them feel more unique. For instance a kid who isn't more so 
gifted in one subject may be stronger in another. With this, knowing that children can relate to 

someone, gives that emotional support they need to further grow and expand.  

Similarly, L. Frank Baum uses symbolism once again to help foster a child develop 

socially as through Dorothy herself and her sociable behavior. As we all know, when Dorthy 

goes on her way to find the great Oz, she meets some friends along the way which we all know 

as the cowardly lion, the tinwood man, and the scarecrow. Dorothy being the social little 

butterfly she instantly started talking to the scarecrow and quickly became friends. ​Dorothy goes 

on ¨​but you may come with me, if you would like¨ so the scarecrow jumped on that offer as he 

wanted a brain (Baum 37). Baum uses Dorothy as a symbol of being friendly, likable and 

outgoing, which are her unique and characteristics children can learn from. During social 

development for a child, Dorthoty displays how easy it is to become friends with someone which 

is a valuable piece children can take away and apply to their own life. This helps foster a child's 

social development as it allows for them to copy what they see from Dorothy in a positive light. 

The symbol of Dorothy is valuable to this book and to children reading as there are many assets 

you can take away from her character as a whole.  

Once again, in the same context, Baum uses Dorothy as a symbol to help expand a child's 

social development as they see Dorothy as an innocent loving character. When she continues her 

journey to find the great Oz she comes across another character we know as the tinman. As the 

next day approached, she heard a silver man screaming in the bushes to help him as his joints 

had been rusted so bad. Dorothy being the helpful little girl she is, didn't question who this 

strange man was but nevertheless asked how she could help. As he was in the forest Dorothy 

went on ¨What can I do for you¨ and further exclaimed ¨how can I help¨ by doing so allowing 
for people to see the positives through the fear. Meeting and creating new friends along the way 

can help a child reading or watching the social aspect of this. It makes a child in the toddler age 

want to be more like Dorthy as she is likeable and friends with everyone and by doing so apply 

these actions into their own life as well.  

With this being said, L. Frank Baum uses the symbol of Dorothy and the silver shoes to 

mesh together the characteristics of both children, the silver shoes and Dorthy portray in ​The 

Wonderful Wizard of Oz. ​The author uses symbol to have a further meaning that can be 

interpreted in various ways. Through this, the novel has the ability to foster children in teaching 

them the value of special characteristics they withhold but may be unaware of through social and 

emotional developmental stages.