Fan Theories Wiki
Advertisement

The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, based on L. Frank Baum's novel of the same name.

a seemingly innocent film, you wouldn't expect theories around it...but you will soon be mistaken.

Glinda is the Real Villain[]

This theory explains that Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, is technically the true antagonist of the film, though one totally oblivious to both the other characters and the audience. The theory revolves around the idea that Glinda desired the title of true ruler/sorcerer of Oz and wanted both the Wicked Witch and the Wizard out of the way. To this end, she used Dorothy as an innocent, ignorant patsy to overthrow both her own sister witch (Witch of the West) and the Wizard of Oz, leaving herself as undisputed master of all four corners of Oz: North, East, West and South (and presumably the Emerald City). She even showed her truest "Machiavellian brilliance" by allowing the story to be entitled after the weakest of her three opponents.

Things that support this theory

  • In the movie, most of the characters have a counterpart: Hunk as the Scarecrow, Hickory as the Tinman, Zeke, as the Cowardly Lion, Professor Marvel as the Wizard, and Miss Almira Gulch as the Witch. Glinda is the only one without a counterpart from Dorothy's life.
  • She doesn't tell Dorothy that the ruby slippers (or silver slippers) can send her back home until the end of the movie after the witch dies and the wizard is sent away on the hot air balloon⁠—probably to make sure her plan has succeeded before telling Dorothy about the shoes.

Another Possibility Regarding Glinda:

Glinda could be Dorothy's mother. In the film, she is never seen outside the Land of Oz; if one assumes she is dead, then it makes sense for her to guide Dorothy through Oz. After all, if she hadn't acted as a guide, then Dorothy would've gotten even more 'lost' within that world and died rather than waking up in her room at the farm after being hit on the head during the twister.

It makes sense⁠—everyone in Dorothy's dream corresponds to someone in her reality. Plus, it's all in her point of view. So, the most influential and matriarchal figure in her life, her mother, would be the one to guide and bring her out of the coma/unconsciousness. We, the viewer, are unaware of this because the movie follows her journey through Oz, not the story of her past.

Advertisement