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How is the Wizard of Oz exposed as an ordinary man?
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The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
An illustrated page by W.W. Denslow in L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
In L. Frank Baum’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Wizard is exposed as an ordinary man through an accidental discovery by Dorothy’s dog, Toto.1
After Dorothy and her companions return to the Emerald City and are finally granted an audience with the Wizard, they find him reluctant to fulfill his promises to grant their wishes. During this encounter, Toto knocks over a screen in the room, which reveals that the individual posing as the powerful Wizard is actually just a common man. Despite this revelation, he proceeds to provide the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion with symbolic items—such as a heart made of silk and sawdust—to satisfy their desires.12