Intro: The Wizard of Oz is one of the most classic and timeless children's books of all time. It was written by L. Frank Baum in 1900, at a time when the Populist movement was collapsing and a depression was taking hold. America was looking to its leaders for help, but wasn't exactly getting the sure answer they needed. It has been assumed that The Wizard of Oz is not only a children's fantasy novel, but also a secret parable about populism and American monetary policy. Dorothy and the Silver Slippers: The entire story of The Wizard of Oz centers on her and Dorothy. silver slippers, although they were changed to ruby ​​in the film to showcase the wonders of technicolor in the film. Once the color of the shoes changed from silver to ruby, all the symbolism was lost. The silver shoes represent the populist parties' desire to make silver the national currency. Dorothy herself represents the average, kind-hearted, populist American girl who grew up in Kansas, the heartland. Scarecrow: The first character Dorothy encounters on her journey, the Scarecrow, might be the most obvious form of symbolism in the story. He represents the typical Midwestern farmer, considered uneducated, but who was actually much smarter than the central bank thought. The Scarecrow didn't think much of himself. He often complained about not having a brain, but proved to be the most adept problem-solver among the four travelers. The Scarecrow, much like Midwestern farmers, knew a lot about the city, but since then had an abundance of commonalities and still managed to figure it out with little education. Tin Man: The second character Dorothy meets on her journey is Tin Man. He represented the industrial workers who had ...... middle of paper ...... old town. Once they arrive, they are surprised to find that the real wizard wasn't so big after all. He was just a normal man hiding behind a curtain and a cord. The Wizard can be compared to the central bank. Another tricky similarity between the two is that the wizard and the bank are the word Oz. Oz not only represents the wizard himself, but is also the standard for measuring gold. Conclusion: After becoming rich with the profits from his novel, L Frank Baum lost all interest in American politics. And although the evidence of the brilliant parable is obvious, he never actually admitted the existence of any secret symbolism throughout The Wizard of Oz. Many fans today still argue that none of this is true, that the classic tale is nothing more than a creative and captivating children's story. The true meaning of the story can now only be decided by the individual reader. believe