The Wizard of Oz / Wicked in AsoIaF

[evita mgfs]

Martin’s AsoIaF contains characters, themes, complications, motifs, and more that seemingly correspond to one or more of the versions of the Oz phenomenon, whether that comparison is symbolic, literal, figurative, ironic, or other? This phenomenon includes The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Lyman Frank Baum; The Wizard of Oz by Fred R. Hamlin's Musical Extravaganza, (the movie and stage versions); Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995) by Gregory Maguire; and Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz with lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman.

I will make a few general comparisons as well as some specific comparisons, and then you are off to contribute your brilliant responses.

Many characters in AsoIaF are on a journey, some even trying to get home like Dorothy Gail of Kansas. Bran and Arya specifically are “off to see the wizard”. Bran seeks out the three-eyed crow to learn if he has magic to help him walk again; likewise, Arya seeks out her wizard in Braavos at the House of Black and White wanting to learn the magic to transform her face like Jaqen.

Even though both Arya and Bran seek some kind of magic force, each travels a different yellow brick road with unlikely companions. Their journeys parallel Dorothy’s, with less fantastical and more dangerous and dark aspects, all fearing the lion [with or without his coward on] in the Lannisters, whose sigil is the lion.

Furthermore, Bran meets craven Sam Tarley, the embodiment of the Cowardly Lion, who helps him on his journey. Bran’s Toto is his direwolf Summer, and even though Arya loses her direwolf Nymeria, she is “picked up” by a Hound.

More general similarities follow:

• Bran’s Emerald City is his “greensight”.
  
• The ravens around RavenBran’s cave are like Elphaba’s agents, the Flying monkeys. Or they can be associated with the Scarecrow’s crows.
  
• The weirwood trees are ironically like the scowling apple trees that admonish Dorothy and company from picking their fruit.
  
• The songs of the CoF in the Old Tongue long forgotten are similar to Elphaba’s Grimmerie, the book of magic spells only she can read – a lost language.
  
• Bran’s Wizard and Arya’s Wizard are not quite what they expect, just as the Wizard of Oz is not what Dorothy and company, and Elphaba expect. They must look into themselves to realize success their individual quests.
  
• Bran learns to fly in a raven just as Elphaba learns to fly on her broom, using a spell from the Grimmerie, in Wicked.
  

Likewise, the stories and or musicals share similar themes, which I will list, in part, in common, trite vernacular:

• Be careful what you wish for.
  
• The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
  
• Seeing is believing.
  
• Don’t judge a book by its cover.
  
• There is no place like home.
  
• Have faith in yourself.
  
• Follow your dreams.
  
• Things aren’t always as they seem.
  
• No good deed goes unpunished (Wicked)
  
• Beware Greeks (Oz) bearing gifts. (Wicked)
  
• If you love something, set it free. (Wicked)
  
• Don’t believe everything you hear. (Wicked)
  
• And more you can add to this list.
  

So let us have at it, and come up with even more Martin and Oz parallels. I am sure we can compile quite a good supply.

(Anyone who knows the political allegory surrounding Baum’s work may apply that as well, to the Seven Kingdoms, Westeros, or wherever you wish in Martin’s AsoIaF.)

[King Crow]

I have actually have drawn several superficial comparisons between Jon's arc and the Wizard of Oz.

Jon/Dorothy: Both are orphans raised by their Aunt and Uncle. Dorothy even has an elemental surname, Gail. Jon's Journey might take him back home as well. Back to Winterfell

Ghost/Toto: Toto is one of the few animals in the Wizard of Oz who doesn't speak and Ghost is the mute direwolf.

Sam/Cowardly Lion: Mentioned in the OP. The Cowardly Lion becomes king of the jungle. This might mean that Jon might not be the only Night's watchmen who involves himself in politics. Maybe Sam will become Lord of Hornhill after all.

Tin Woodsman/Stannis: Donal Noye says that Stannis is made of Iron. This evokes an image of a metal man. Also he is considered heartless because he is distant and cold, but he actually is compassionate. He nurses a sick bird back to health. Also, he is greatly affected by Renly's death. Most lords in the book wouldn't care about killing a traitor, even if he was their brother. I didn't think of this before the show, but Stannis may be aware that Davos is acting as his conscience. Stannis could be encouraging Davos to act as his conscience. Also, like the Tin Man, he is given a fake heart , the fiery heart of R'hllor.

Scare crow/ Tormund: Tormund is a wildling raider. So like the Scare crow he is the natural enemy of crows( the night's watch).Because of how he behaves it is easy to lump him into the same category as King Bob and the Umbers, but Tormund actually is incredibly level headed. Tormund was willing to treat with Jon, right after Jon betrayed the Free folk. To me, that showed a lot of maturity. Maybe in time it will be revealed that Tormund is the wisest of Jon's companions.