Assumptions of Oz

It may come as a surprise to many that coming from Africa I do have some reference and knowledge of Oz. I was exposed to Baum's "The Wizard of Oz" as a young child, however I do not recall the exact method in which this piece of literature was delivered to me, whether it was in book form or through film, I used to be an avid reader so let's say it was in book form. Regardless, I know I enjoyed the story, however revisiting it now as an adult, I realize I did not fully grasp the depth of this work. Looking at the story now, I realize how layered in meaning it is and how aspects of the story have been regurgitated and regenerated in modern television and films. I also realize how I had confused "The Wizard of Oz" with C.S. Lewis's "The Chronicles of Narnia" perhaps due to the existence of parallel themes in both: idea of stumbling into an unknown realm, being exposed to a whole new reality and facing obstacles along the way; the existence of wonder, magic and the surreal as well as the christian symbolism.

I have always been fascinated by these stories, intrigued by the adventure, the pleasures and dangers and the many lessons that come with such, lessons that resonate and apply to modern day life.

The Great Gatsby: ALiterary Work?

Is the Great Gatsby a literally work? It goes without saying that this timeless story is a literary work, as it encapsulates the elements that create a literary work : characters, a theme, general tone, defined setting, creative plot and conflict, all that make it an imaginative and creative piece of literature. The characters and plot in the story are not narrated by an omniscient character, but a present character in the story, Nick, Gatsby's neighbour, who is conveniently connected to both the protagonist-Gatsby and the antagonist-Daisy, as well as the other important features to the plot, giving us a well rounded view of the story. The Great Gatsby offers commentary on various themes, the main ones being power, justice, greed, the pursuit of the highly sought after 'American Dream' and not forgetting betrayal. 

From my readings and viewing of the movie, I feel as though the root of the pursuit of power and the American Dream that leads to greed seen in Gatsby's corrupt attaining of wealth, stem from his blinding love for Daisy, who later betrays him despite all of his efforts to win her back. Gatsby falls deeply in love with Daisy, a love that he cannot let go of. He becomes a fool for love and lets it blind him to the reality that Daisy has a strong bond and loyalty towards her husband Tom, a bond that cannot be confused with love, as it is plain she is still very much in love with Gatsby, yet her alliance is with her husband Tom. One would say that this story is anti-romance, as it does not have all the elements that create a true romantic story; the love story between Daisy and Gatsby does not have a good start or a good ending. The lack of a fairytale romance story is what attracts this story to me as it shows the harsh realities of love, how investing your all into someone cannot guarantee a long lasting commitment from them. Gatsby invests his all into trying to impress Daisy, by throwing these lavish parties and building up his image with his expensive vehicles and lavish displays of wealth and she is not moved enough to choose him. 

It is also worth noting how Fitzgerald cleverly integrates technological forces into the story, using the automobile and telephone to add a dramatic twist to the plot. The automobile is used as the transporter as well as the destructive force as it is the murder weapon that leads to Gatsby's death, and the telephone is used as the communication tool as well as informer, the story is continuously interrupted by the telephone Gatsby has to answer, which also exposes his criminal dealings. 

Overall, Fitzgerald has managed to put together a very compelling story, a timeless, creative and realistic literary work. 

Hunger Games vs The Wizard of Oz

When asked to compare these two seemingly very different stories, I assumed there were going to be more differences than similarities between The Hunger Games and The Wizard of Oz, however I was pleasantly surprised to discover that are more similarities than I had anticipated. The plain example of similarities in the two works is that they are both about a young woman who is unwillingly ushered into a new world that is very different from their own, they both embark on a journey into the dark and petrifying unknown. Both characters possess very little and are at the mercy of those they encounter as well as their new environments in their individual journeys. Although they both enter this new reality unexpectedly and are surrounded by 'foreigners', they are not completely alone, they both have a piece of home, Dorothy has her beloved dog Toto, and Kathnis has Peeta, from her district.    

In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy being in Oz is a separate adventure - her experiences only affect her, whereas the Hunger Games, the purpose is to show the connections of these two worlds (the Capitol and the districts), Kathnis' actions affect both her and the capitol which she has left behind. In 'The Wizard of Oz' we are not given the opportunity to peer into Kansas to see how the storm has affected the people of Kansas or how Dorothy's disappearance has affected those that she has left behind. Although Kathnis' family is torn about her being taken to the Capitol to participate in the games, they, unlike Dorothy's family have the opportunity to look into her new reality and follow her progress, they too have no way of communicating with their loved one, however they are not completely closed off from her as they are able to trace her steps. 

It is interesting to note how both Dorothy and Kathnis' homes are shown as grey, barren, desolate and impoverished and the new realities, Oz and the Capitol are presented as more colourful and desirable, yet they are not the ultimate fit for either character, conveying the idea that 'there is no place like home.'