Appearance
Excerpt
Excerpt from Glinda of Oz, by L. Frank Baum
"Well, your Majesty, once--a long time ago--the Flatheads and the
Skeezers were friendly. They visited our island and we visited their
mountain, and everything was pleasant between the two peoples. At that
time the Flatheads were ruled by three Adepts in Sorcery, beautiful
girls who were not Flatheads, but had wandered to the Flat Mountain and
made their home there. These three Adepts used their magic only for
good, and the mountain people gladly made them their rulers. They
taught the Flatheads how to use their canned brains and how to work
metals into clothing that would never wear out, and many other things
that added to their happiness and content.
"Coo-ee-oh was our Queen then, as now, but she knew no magic and so had
nothing to be proud of. But the three Adepts were very kind to
Coo-ee-oh. They built for us this wonderful dome of glass and our
houses of marble and taught us to make beautiful clothing and many
other things. Coo-ee-oh pretended to be very grateful for these favors,
but it seems that all the time she was jealous of the three Adepts and
secretly tried to discover their arts of magic. In this she was more
clever than anyone suspected. She invited the three Adepts to a banquet
one day, and while they were feasting Coo-ee-oh stole their charms and
magical instruments and transformed them into three fishes--a gold
fish, a silver fish and a bronze fish. While the poor fishes were
gasping and flopping helplessly on the floor of the banquet room one of
them said reproachfully: 'You will be punished for this, Coo-ee-oh, for
if one of us dies or is destroyed, you will become shrivelled and
helpless, and all your stolen magic will depart from you.' Frightened
by this threat, Coo-ee-oh at once caught up the three fish and ran with
them to the shore of the lake, where she cast them into the water. This
revived the three Adepts and they swam away and disappeared.
"I, myself, witnessed this shocking scene," continued Lady Aurex, "and
so did many other Skeezers. The news was carried to the Flatheads, who
then turned from friends to enemies. The Su-dic and his wife Rora were
the only ones on the mountain who were glad the three Adepts had been
lost to them, and they at once became Rulers of the Flatheads and stole
their canned brains from others to make themselves the more powerful.
Some of the Adepts' magic tools had been left on the mountain, and
these Rora seized and by the use of them she became a witch.
Explanation
Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Glinda of Oz by L. Frank Baum
This passage from Glinda of Oz (1920), the final book in L. Frank Baum’s Oz series, recounts a pivotal moment in the history of the Skeezers and the Flatheads—two antagonistic factions in the magical land of Oz. The excerpt is narrated by Lady Aurex, a Skeezer, who explains the origins of the conflict between her people and the Flatheads. Below is a breakdown of the text’s context, themes, literary devices, and significance, with a primary focus on the passage itself.
1. Context of the Excerpt
Glinda of Oz follows Princess Ozma and Glinda the Good Witch as they attempt to prevent a war between the Skeezers (a race of women who live on a floating island in a lake) and the Flatheads (a mountain-dwelling people with detachable brains stored in cans). The novel explores themes of power, betrayal, transformation, and the dangers of unchecked ambition.
This excerpt is a flashback, providing the backstory of how the Skeezers and Flatheads became enemies. It reveals:
- The former alliance between the two groups.
- The betrayal by Queen Coo-ee-oh of the Skeezers.
- The transformation and exile of the three Adepts (beneficent sorceresses).
- The rise of the Su-dic and Rora as tyrannical rulers of the Flatheads.
The story functions as a cautionary tale about greed, jealousy, and the corruption of power—common themes in Baum’s later Oz books, which often critique authoritarianism and social hierarchy.
2. Key Themes in the Excerpt
A. Betrayal and Jealousy
The central conflict stems from Queen Coo-ee-oh’s envy of the three Adepts, who are kind, powerful, and beloved by both Skeezers and Flatheads. Despite their generosity (teaching magic, building the glass dome, and improving life for both peoples), Coo-ee-oh resents their superiority and steals their magic.
- "Coo-ee-oh pretended to be very grateful... but it seems that all the time she was jealous" → Her false gratitude masks her true malice.
- She exploits hospitality (inviting them to a banquet) to disarm and transform them into fish, a classic act of betrayal.
This mirrors Shakespearean tragedies (e.g., Macbeth, where ambition leads to downfall) and fairy-tale tropes (e.g., the wicked queen in Snow White who resents beauty and power).
B. The Corruption of Power
The Adepts represent benevolent rule—they use magic for the common good, teaching the Flatheads to use their "canned brains" (a literal and metaphorical symbol of intelligence) and improving life for both peoples.
In contrast:
- Coo-ee-oh abuses power by stealing magic she doesn’t understand.
- The Su-dic and Rora (the new Flathead rulers) exploit the Adepts’ absence to seize control, stealing brains and hoarding magical tools for themselves.
This reflects Baum’s distrust of authoritarianism—a recurring theme in Oz, where just rulers (like Ozma and Glinda) govern with wisdom and kindness, while tyrants (like the Nome King or the Su-dic) hoard power and oppress others.
C. Transformation and Consequences
The Adepts’ transformation into fish is both literal and symbolic:
- Literal: They are physically changed and cast into the lake, where they survive but lose their human form.
- Symbolic:
- Loss of agency → They go from powerful rulers to helpless creatures.
- A curse on Coo-ee-oh → One fish warns: "If one of us dies or is destroyed, you will become shrivelled and helpless, and all your stolen magic will depart from you." This binding curse ensures that Coo-ee-oh’s power is conditional and fragile.
This echoes mythological transformations (e.g., Circe turning men into pigs in The Odyssey) and fairy-tale curses (e.g., The Frog Prince), where magic has rules and consequences.
D. The Cycle of Revenge and Conflict
The Adepts’ exile destroys the alliance between Skeezers and Flatheads:
- The Flatheads, now leaderless and bitter, turn against the Skeezers.
- The Su-dic and Rora exploit the chaos to consolidate power, leading to generations of war.
This reflects real-world political dynamics—how betrayal and power struggles can fracture alliances and fuel long-term conflict.
3. Literary Devices in the Excerpt
A. Foreshadowing
- The fish’s warning ("You will be punished for this") hints at future consequences—Coo-ee-oh’s magic is not truly hers and may fail her when she needs it most.
- The stolen "canned brains" of the Flatheads foreshadow the Su-dic’s later tyranny, where he hoards intelligence to control his people.
B. Irony
- Dramatic Irony: The reader knows Coo-ee-oh’s magic is stolen and cursed, but she believes herself secure.
- Situational Irony: The Adepts, who used magic for good, are betrayed by those they helped. The Flatheads, who benefited from their wisdom, now hate the Skeezers because of Coo-ee-oh’s actions.
C. Symbolism
- The Glass Dome & Marble Houses → Represent fragile beauty and artificial perfection (the Skeezers’ society is visually impressive but morally flawed).
- The Canned Brains → Symbolize detachable intelligence, suggesting that knowledge can be stolen or controlled (a critique of elite hoarding of power).
- The Fish → Represent exile and survival, but also a loss of humanity (the Adepts are no longer able to rule or help others).
D. Allegory
The story can be read as an allegory for colonialism or revolution:
- The Adepts = benevolent but foreign rulers (like colonial powers who "civilize" but are resented).
- Coo-ee-oh = A local leader who resents foreign influence and seizes power through deceit.
- The Su-dic and Rora = New tyrants who replace old ones, showing how revolutions can lead to worse oppression.
E. Fairy-Tale & Mythic Elements
- Magical Transformation (humans into fish) → Common in folklore (e.g., The Little Mermaid, Selkies).
- The Banquet Betrayal → A classic trope (e.g., Snow White’s poisoned apple, Macbeth’s dagger).
- The Curse → A moral balance—Coo-ee-oh’s power is not absolute and will backfire.
4. Significance of the Excerpt
A. Within Glinda of Oz
This backstory explains the current conflict—why the Skeezers and Flatheads hate each other and why magic is now a weapon rather than a tool for good. It also:
- Justifies Glinda’s intervention—she must restore balance by either freeing the Adepts or breaking Coo-ee-oh’s curse.
- Highlights the danger of the Su-dic—his theft of brains mirrors Coo-ee-oh’s theft of magic, showing how power corrupts in cycles.
B. Within Baum’s Oz Series
Baum’s later Oz books (post-The Wonderful Wizard of Oz) often critique power structures. This excerpt fits into his broader themes:
- Good vs. Bad Magic → The Adepts use magic for the common good; Coo-ee-oh and Rora use it for control.
- The Dangers of Tyranny → The Su-dic’s brain-stealing is a literalization of intellectual oppression.
- Female Agency & Power → Coo-ee-oh is a flawed female ruler (unlike Ozma or Glinda), showing that women in power can be just as corrupt as men.
C. Broader Literary & Cultural Significance
- A Cautionary Tale About Greed → Like King Midas or Faust, Coo-ee-oh gains power but at a cost.
- A Commentary on Colonialism → The Adepts are outsiders who "civilize" the Flatheads, but their removal leads to chaos—suggesting that forced progress can backfire.
- A Reflection on Revolution → The Su-dic’s rise shows how overthrowing one tyrant can create another.
5. Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters
This excerpt is more than just exposition—it’s a microcosm of the novel’s central conflicts:
- Power corrupts (Coo-ee-oh, the Su-dic).
- Betrayal has lasting consequences (the war between Skeezers and Flatheads).
- Magic (or technology) is neutral—it can uplift or destroy, depending on who wields it.
Baum uses fairy-tale simplicity to explore complex moral questions, making the story accessible yet profound. The passage also sets up the novel’s climax, where Glinda must decide whether to punish Coo-ee-oh, restore the Adepts, or find another way to break the cycle of vengeance.
In the end, Glinda of Oz—like much of Baum’s work—champions kindness, cooperation, and just rule over greed, deception, and tyranny. This excerpt is a perfect encapsulation of those themes.
Final Thought:
If this were a standalone fable, its moral might be: "Beware the jealousy that makes you destroy what you cannot control—for the magic you steal may one day destroy you."