Content Category
Literary Criticism
Abstract/Description
Too often when analyzing L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Baum’s spiritual beliefs are not applied to perceiving the meaning behind the novel. I argue that Baum’s belief in the spiritual movement of Theosophy is imbued throughout the novel to show how one cannot rely on corrupt religious leaders and must have a personal connection with spiritualism. Through these aspects of Theosophy in the novel, Baum exhibits how to attain one’s potential through personal spirituality. I continue on to explain how the novel and Theosophy have a symbiotic relationship: the novel outlines Theosophy in a more easily understood manner and, in turn, Theosophy greatly enhances the wonderful and fantastic elements found throughout the novel. Through these fantastic elements, one learns how to reach a higher level of thought and understanding that allows one to be more aware of and connected to spirituality.
Copyright and Licensing of My Content
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Location
4186 JFSB
Start Date
19-3-2015 1:15 PM
End Date
19-3-2015 2:45 PM
Included in
The “Wonderment” of Oz: Theosophy and Religious Leadership in Oz
4186 JFSB
Too often when analyzing L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Baum’s spiritual beliefs are not applied to perceiving the meaning behind the novel. I argue that Baum’s belief in the spiritual movement of Theosophy is imbued throughout the novel to show how one cannot rely on corrupt religious leaders and must have a personal connection with spiritualism. Through these aspects of Theosophy in the novel, Baum exhibits how to attain one’s potential through personal spirituality. I continue on to explain how the novel and Theosophy have a symbiotic relationship: the novel outlines Theosophy in a more easily understood manner and, in turn, Theosophy greatly enhances the wonderful and fantastic elements found throughout the novel. Through these fantastic elements, one learns how to reach a higher level of thought and understanding that allows one to be more aware of and connected to spirituality.