The Marvelous Land of Oz

The Marvelous Land of Oz (1904) is a children’s fantasy novel by American author L. Frank Baum. It’s the second book in his renowned Wizard of Oz series, a sequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900). The story follows a young boy named Tip who, after running away from the cruel sorceress Mombi, becomes entangled in a citywide rebellion and discovers a secret about his own identity that will change the future of Oz. The novel explores several themes: The Malleability of Identity, The Absurdity of Societal Obsession Over Gender Roles and Power, and The Moral Ambiguity Inherent in Artificially Creating Life.

Baum wrote the novel in response to popular demand from readers and the immense success of the 1902 Broadway musical adaptation of the first book, which turned the characters of the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman into national stars. Consequently, the sequel focuses on their adventures and omits the character of Dorothy. Published during a period of intense debate over women’s suffrage in the US, the novel also satirizes the social anxieties and resistance to the movement through its depiction of General Jinjur and her all-female Army of Revolt.

This guide refers to the 2019 SeaWolf Press edition.

Content Warning: The source text and this guide contain depictions of emotional abuse as well as gender and/or transgender discrimination.

Plot Summary

Tip, a boy living in the Gillikin Country of Oz, is the ward of an old sorceress named Mombi. To frighten her, he builds a wooden man with a pumpkin for a head, naming him Jack Pumpkinhead. When Mombi returns home with a magical Powder of Life that she acquired from a crooked wizard, she’s amused rather than scared and decides to test the powder on Jack Pumpkinhead. It works: Jack Pumpkinhead comes to life. When Mombi discovers Tip spying on her, she declares that, as punishment, she’ll transform him into a marble statue the following morning.

To escape this fate, Tip runs away that night, freeing Jack Pumpkinhead from the stable. Jack, viewing Tip as his creator, calls him “father.” They decide to travel to the Emerald City to meet its ruler, the Scarecrow. As Jack’s wooden joints wear out from walking, Tip uses the Powder of Life he stole from Mombi to animate a wooden Saw-Horse so that Jack will have a steed to ride, saving him from further wear.

The journey resumes, but when Tip commands the Saw-Horse to “Trot,” it bolts at top speed. The horse’s wooden tail breaks off, leaving Tip behind as Jack is carried uncontrollably toward the Emerald City. Jack and the Saw-Horse arrive at the city gates, where the bewildered Guardian of the Gates allows them entry. The Soldier with the Green Whiskers escorts Jack to the palace, where he meets His Majesty the Scarecrow. A comedic misunderstanding arises in which they believe that they speak different languages and require an interpreter; however, after a maid named Jellia Jamb resolves the misunderstanding, the Scarecrow and Jack become friends.

Meanwhile, Tip continues his journey on foot and encounters General Jinjur, the leader of an all-female Army of Revolt. Armed with knitting needles, Jinjur and her soldiers plan to conquer the Emerald City to seize its jewels and end male rule. They march on the city and easily overpower the Guardian and the single-soldier Royal Army, capturing it without a fight.

Tip and the defeated Soldier with the Green Whiskers rush to the palace to warn the Scarecrow. Realizing the danger, the Scarecrow devises an escape. He, Tip, and Jack mount the Saw-Horse and make a chaotic dash out of the city. During their flight, the horse leaps into a river. Jack’s head falls off, but Tip retrieves it, and the Scarecrow’s straw stuffing is dried and replaced. They eventually reach the castle of their friend, the Tin Woodman, who is the nickel-plated Emperor of the Winkies. The Tin Woodman agrees to help the Scarecrow reclaim his throne.

On their way back to the Emerald City, the group encounters Mombi, who has joined forces with Jinjur. Mombi creates a series of magical illusions, including a field of whirling sunflowers and a phantom fire. When one of the Saw-Horse’s legs breaks, they must halt their journey until they’re joined by a new companion: Mr. H. M. Woggle-Bug, T. E., a Highly Magnified and Thoroughly Educated insect who suggests a clever solution: using one of Jack’s own legs for the repair. They successfully bypass Mombi’s illusions. Before they leave, the Scarecrow hides a dozen mice in his straw stuffing as a secret weapon.

The adventurers reach the Emerald City, frighten the guards at the gate, and march to the throne room to confront Jinjur. However, Jinjur springs a trap, and her soldiers surround and capture the heroes. As Jinjur announces her plan to destroy them, the Scarecrow releases the field mice from his jacket. Terrified, the girl soldiers flee the palace in a panic. The heroes bar the doors, but they soon realize that they’re now prisoners, besieged by Jinjur’s army. The Scarecrow proposes a new plan: to build a flying machine and escape through the roof.

The Tin Woodman constructs a flying machine using two sofas, a mounted Gump’s head, four palm leaves, and a broom. Tip brings the creature, which they name “the Gump,” to life. It flies them away from the palace, and they head south to seek help from Glinda the Good. During the flight, they discover a false bottom in the pepper-box containing three “Wishing Pills.” The Gump gets lost in the night and crashes into a mountain, dumping the party into the giant nest of some Jackdaws. The birds attack and, in the ensuing fight, steal all the Scarecrow’s straw stuffing. Tip suggests restuffing him with the vast amount of paper money the birds have hoarded. The Saw-Horse solves the riddle for using the pills, and the Woggle-Bug uses one to wish the Gump’s wings repaired. They escape the nest and eventually land in the gardens of Glinda’s palace.

Glinda reveals that the rightful ruler of the Emerald City is Princess Ozma, who was hidden as a baby by the Wizard of Oz with Mombi’s help. Glinda’s army marches on the Emerald City to capture the witch. However, the search is unsuccessful, as Mombi has transformed herself into a red rose. As the party leaves, the Tin Woodman unwittingly plucks the enchanted rose. Back in camp, Glinda detects Mombi’s presence. The witch attempts to flee by transforming into a shadow, an ant, and finally a Griffin. Glinda pursues Mombi on the tireless Saw-Horse and uses a magic thread to reverse the Griffin transformation, capturing the witch in the desert. Using a magic pearl that turns black at a lie, Glinda forces Mombi to confess that she transformed the infant Princess Ozma into a boy, and then Glinda points at Tip.

Tip is shocked and reluctant to become a girl, but he eventually agrees. Mombi performs a counter-spell, restoring Tip to his true form as the beautiful Princess Ozma. Ozma and Glinda use the Gump to fly over the city walls and capture Jinjur, ending the rebellion. Ozma is crowned Queen. The Gump is disassembled at its own request, though its head remains sentient. The Tin Woodman returns to his kingdom, taking the Scarecrow with him as his Royal Treasurer. Ozma observes that the Scarecrow, with his brains, and the Tin Woodman, with his heart, both possess the “riches of content” (meaning contentment).