The Wizard Of Oz. 11: The Wonderful Emerald City Of Oz

You've seen the movie: now listen to the book and enjoy all its similarities and differences! It is the source material, not just for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, but for contemporary movies like Wicked and Wicked: For Good.

In the latest chapter of L Frank Baum's beloved story, the four travelers finally gain an audience with the Wizard. Fascinatingly, though, each sees a different manifestation of Oz, who is able to appear in different guises. He gives them the same instructions, however.

L Frank Baum openly admitted to being influenced by Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland and Alice through the Looking Glass. If you're enjoying The Wizard of Oz, you may enjoy these stories too, both narrated by me on Insight Timer.

Both are available, complete, on playlists. Download the Wizard of Oz playlist too, and listen to the tracks seamlessly. Tracks are added as they are published.

For a different sort of journey, please also check out Ted the Shed on Free Tracks.

Transcript

Hello,

It's Mandy here.

Thanks for joining me tonight and welcome back to The Wizard of Oz by L.

Frank Baum.

Because of Baum's lifelong love of theatre,

He financed elaborate musicals,

Often to his own financial detriment.

Eventually he ran into trouble and couldn't pay his debts to the company who produced his films.

He didn't get back to a stable financial situation for several years and had to sell the royalty rights to many of his earlier works,

Including The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

He claimed bankruptcy in August 1911.

However,

He had shrewdly transferred most of his property into his wife's name,

So he lost a lot less than he might have.

Anyway,

We've reached chapter 11 and before I go ahead,

Please feel free to make yourself really comfortable.

Settle down into your chair or your bed.

Relax your hands.

Loosen your shoulders and soften your jaw.

That's great.

So if you're feeling comfortable,

Then I shall begin.

Chapter 11,

The Wonderful Emerald City of Oz.

Even with eyes protected by the green spectacles,

Dorothy and her friends were at first dazzled by the brilliancy of the wonderful city.

The streets were lined with beautiful houses,

All built of green marble and studded everywhere with sparkling emeralds.

They walked over a pavement of the same green marble and where the blocks were joined together were rows of emeralds set closely and glittering in the brightness of the sun.

The window panes were of green glass.

Even the sky above the city had a green tint and the rays of the sun were green.

There were many people,

Men,

Women and children walking about,

All dressed in green clothes.

They had greenish skins.

They looked at Dorothy and her strangely assorted company with wondering eyes and the children all ran and hid behind their mothers when they saw the lion,

But no one spoke to them.

Many shops stood in the streets and Dorothy saw that everything in them was green.

Green candy and green popcorn were offered for sale,

As well as green shoes,

Green hats and green clothes of all sorts.

At one place a man was selling green lemonade and when the children bought it,

Dorothy could see that they paid for it with green pennies.

There seemed to be no horses or animals of any kind.

The men carried things around in little green carts which they pushed before them.

Everyone seemed happy and contented and prosperous.

The guardian of the gates led them through the streets until they came to a big building,

Exactly in the middle of the city,

Which was the palace of Oz,

The great wizard.

There was a soldier before the door,

Dressed in a green uniform,

Wearing a long green beard.

Here are strangers,

Said the guardian of the gates to him,

And they demand to see the great Oz.

Step inside,

Answered the soldier,

And I will carry your message to him.

So they passed through the palace gates and were led into a big room with a green carpet and lovely green furniture set with emeralds.

The soldier made them all wipe their feet upon a green mat before entering this room and when they were seated,

He said politely,

Please make yourselves comfortable while I go to the door of the throne room and tell Oz you were here.

They had to wait a long time before the soldier returned.

When at last he came back,

Dorothy asked,

Have you seen Oz?

Oh no,

Returned the soldier,

I have never seen him,

But I spoke to him as he sat behind his screen and gave him your message.

He said he will grant you an audience if you so desire,

But each one of you must enter his presence alone and he will admit but one each day.

Therefore,

As you must remain in the palace for several days,

I will have you shown to rooms where you may rest in comfort after your journey.

Thank you,

Replied the girl,

That is very kind of Oz.

The soldier now blew upon a green whistle and at once a young girl dressed in a pretty green silk gown entered the room.

She had lovely green hair and green eyes and she bowed low before Dorothy as she said,

Follow me and I will show you your room.

Though Dorothy said goodbye to all her friends except Toto and taking the dog in her arms,

Followed the green girl through seven passages and up three flights of stairs until they came to a room at the front of the palace.

It was the sweetest little room in the world with a soft comfortable bed that had sheets of green silk and a green velvet counterpane.

There was a tiny fountain in the middle of the room that shot a spray of green perfume into the air to fall back into a beautifully carved green marble basin.

Beautiful green flowers stood in the windows and there was a shelf with a row of little green books.

When Dorothy had time to open these books she found them full of strange green pictures that made her laugh,

They were so funny.

In a wardrobe were many green dresses made of silk and satin and velvet and all of them fitted Dorothy exactly.

Make yourself perfectly at home said the green girl and if you wish for anything ring the bell.

Oz will send for you tomorrow morning.

She left Dorothy alone and went back to the others.

These she also led to rooms and each one of them found himself lodged in a very pleasant part of the palace.

Of course this politeness was wasted on the scarecrow but when he found himself alone in his room he just stood stupidly in one spot within the doorway to wait till morning.

It wouldn't rest him to lie down and he couldn't close his eyes so he remained all night staring at a little spider weaving its web in a corner of the room just as if it were not one of the most wonderful rooms in the world.

The tin woodman lay down on his bed from force of habit for he remembered when he had been made of flesh but not being able to sleep he passed the night moving his joints up and down to make sure they kept in good working order.

The lion would have preferred a bed of dried leaves in the forest and didn't like being shut up in a room but he had too much sense to let this worry him so he sprang upon the bed and rolled himself up like a cat and purred himself asleep in a minute.

The next morning after breakfast the green maiden came to fetch Dorothy and she dressed her in one of the prettiest gowns made of green brocaded satin.

Dorothy put on a green silk apron and tied a green ribbon around Toto's neck and they started for the throne room of the great Oz.

First they came to a great hall in which were many ladies and gentlemen of the court all dressed in rich costumes.

These people had nothing to do but talk to each other but they always came to wait outside the throne room every morning although they were never permitted to see Oz.

As Dorothy entered they looked at her curiously and one of them whispered,

Are you really going to look upon the face of Oz the terrible?

Of course answered the girl if he will see me.

Oh he will see you said the soldier who had taken her message to the wizard although he doesn't like to have people asked to see him.

Indeed at first he was angry and said I should send you back where you came from.

Then he asked me what you looked like and when I mentioned your silver shoes he was very much interested.

At last I told him about the mark on your forehead and he decided he would admit you to his presence.

Just then a bell rang.

The green girl said to Dorothy that is the signal you must go into the throne room alone.

She opened a little door and Dorothy walked boldly through and found herself in a wonderful place.

It was a big round room with a high arched roof and the walls and ceiling and floor were covered with large emeralds set closely together.

In the centre of the roof was a great light as bright as the sun which made the emeralds sparkle in a wonderful manner.

But what interested Dorothy most was the big throne of green marble that stood in the middle of the room.

It was shaped like a chair and sparkled with gems as did everything else.

In the centre of the chair was an enormous head without a body to support it or any arms or legs whatever.

There was no hair upon this head but it had eyes and a nose and a mouth and was much bigger than the head of the biggest giant.

As Dorothy gazed upon this in wonder and fear the eyes turned slowly and looked at her sharply and steadily.

Then the mouth moved and Dorothy heard a voice say I am Oz the great and terrible.

Who are you and why do you seek me?

It wasn't such an awful voice as she had expected to come from the big head so she took courage and answered I am Dorothy the small and meek I have come to you for help.

The eyes looked at her thoughtfully for a full minute then said the voice where did you get the silver shoes?

I got them from the wicked witch of the east when my house fell on her and killed her she replied.

Where did you get the mark upon your forehead?

Continued the voice.

That is where the good witch of the north kissed me when she bad me goodbye and sent me to you said the girl.

Again the eyes looked at her sharply and they saw she was telling the truth then Oz asked what do you wish me to do?

Send me back to Kansas where my Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are she answered earnestly.

I don't like your country although it is so beautiful and I'm sure Aunt Em will be dreadfully worried over my being away so long.

The eyes winked three times and then they turned up to the ceiling and down to the floor and rolled around so strangely that they seemed to see every part of the room and at last they looked at Dorothy again.

Why should I do this for you asked Oz because you are strong and I am weak because you are a great wizard and I am only a helpless little girl.

But you were strong enough to kill the wicked witch of the east said Oz.

That just happened returned Dorothy simply I could not help it.

Well said the head I will give you my answer you have no right to expect me to send you back to Kansas unless you do something for me in return.

In this country everyone must pay for everything they get.

If you wish me to use my magic power to send you home again you must do something for me first.

Help me and I will help you.

What must I do asked the girl kill the wicked witch of the west answered Oz.

But I cannot exclaimed Dorothy greatly surprised.

You kill the witch of the east and you wear the silver shoes which bear a powerful charm.

There is now but one wicked witch left in all this land and when you can tell me she is dead I will send you back to Kansas but not before.

The little girl began to weep she was so much disappointed and the eyes winked again and looked upon her anxiously as if the great Oz felt that she could help him if she would.

I never killed anything willingly she sobbed and even if I wanted to how could I kill the wicked witch.

If you who were the great and terrible cannot kill her yourself how do you expect me to do it.

I do not know said the head but that is my answer and until the wicked witch dies you will not see your uncle and aunt again.

Remember that the witch is wicked tremendously wicked and ought to be killed.

Now go and do not ask to see me again until you have done your task.

Sorrowfully Dorothy left the throne room and went back where the lion and the scarecrow and the tin woodman were waiting to hear what Oz had said to her.

There is no hope for me she said sadly for Oz will not send me home until I have killed the wicked witch of the west and that I can never do.

Her friends were sorry but could do nothing to help her so she went to her room and lay down on the bed and cried herself to sleep.

The next morning the soldier with the green whiskers came to the scarecrow and said come with me for Oz has sent for you.

So the scarecrow followed him and was admitted into the great throne room where he saw sitting in the emerald throne a most lovely lady.

She was dressed in green silk gauze and wore upon her flowing green locks a crown of jewels.

Growing from her shoulders were wings gorgeous in colour and so light that they fluttered if the slightest breath of air reached them.

When the scarecrow had bowed as prettily as his straw stuffing would let him before this beautiful creature she looked upon him sweetly and said I am Oz the great and terrible who are you and why do you seek me?

Now the scarecrow who had expected to see the great head Dorothy had spoken of was much astonished but he answered her bravely I am only a scarecrow stuffed with straw therefore I have no brains and I come to you praying that you will put brains in my head instead of straw so that I may become as much a man as any other in your dominions.

Why should I do this for you asked the lady because you are wise and powerful and no one else can help me answered the scarecrow.

I never grant favours without some return said Oz but this much I will promise if you will kill for me the wicked witch of the west I will bestow upon you a great many brains and such good brains that you will be the wisest man in all the land of Oz.

I thought you asked Dorothy to kill the witch said the scarecrow in surprise so I did I don't care who kills her but until she is dead I will not grant your wish now go and do not seek me again until you have earned the brains you so greatly desire.

The scarecrow went sorrowfully back to his friends and told them what Oz had said and Dorothy was surprised to find that the great wizard was not a head as she had seen him but a lovely lady.

All the same said the scarecrow she needs a heart as much as the tin woodman.

On the next morning the soldier with the green whiskers came to the tin woodman and said Oz has sent for you follow me so the tin woodman followed him and came to the great throne room he didn't know whether he would find Oz a lovely lady or a head but he hoped it would be the lovely lady for he said to himself if it is the head I am sure I shall not be given a heart since a head has no heart of its own and therefore cannot feel for me but if it is a lovely lady I shall beg hard for a heart for all ladies are themselves said to be kindly hearted but when the woodman entered the great throne room he saw neither the head nor the lady but Oz had taken the shape of a most terrible beast it was nearly as big as an elephant and the green throne seemed hardly strong enough to hold its weight the beast had a head like that of a rhinoceros only there were five eyes in its face there were five long arms growing out of its body and it also had five long slim legs thick woolly hair covered every part of it and a more dreadful looking monster could not be imagined it was fortunate that the tin woodman had no heart at that moment for it would have beat loud and fast from terror but being only tin the woodman was not at all afraid though he was much disappointed I am Oz the great and terrible spoke the beast in a voice that was like a roar who are you and why do you seek me I am a woodman and made of tin therefore I have no heart and cannot love I pray you to give me a heart that I may be as other men are why should I do this demanded the beast because I ask it and you alone can grant my request answered the woodman Oz gave a low growl at this but said gruffly if you indeed desire a heart you must earn it how asked the woodman help Dorothy to kill the wicked witch of the west replied the beast when the witch is dead come to me and I will then give you the biggest and kindest and most loving heart in all the land of Oz so the tin woodman was forced to return sorrowfully to his friends and tell them of the terrible beast he had seen they all wondered greatly at the many forms the great wizard could take upon himself and the lion said if he is a beast when I go to see him I shall roar my loudest and so frighten him that he will grant all I ask and if he is the lovely lady I shall pretend to spring upon her and so compel her to do my bidding and if he is the great head he will be at my mercy for I will roll this head all about the room until he promises to give us what we desire so be of good cheer my friends for all will yet be well the next morning the soldier with the green whiskers led the lion to the great throne room and bat him enter the presence of Oz the lion at once passed through the door and glancing around saw to his surprise that before the throne was a ball of fire so fierce and glowing he could scarcely bear to gaze upon it his first thought was that Oz had by accident caught on fire and was burning up but when he tried to go nearer the heat was so intense that it singed his whiskers and he crept back tremblingly to a spot nearer the door then a low quiet voice came from the ball of fire and these were the words it spoke I am Oz the great and terrible who are you and why do you seek me and the lion answered I am a cowardly lion afraid of everything I came to you to beg that you give me courage so that in reality I may become the king of beasts as men call me why should I give you courage demanded Oz because of all wizards you are the greatest and alone have power to grant my request answered the lion the ball of fire burned fiercely for a time and the voice said bring me proof that the wicked witch is dead and that moment I will give you courage but as long as the witch lives you must remain a coward the lion was angry at this speech but could say nothing in reply and while he stood silently gazing at the ball of fire it became so furiously hot that he turned tail and rushed from the room he was glad to find his friends waiting for him and told them of his terrible interview with the wizard what shall we do now asked Dorothy sadly there is only one thing we can do returned the lion and that is to go to the land of the winkies seek out the wicked witch and destroy her but suppose we cannot said the girl then I shall never have courage declared the lion and I shall never have brains added the scarecrow and I shall never have a heart spoke the tin woodman and I shall never see Aunt Em and Uncle Henry said Dorothy beginning to cry be careful cried the green girl the tears will fall on your green silk gown and spot it so Dorothy dried her eyes and said I suppose we must try it but I'm sure I do not want to kill anybody even to see Aunt Em again I will go with you but I'm too much of a coward to kill the witch said the lion I will go too declared the scarecrow but I shall not be of much help to you I am such a fool I haven't the heart to harm even a witch remarked the tin woodman but if you go I shall certainly go with you therefore it was decided to start upon their journey the next morning and the woodman sharpened his axe on a green grindstone and had all his joints properly oiled the scarecrow stuffed himself with fresh straw and Dorothy put new paint on his eyes that he might see better the green girl who was very kind to them filled Dorothy's basket with good things to eat and fastened a little bell around Toto's neck with a green ribbon they went to bed quite early and slept soundly until daylight when they were awakened by the crowing of a green cock that lived in the backyard of the palace and the cackling of a hen that had laid a green egg to be continued

Reviews

Wonder why everything and everyone is green? I know its the Emerals City but could it be a satirical comment on conformity? Baum was certainly not one! Thanks Mandy 🙏🏻

I got as far as everything - that’s
E V E R Y T H I N G - is green! And then don’t remember much else. So I’ll give it another listen. Thanks again, Mandy, for your excellent reading!