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Dorothy
Dorothy is a young girl from Kansas and the novel’s protagonist. She lives with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, who are surprised that Dorothy can live so cheerfully on the gray Kansas prairies…
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The Scarecrow
The Scarecrow is the first travelling companion Dorothy meets on her way to the Emerald City. When Dorothy explains her intention to see the Wizard of Oz in the hopes that he can return her…
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The Tin Woodman
The Tin Woodman is the second companion Dorothy encounters on her way to the Emerald City. Upon hearing about Dorothy’s and the Scarecrow’s plan to see the Wizard of Oz and have their wishes…
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The Cowardly Lion
The Cowardly Lion is the third and final new companion Dorothy meets on her way to the Emerald City. While the Lion appears frightening and ferocious at first, it soon becomes clear that he believes…
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The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz is the mysterious ruler of the Emerald City; he is generally believed to be incredibly powerful. In reality, he’s merely a little old man from Omaha with no real magical powers…
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Get the entire The Wizard of Oz LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Wicked Witch of the West
The Wicked Witch of the West is the closest character the novel has to an antagonist, though she only appears in person in one chapter. Despite her limited appearances, the Wicked Witch makes a strong…
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The Good Witch of the North
Dorothy meets the Good Witch of the North in the Land of the Munchkins. She’s the first character Dorothy speaks to after arriving in the Land of Oz, and functions as a guiding mentor figure…
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Glinda
Glinda is the Good Witch of the South and the only witch in the novel who is named. Glinda is said to be the most powerful of the witches, and, unlike the Wizard, she…
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Aunt Em
Aunt Em is Uncle Henry’s wife, Dorothy’s aunt, and a motherly figure in Dorothy’s life. She lives on a farm on the gray prairies of Kansas. At the beginning of the novel, Aunt…
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Uncle Henry
Uncle Henry is Aunt Em’s husband and Dorothy’s stern father figure. He lives on a farm on the gray prairies of Kansas. Like his wife, he’s described as being just as dull and…
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Toto
Toto is Dorothy’s small, black dog. He and Dorothy have a close and loving relationship, and Dorothy is extremely loyal to him—she and Toto are whisked away to Oz in the first place because…
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Minor Characters
The Wicked Witch of the East
The Wicked Witch of the East is one of the evil witches who inhabits Oz. Dorothy unwittingly kills the Wicked Witch of the East when her house lands on the Witch, which causes the Munchkins and the Good Witch of the South to see Dorothy as a hero.
