The 1939 film classic The Wizard of Oz, based on the book of the same name by L. Frank Baum, is considered a timeless children’s fantasy. However, viewed from an ethical perspective, it contains many ethical issues and dilemmas. The teenage heroine Dorothy Gale, is confronted with many moral and ethical dilemmas. She is also affected by ethical choices made by other characters. In this essay, I will broadly define morality, values and ethics and their relationship to the law, an individual, group or organization and a society. I will also discuss two moral and ethical dilemmas involving Dorothy; first the moral obligation to obey the law and finally the moral and ethical obligation of citizens and public administrators to ensure the safety of minors.
Ethics, morality, values and the law are intertwined in society. Language however, confuses their meaning as they are often used as synonyms. Their use as synonyms stems from being used to identify “What is good, right or just?”. There are differences to note. Ethics are a set principles that guide an individual’s actions to produce a positive or acceptable result. They are external to the individual and often set by the organization or group the person belongs. Ethics may be limited to specific situations. Professional ethics, work ethics and the ethics of medical research are examples of this relationship and often require an obligation to comply. Noncompliance with approved ethical standards may result in sanctions against the individual. Ethical principles are derived from morals or beliefs concerning right and wrong commonly held by members of any given society. Morals vary over time, location and from person to person. Morals typically originate from the religions, culture, traditions and other norms of that society. Some morals are codified into laws. Values are an individual’s ordering of morals given a certain situation. As we begin to explore ethics and morality in the County of Oz, it is important to note we will evaluate these dilemmas though our own moral, legal and ethical lens.
Dorothy is confronted with the question of whether one must always obey the law when Miss Almira Gulch visits with a removal order issued by the sheriff for Dorothy’s dog Toto. Miss Gultch is an influential and wealthy citizen who owns half of the town. She alleges Toto, a very small dog, bit her and is a menace to the community. She intends to have the dog destroyed. Dorothy initially refused to comply with the apparently lawful removal order but did so after Auntie Em reviewed the order. Auntie Em reminded Dorothy of her moral obligation to obey the law.
Video: Miss Gulch takes Toto from Dorothy
Objectively, Dorothy is likely correct in asserting Toto is not a menace to the community but that does not relieve her from her obligation to comply with the order. Given the facts, the issuance of the order is suspect and obviously unjust. Furthermore, it seems absurd that a sheriff would issue a removal order directing the euthanization of a dog where the victim is not hurt. Miss Gulch was captured on film peddling her bicycle furiously on the road to the Gale Farm. The only plausible explanation for the sheriff’s actions is Miss Gulch used her influence and possibly her wealth to coerce the sheriff into issuing the order. If the sheriff did issue the order because of Miss Gulch’s influence peddling scheme or peer pressure, he would have demonstrated a lack of integrity and violated his professional ethics.
Children in our society are viewed as our future and large amounts of resources are vested by our government in their general welfare. Considering the vast resources allocated to benefit children the question of “What are governments and public administrators expected to do to protect the welfare of children in society?” becomes apparent. The most common programs involve providing services including healthcare, education, nutrition and protection from abuse. In the Wizard of Oz, the Munchkin government failed to live up to the ethical principle of protecting children while the Emerald City government did shelter and provide basic services Dorothy needed. These are examples of public administrators, on the one hand failing to and on the other meeting professional ethical standards expected of governments and public administrators.
Video: Twister: “Poor little kid I hope she gets home alright”
Dorothy blew into Munchkinland unannounced without an adult guardian and no viable means of support. The Munchkins initially saw Dorothy as being responsible for the death of the Wicked Witch of the East. Ultimately, the investigation did not determine Dorothy’s culpability or rule if the death was accidental. The case was closed when the Coroner found the Witch of the East “most sincerely dead.” It seems the circumstances of her arrival and the high-profile investigation that followed distracted the Munchkins from realizing Dorothy was a minor in need of assistance and not a conquering hero. Instead of providing the needed assistance, they convinced Dorothy it was better to seek help from the chief administrator of the Emerald City government. Dorothy may have been pressured to undertake the journey by repeated chants of “follow the yellowbrick road.” The decision to allow her journey to see Emerald City’s Wizard of Oz, via the knowingly dangerous Yellowbrick Road even with the company of her resourceful and ferocious dog Toto, is questionable at best.
Video: The investigation into the death of the Wicked Witch of the East.
On the other hand, Dorothy was immediately provided for once she entered the Emerald City. As Dorothy and her companions entered the Emerald City she, along with her travelling companions, was still effectively homeless, destitute and in need of assistance. She relayed her state of affairs to the official gatekeeper and ensured her entry was legal by knocking instead of ringing the bell. Upon her entry, she was provided transportation to “The Wash & Brush Up Co.” This service company, in partnership with the city government, re-stuffed the Scarecrow, polished and oiled the Tinman, gave Dorothy a complete makeover and groomed both the Cowardly Lion and Toto. The Emerald City also refused to comply with the Wicked Witch of the West’s demand to “surrender Dorothy”.
Video: Professor Marvel meets Dorothy Gale.
Professor Marvel actions in his encounter with Dorothy can be interpreted as moral or immoral because morals can as stated vary from person to person. The moral question is again “How should a person ensure the welfare of a runaway minor?”. After Toto escapes Miss Gulch and returns home, Dorothy decides to run away from home. She encounters Professor Marvel, an acclaimed fortune teller on the road. Marvel uses his “mystical powers” to guess Dorothy is a recent runaway looking for travel and adventure. Dorothy asks to accompany Marvel but he must first consult his crystal ball. As Marvel prepares Dorothy for her “look into the future”, he sees a picture of Dorothy and Auntie Em in her basket in front of their farmhouse. He uses that knowledge with other “cold reading” fortune telling techniques, to convince Dorothy that Auntie Em is heartbroken and is becoming physically ill.
Believing the teenager will return home because of his subterfuge, Marvel ensures Dorothy’s welfare. The use of the fortune telling ruse does not diminish Professor Marvels moral character. In fact, it is enhanced by the deception. He unquestionably ensured Dorothy returned home but he made her believe it was her idea as well. Dorothy’s realization reinforces her commitment to her family. This pragmatic outcome based judgement could be challenged by an idealist on moral grounds. An idealist whose moral belief is that fortune telling is fraudulent and places minors in moral jeopardy would, even though the outcome was positive, hold Professor Marvels actions were immoral.
This assessment of the morality and ethics in the County of Oz can only mirror the ethical standards and morals of the critic. We see in the actions of the public administrators in Munchkinland and Emerald City as operating under differing sets of ethics. The characters’ in the Wizard of OZ can be seen to act both morally and immorally based on our own perspective. Dorothy upholds her moral obligation to obey the law while the sheriff’s actions are allegedly unethical. A pragmatist would hold professor Marvels actions were moral while an idealist may believe the use of deception in any case is immoral. The morality, values and ethics are clearly my own, born of my unique life experience.
References
LeRoy, M. (Producer), Baum, L. F. (Writer), & Fleming, V. (Director). (1939). The wizard of oz [Motion Picture]. Hollywood, CA, USA.
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