Running head:DOROTHY’S PERSONALITY IN THE WIZARD OF OZ1

DOROTHY’S PERSONALITY IN THE WIZARD OF OZ

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DOROTHY’S PERSONALITY IN THE WIZARD OF OZ

Introduction

Almost on daily basis we are usually involved in describing and assessing the personalities of those who are within our vicinity. However, there is a need to realize that these daily arguments on why and how people usually behave the way they do are same to what psychologists of personality usually do (Surowiecki, 2009). Moreover, our informal ways of assessing personality most of the times tend to concentrate a lot on individuals, whereas the personality psychologists on the other hand embarks on using personality conceptions applicable to everyone. Research on personality issues has however resulted to development of several number of personality theories capable of helping to explain why and how some personality character traits develops (Nevid and Rathus, 2005).

However, since there are different personality theories, there is also need to exactly understand what is personality. Thus personality would be adequately defined as a makeup of the characteristic patterns of feelings, thoughts and behaviors that contributes to someone uniqueness. In addition, personality also tends to arise from within a person and fairly remains to be consistent within the entire of someone’s life (Dighe, 2002). However, some of the personality fundamental characteristics include: consistency whereby there is always order and regularity which is generally recognizable to behaviors. In essence, most of the people will tend to act similarly to a variety of situations. Personality has also been demonstrated as a psychological construct, however research suggests a possibility of influence by biological needs and processes. Personality however doesn’t just affect how we respond in our surroundings; it also leads to people acting in particular ways (Surowiecki, 2009). Moreover, personality is also portrayed in just more than behavior mainly because it can be seen also in our close relationships, thoughts, feelings, as well as other social interactions (Koupal, 1989).

Background of the Wizard of oz film

The Wizard of Oz has always been everyone’s most cherished and favorite fantasy film produced by the MGM in the year 1939 and it has continued to be cherished up to today since its golden early days. This film was for numerous seasons featured frequently on network TV during the cases of the prime time event (Gardner and Russel, 1957). It was also regularly featured on annual basis for Thanksgiving, Easter time and/or Christmas. Thus this contributed to it becoming a classic institution, as well aseveryone ‘s rite of passage, and there are also possibilities that it has been seen by the highest number of people compared to any other existing film over several decades ago. Even though the film was however initially not successful commercially it was on the other hand critically acclaimed by a large number of people. Moreover, the film which was produced in the year 1939 was based on the novel wonderful wizard of oz (Gardner and Russel, 1957).

The plot of the filmis easily condensed whereby there are several characters each playing a specific role in the film. Dorothy who is the character to be discussed in this term paper is portrayed as a sad and lonelyfarmgirl from Kansas (Koupal, 1989). Dorothy however is constantly dreaming of being in a better place, where her dog Toto is not tormented by a hateful neighbor, so she ends up planning on how the ways she can use to run away from Kansas (Dighe, 2002). However, during a severe tornado, she ends up being struck on her head and gets transported far away to a land where she finds the Kansas magical characters of her former life in Kansas transformed during her unconscious state of dream (Gardner and Russel, 1957). Moreover, after travelling down to the Land of Oz combined with the defeating of the Wicked Witch, Dorothy together with her friends they ends up being rewarded their hearts' desires by the Wizard of Oz whichenables Dorothy to return her home place, Kansas (Koupal, 1989).

The contrasting personality theories used to discuss Dorothy’s personality

Moreover, in order to adequately to discuss the fictional characteristics and personality of Dorothy the discussion will be based on two contrasting theories of personality. Thus among the existing five the ones to be used are the psychodynamic and humanistic theories of personality. Psychodynamic theories of personality explains behavior of humans in terms of how they interact with other various personality components (Surowiecki, 2009). This theory of personality was founded by Sigmund Freud. Freud drew on thermodynamics which was the physics of the day to come up with the term psychodynamics. Since thermodynamics involved conversion of heat to mechanical energy, Freud also suggested that it was possible to convert psychic energy into behavior (Dighe, 2002). This personality theory usually place central importance on psychological conflicts that are dynamic and unconscious. On the other hand humanistic theory of personality emphasize that individuals have the free will in playing an active role to determine how they behave. This theory also focuses mainly on the subjective experiences of people in contrary to definitive, forced factors responsible for determining behavior. Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow were proponents and founders of this personality theory (Nevid and Rathus, 2005).

In the psychodynamic personality theory Freud categorizes the human personality into three main components such as the id, ego, as well as the super-ego. The id component usually acts depending to the pleasure principle, thus it demands an immediate satisfaction of its requirements irrespective of the external environment. There is also the ego which emerges in order to adequately meet the demands and wishes of the id depending on the outside world, which then adheres to reality principle(Surowiecki, 2009). There is also the superego or conscience responsible for inculcating societal rules and moral judgment upon the ego, this then forces id demands to be not only met in a realistic way but also morally (Dighe, 2002). However, the personality development is as a result of the embodied social/parental ideals that are established at childhood. Therefore considering the psychodynamic theory of personality, an individual’s personality thus relies mainly on the interactions dynamics among the three components.Freud suggested that there are five stages involved in psychosexual development of a personality. He also held that the personality of an adult depends on early experiences in childhood (Dighe, 2002).Fixations that usually develop at the childhood stage contribute to adult behavior andpersonality. Also it is believed that an individual’s personality advances via a series of different stages, whereby some conflicts often arise at each stage of development. Succeeding in any stage these development stages is usually depended on successful overcoming the encountered conflicts.

Maslow who is one of the proponents of humanistic theories of believed that all individuals who are interested in their own growth always strives towards self-actualization. Many of these individuals usually demonstrate a certain trend in their personalities dimensions.Humanist theories mainly emphasizes on the individual experienceand free will importance in the personality development (Surowiecki, 2009). Thus its theorists and proponents emphasizes on the self-actualization concept, which can be regarded as an innate urge forgrowth personally that end up motivating someone behavior.

Moreover, the Humanistic theory is the least testable or scientific and it views each person as unique, viewing and deriving the world from various perspectives. This theory examines the import which people places on the aspect of being sincere to the choices they make as well as how those choices relate with their aspirations(Dighe, 2002). Therefore the humanistic theories mostly concentrates on how the external stimulus is likely to affectsomeone's behavior, with minimal or no emphasis on the individual’s personality traits or even what motivates someone's behavior(Nevid and Rathus, 2005).Thus the humanistic theory can be regarded to have been derived from the existentialist philosophy which states that life of someone is determined by the choices he/she but not by fate. This theory allows someone's personality to be influenced by other people who ends up placing conditions on someone thus altering his/her self esteemnegatively (Koupal, 1989).

The personality of characterDorothy as portrayed in the Wizard of oz film

Whenever someone thinksof the Wizard of Oz, most of the times the thing that you are likely to think of is Dorothy who is the character portraying heroism in the entire of the film. Dorothy's lives in Kansas with Uncle Henryand Aunt Em(Gardner and Russel, 1957). However, Dorothy only considers herself to be just an ordinary girl like many other girls, but she is actually more than that. This is due to the fact that she manages to liberate or improve almost everyone whom she encounters(Gardner and Russel, 1957). Therefore not only did she contribute in helping the scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, and the Tin Woodman, she also ends up defeating the wicked Witch. Moreover, throughout her journey back home Dorothy had to make so many friends, encountered so many hardships, as well as following her inner conscience in order to attain her goal(Koupal, 1989).

Thus at time when a twister came and picked up the house of Dorothy, she later finds herself in the Land of Oz which is totally different from his home land of Kansas therefore she is not familiar with it, from this point she is then engaged in finding her way back home(Dighe,2002). Therefore we can see her character of determination in achieving her set goal of getting back home. Therefore the munchkins together with the Witch believes that the Wizard is capable of helping her in telling her which way to follow in order to get back home. Her goal is going back home, but in order for her to do so then she is required to meet Oz to tell her how to trace her way back home(Gardner and Russel, 1957). Oz states very clearly the requirement she needs to fulfill before she is told how to get her way back home, she is therefore required to kill the Witch of West. After killing the wicked Witch because of her determination of getting back home and returns to the Oz she therefore realizes that he is just a little old man.

Throughout her journey back homeDorothy encounters three main things that were extraordinary. The first one was the Scarecrow who is full of straw and requires the assistance of Oz in order for him to be given a brain. The other one is Tin Woodman, this character was empty and wanted a heart for him to be able to feel things and believedthat only Oz was in a position to provide him with a heart. The last person was the Cowardly Lion who is so much disappointed for his cowardice from the fact that lions are kings that rule in the jungle. Therefore the Cowardly Lion ends up joining Dorothy together with the others on the journey aimed at finally seeing the Wizard of Oz(Dighe, 2002).

Despite Dorothy making so many friends, the journey consisted of so many hardships and challenges. However, they managed to overcome all these setbacks. For instance, they managed to escape the poppy field’s deadly fumes with the assistance of Queen of Mice. Also theWest’s wicked Witch tried to win over her by sending out crows, wolves, and bees as well as refusing to feed the Lion so that the lion can be starved in order to become furious, however Dorothy ends up feeding it secretly. Moreover, she finally manages to end the life of the witch by throwing water on her hence she dissolves(Gardner and Russel, 1957).

Dorothy’s character of determination is also evident towards the end of the film, this is mainly because she manages to trace her way back home with the help of goodNorth Witch whereby she is tells her to use the silver shoes to guide her throughout the journey. Despite been a young girl, she is determined, a sturdy, as well as a modern heroin (Gardner and Russel, 1957). During her journey going back home there were a lot of difficulties for her, however, she endured the challenges and hardships, with the help of her friends, as well as following the guides to see Wizard of Oz together with going back home(Dighe, 2002.

On contraryDorothy's appeal is not ultimatelybased on hercapabilities physically but on her mental abilities, as well as her extraordinary ability for disciplineand focus. Therefore Dorothy always stayed putt and nevermelted under pressure (Barash and Lipton, 2001). In other words, Dorothy is portrayed as the embodiment of so many virtues such as dedication,single-mindedness, and hard work(Dighe, 2002. Indeed in the way in which she manages to handle the challenges put across by the on her way back home, is a clear indication of his extraordinary capabilities to completely blocking out interruptions and focusing on the issue at hand thus she possessed an embodied approach not only to the issue of getting home but also to life(Nevidand Rathus, 2005).

However, at some points there are a lot of things to do with the an individual’s personality with an example of Dorothy’s who is portrayed as very determined. This is mainly because majority of people just watch her on televisionplaying her part in the film Wizard of oz thus they could not help but just stare in amazement because of her certainty and self confidence(Dighe, 2002. She looks supernatural, as well as an exemplar ofself-control and steely focus. This led us to assume that these mentioned traits were Dorothy’s fundamental attributes , and that they were not just as the filming set up by-product. If it were true thenshe must have been alwaysbe in possession of characteristics such as focused and controlled, this is due to the fact that she is so much controlled as well as focused throughout the film which amazes a lot of people (Surowiecki, 2009).

Needless to mention, we arehoweverwrong on our judgments most of the times. This shows how sometimes we are mistaken to generalize peoples, character traits from the films, movies or other situations that may tempt us to prejudge(Koupal, 1989). However, this leads to the conclusion that assuming that Dorothy was so much determined was therefore itself an impossibility scientifically. Self-control, is however, a scarce mental resource, whereby being very well focused and controlled on the in the film may actually make people to be more likely indulgedsomewhere else(Dighe, 2002).

In light of Dorothy’s portrayal in the film, letting herego antics determine how she should behave indicates a very clear indication of how the humanistic theory dictates someone’s personality (Nevid and Rathus, 2005). This is mainly because even though her actions of determination could have been caused to some extent by the psychodynamic aspects it is highly probable that this would have been to a lesser extent compared to how the environment in which she was consistently involved in would have otherwise contributed(Dighe, 2002). Therefore the nature of her role in the film and the friends he was interacts with could have at least contributed to these traits. This in fact indicates a fictional character of her because all a long no one would have ever imagined her to be such a determined and sturdy young a portrayal of a modern feminist (Surowiecki, 2009).

Moreover, the emotional control is one of the aspect clearly illustrated by the psychodynamic theory of personality. For instance, when seeking for a talented pool of film, movie or book celebrities to help in building and growing a company you are supposed to look for those who posses strong control of their emotions(Dighe, 2002). People who are capable of controlling their emotions have the ability to work under pressure and produce. Thus they are capable of blocking out interruptions and summoning their energy to deliver when required. Therefore whenever you ever think about control of the emotions you can definitely relate it to the situation in which Dorothy was in when she was expected to trace her way back home irrespective of whatever challenges she encounters(Surowiecki, 2009). Dorothy is such kind of a person in this film because she has the capacity to summon all her energies and concentrating on the issue at hand. This was clearly seen in the way she could put all other things on hold and concentrate on achieving her goal to see the Wizard of Oz who would then help her trace her way back home (Koupal, 1989).

Therefore, using the psychodynamic theory of personality we are then capable of identifying some of the major emotional control traits that greatly contributes to the personality of Dorothy in this film. These traits include:tough mindedness, self confidence,contentment,autonomy and composure (Koupal, 1989). Tough mindedness is indicated by her characteristics being resilient,unsentimental, realistic,hard,durable, and possibly callous and insensitive (Gardner and Russel, 1957). She was capable of functioning normally inunpleasant and difficult situations without being deterred by obstacles, setbacks or disappointments. Dorothy is also able to accept criticism of any level, without becoming easily upset, as well as recovering quickly in case things do not go his way. These traits of Dorothy personality were clearly seen when she managed to overcome all the hardships she encountered on her struggle to get back home. Dorothy also possessed strong traits of self confidence that determines her success in all what they attempt to do as a result of their certainty to perform (Nevid and Rathus, 2005). Her self confidence traits are also evident in the way she successfully copes with challenges he encounters without being easily discouraged. Dorothy also has the ability to handle well unexpected situations as well as making decisions with assurance (Gardner and Russel, 1957).