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In the Wizard of Oz Dorothy Gale may be America's most endearing female hero. The movie was released in 1939, so the treatment of a female hero is somewhat different from the book, where Frank L. Baum wrote about several very strong female characters, but in 1939 young women were much more gentle and naive. She was not a heroine, who would have helped a male hero on his journey, but takes her own hero's journey instead.
First Dorothy saves her dog Toto from the evil Miss Gulch by running away. Dorothy had opined to find a place to be happier “Over the Rainbow” anyway, but when she is convinced that her Aunt Em is ill she hurries to return to the farm. She is fearful in the tornado but does what she needs to do to shield herself and Toto.
Her trip in the tornado results in her accidental killing of an evil witch. She is rewarded for this, but has made an enemy and must go on a quest to find her way home. Along the way she gathers companions, all of which lack something that Dorothy has, and she reassures them and becomes their guide. The Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion listen to Dorothy’s suggestions and follow her lead to find their own reward as well.
Once they reach the Emerald City Dorothy faces fear of the Wizard and is given a test to return the witch’s broomstick. She takes the challenge but is captured. Saved by her friends, once again she uses her courage to accidentally defeat the witch, mostly to save her friends rather than to complete the test.
Once the test is completed she must stand up to the Wizard who turns out to be a fake, but her suggestions save the day once more.
The Wizard of Oz is America’s first and greatest fairy tale. In the book a much younger Dorothy purposefully defeats the witches, but in the movie version she is made to be much more tentative and like a “damsel in distress”. It is through her courage, and her heart, and her brain that she leads and succeeds.
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