Abstract:The Wizard of Oz praised as the first appreciated fairy tale in the history of American children literature, is a masterpiece of L Frank Baum, the “father of fairy tales” in America. The extensive use of symbolism in the novel is worth exploring because the plots and what happened in 1900s in America are of a high degree of similarity. This paper is going to investigate the symbolism in The Wizard of Oz, thus to reveal the theme of the novel. Here the author will analyze its symbolism thoroughly from these three aspects: the symbolic background which gives the readers a general idea of the depressed American economy; the symbolic characters that represent different social groups in the American history; the symbolic objects that stand for some policies and measures playing important economic and political roles in America. From the analysis of the symbolism, a conclusion can be drawn that this novel is a parable reflecting the economic depression, the chaotic politics and barren spirit in the late 19th century in America, with a view to help the readers get a better understanding of this novel and a better knowledge of the American society at that time.
Key words: Background, Character, Object, Symbolism, The Wizard of Oz
摘要:享有美国“童话之父”美誉的莱曼·弗莱克·鲍姆所著的《绿野仙踪》，作为第一部在美国儿童文学史上受到赞赏的童话，故事情节与当时美国社会所发生政治，经济事件的高度相似性，其作品中广泛的象征运用值得探索。本文旨在探究《绿野仙踪》里象征的运用，从而揭示该小说的主题思想。这里，笔者从作品反映19世纪末美国社会的现状与精神面貌着手，通过对作品中象征性的背景，象征性的人物以及象征性的物体三个方面进行分析阐述，论证了该作品是一部反映美国19世纪末的萧条的经济，混乱的政治和贫瘠的精神面貌的寓言。旨在让读者更好的了解此部小说的内涵，更清楚的了解当时的美国社会。
关键词：背景 人物 事物 象征 《绿野仙踪》
In the late 19th-century America, the economy panics often broke out, the politic situation was in a mess and the spiritual outlook was barren (“Economic History”). Baum’s The Wizard of Oz is a fairy tale, simple and plain. However, with the great use of symbolism, the inner meaning in it is profound. It is a perfect reflection of American society at that time.
The Wizard of Oz is a fairy tale. Nonetheless, it is not easy to find one figure that represents nothing. As to the great gray prairie, it acts as a symbolic background reprinting the depressed and hopeless American society. The symbolic characters, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion, symbolize the different kinds of social groups that formed a big part of American society while they all belonged to the social vulnerable groups. Their lives, experience and spirit outlook were the examinations of American society of that time. Besides, the silver shoes and the Yellow Road of Brick are the symbolic objects reflecting the economic and political policies in 1900s. By expressing the functions of these objects and relating them with the reality, a rough-and-tumble American society made deep impressions on every reader.
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