<P> Littlefield 's knowledge of the 1890s was thin , and he made numerous errors , but since his article was published , scholars in history , political science , and economics have asserted that the images and characters used by Baum closely resemble political images that were well known in the 1890s . Quentin Taylor , for example , claimed that many of the events and characters of the book resemble the actual political personalities , events and ideas of the 1890s . Dorothy -- naïve , young and simple -- represents the American people . She is Everyman , led astray and seeking the way back home . Moreover , following the road of gold leads eventually only to the Emerald City , which may symbolize the fraudulent world of greenback paper money that only pretends to have value . It is ruled by a scheming politician ( the Wizard ) who uses publicity devices and tricks to fool the people ( and even the Good Witches ) into believing he is benevolent , wise , and powerful when really he is a selfish , evil humbug . He sends Dorothy into severe danger hoping she will rid him of his enemy the Wicked Witch of the West . He is powerless and , as he admits to Dorothy , `` I 'm a very bad Wizard '' . </P>
<P> Littlefield 's knowledge of the 1890s was thin , and he made numerous errors , but since his article was published , scholars in history , political science , and economics have asserted that the images and characters used by Baum closely resemble political images that were well known in the 1890s . Quentin Taylor , for example , claimed that many of the events and characters of the book resemble the actual political personalities , events and ideas of the 1890s . Dorothy -- naïve , young and simple -- represents the American people . She is Everyman , led astray and seeking the way back home . Moreover , following the road of gold leads eventually only to the Emerald City , which may symbolize the fraudulent world of greenback paper money that only pretends to have value . It is ruled by a scheming politician ( the Wizard ) who uses publicity devices and tricks to fool the people ( and even the Good Witches ) into believing he is benevolent , wise , and powerful when really he is a selfish , evil humbug . He sends Dorothy into severe danger hoping she will rid him of his enemy the Wicked Witch of the West . He is powerless and , as he admits to Dorothy , `` I 'm a very bad Wizard '' . </P>
who did dorothy represent in the wizard of oz
who did dorothy represent in the wizard of oz
the American people
the American people