Comparing Frank Baum’s Dorothy Gale of the Oz series and...

Comparing Frank Baum’s Dorothy Gale of the Oz series and Lewis Carroll’s Alice of Alice in Wonderland Lewis Carroll’s Alice and Frank Baum’s Dorothy are two of the most well-known and well-loved heroines of all time. At first glance, both Alice and Dorothy appear to be rather accurate renditions of actual little girls who embark on their own adventures in strange and fantastical lands. However, closer scrutiny reveals that only one of these characters is a true portrayal of what a little girl is really like, while the other is but a fulfillment of what most girls would only dream of being like. Like many young girls across the world, both today and in centuries past, it seems that Alice was taught the etiquette that all†¦show more content†¦In our culture, it is considered extremely rude and dishonorable if you show your anger in public. On the other hand, it is a mark of sophistication and good breeding if you can control your temper and treat everyone with goodwill. Like Alice, Dorothy follows society’s rules of conduct to the utmost of her ability; there are even times when she goes out of her way to make sure that she, as well as the characters that she is responsible for, acts properly. This is clearly illustrated when she encounters Billina after her fight with a rooster in Princess Langwidere’s chicken-yard: â€Å"‘I don’t approve of this, at all,’ she said, carrying Billina away toward the palace. ‘It isn’t a good thing for you to associate with those common chickens. They would soon spoil your good manners, and you wouldn’t be respectable any more’† (90-91). This passage is one of the most memorable passages in Alicebecause it so resembles the typical conversation that young girls often have with their dolls at imaginary tea parties. Imitating what their own mothers say to them over and over again – â€Å"Don’t speak unless you’re spoken to,† â€Å"Don’t shift in your seat while your elders are talking to you,† â€Å"You must be a proper young lady† – these young girls try to come to terms with all of the social restrictions that are placed upon them and to