The 16 Motivation Elements in The Wizard of Oz

Archetypal Elements of "Oz Characters

Returning to Oz, Dorothy is both pursue and consideration. Toto is faith and support. The Cowardly Lion is clearly disbelief and oppose, and Glinda is conscience and help. But here is where breaking the Eight Archetypal Characters into 16 characteristics solves our previous problems.

Tin Man and Scarecrow Swap Meet

When we look at the Scarecrow he represents logic ("If I only had a brain"), but his approach, rather than being in control, is uncontrolled. Similarly, although the Tin Man is undoubtedly feeling ("If I only had a heart"), his behavior is just as surely described by control (he freezes stiff when he cries).

Clearly, the Scarecrow and the Tin Man have swapped characteristics: logic goes with uncontrolled and feeling goes with control. In a sense, both of these Characters now contain two Elements that are in conflict. The Action Element does not reflect the Decision Element. This creates two interesting Characters who have an added degree of depth to them: an internal friction, inconsistency, and conflict. This is the kind of arrangement that begins to make characters more complex.

Witch and Wizard Ways

But what about the Witch and the Wizard? What is it that makes them diverge from the Archetypal molds? Could it be a similar "swapping" of Elements? As it turns out, it is a similar swapping, but not the same. To be the Archetypal Contagonist, the Wizard would have to be temptation and hinder. To be the Antagonist, the Witch would have to be reconsideration and prevent. But rather than swapping an Action Element for another Action Element, the Witch ends up with both Action Elements and the Wizard with both Decision ones!

The Witch tries to prevent Dorothy from leaving Oz by putting her into a magic induced sleep, and later by trying to kill her. She also works to hinder Dorothy's efforts by attacking her friends and getting her ejected from the safety of the Emerald City.

The Wizard acts as temptation with the promise of easy answers for Dorothy and her friends (a diploma for Scarecrow, an award for the Cowardly Lion, a balloon trip for Dorothy, and so on). As "The Great and Powerful Oz," his threatening reputation, nature, and tasks make Dorothy's group think twice before continuing. Even the Wizard's disguise as the Emerald City gatekeeper is designed to convince Dorothy to "go away."

"Oz Elements in Quads

When we put this information into our Quad formation, the Elements do not line up in a simple way.

Driver Quad

Passenger Quad

Everyone still has two characteristics. However, the arrangements are not Archetypal for all the Characters in The Wizard of Oz. As a result, the Archetypal role names have been removed where they do not apply.

Apparently, the Scarecrow and the Tin Man have swapped characteristics: logic goes with uncontrolled and feeling goes with control. In a sense, both of these Characters now contain two Elements that are at odds with each other. The Action Element does not reflect the Decision Element. This creates two very interesting Characters who have an additional degree of depth to them: an internal friction, inconsistency, or conflict. This is the kind of arrangement that begins to make characters more complex.