When Dorothy finds herself in a strange land without familiar adults to guide her choices, she quickly dedicates herself to finding her way back home. She relies on her intuition as she listens to the guidance of the Good Witch of the North and again as she chooses to welcome several new friends to accompany her on the journey to the Emerald City. Dorothy demonstrates confidence and a resolute determination to achieve her goal, facing one obstacle after another with great bravery. When the Lion intimidates Toto, Dorothy scolds him for being a “coward” and picking on a creature so much smaller than himself. When the Wicked Witch of the West attempts to steal her shoes, Dorothy indignantly calls her a “wicked creature” and maintains that the Witch has “no right” to do such a thing. It is a bold move on Dorothy’s part; she has no idea that she is protected by the kiss from the Good Witch and willingly stands up for herself against the forces of evil.

From the start, Dorothy’s calm disposition and willingness to adapt to her surroundings enable her to achieve her goals. She quickly acclimates to an unknown world full of magical creatures and enchanted lands, relying only on her skills and instincts to guide her decisions.

Perhaps Dorothy’s greatest challenge in the book comes when Oz explains that he will not send her home unless she kills the remaining Wicked Witch. She believes that Oz is the only person who can help her return home, so she is devastated by his demand, sobbing and declaring her certainty that she is “sure [she does] not want to kill anybody, even to see Aunt Em again.”

Although Dorothy cannot reconcile her conscience with Oz’s murderous command, she nonetheless embarks on the quest. By doing so, Dorothy once again proves that she believes herself capable of exerting control over her fate and conquering any obstacle she faces. In the end, it is not Oz who saves Dorothy; it is her courage and tenacity.

In the Land of Oz, good and evil reside together, divided into regions by the spirit of each ruler. Goodness rules in the north and south, and evil reigns in the east and west. Central to all of these regions is the Wizard of Oz, who is perceived as terrifyingly powerful but is in actuality an ordinary man.

In this way, Oz symbolizes the central conflict of humanity, constantly pulled toward the poles of good and evil. To this end, Oz is neither inherently good nor evil himself; while he demonstrates a kind heart, he is also a fraud who lives alone in fear of his true identity being discovered. He celebrates when he learns that the Wicked Witch of the East is dead and commands Dorothy and her friends to kill the Wicked Witch of the West as well. Though Oz acknowledges that evil should be abolished, he lacks the courage and grit to face this challenge himself.

The book demonstrates that good is ultimately stronger than the forces of evil. Not only are both evil witches dead by the book’s ending, but those whom they had enslaved are now free. Furthermore, as the King of the Winged Monkeys proclaims: “the Power of Good…is greater than the Power of Evil.”

Dorothy herself is protected by the kiss of the Good Witch of the North, and no one dares to violate the protection she is thus afforded. She is ultimately rewarded for her faithful heart when the Good Witch of the South assists her in returning home.