Star Wars vs. The Wizard of Oz

Comparing Star Wars and the Wizard of Oz (Structuralism)

Before this class, who would have thought that these two movies, which were made roughly 30 years apart, with two completely different plots, would have had anything in common? But, after learning about archetypes, and monomyth, things are starting to come together and these characters true meanings are coming out. There were a million stories like this told throughout time, but these two stories show the “heroes journey” more upfront than any else that we’ve talked about up to this point.

For starters, let’s begin our heroes “call to adventure”. In the beginning of these movies, both of these characters were both orphans, with innocent characteristics as well. Luke, who lived with his aunt and uncle, was called to adventure when he discovered R2-D2’s message from Leah. Even though he was not specifically called upon (the message was intended for Obi Wan), he was still thrust upon the journey later in the movie.

Dorothy was also put into a similar situation. Even though she was depressed in the beginning of the movie about her life (unlike Luke, who was content with his life), she was still not looking for a call to adventure, it just kind of happened. Dorothy’s “call to adventure” was the tornado that blew her into the Land of Oz. At this point, our characters have both experienced their call to adventure.

The next step in the journey is the refusal to the call. In most mythical stories, the main hero experiences some sort of mental obstacle that keeps him from the adventure. Luke, as we previously stated, was very content with his life and taking care of his aunt and uncle. The story turns though when his aunt and uncle were killed, and Luke at that point accepts Obi Wan’s call to adventure.

In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy is on a different type of adventure. She is out to save herself (and toto) and return home, which makes her refusal almost impossible. As soon as she lands in Oz, she instantly wants to find her way home. That is what makes these to journeys different, is that of the goal of the heroes.

The next step of the journey that these two movies can compare to each other is the supernatural aid. Each of these aids show the wizard, or magician archetype. They are both very wise, and have some sort of supernatural powers that guide the hero towards their goals. Luke’s supernatural aid, Obi Wan, first helps him when he is attacked by sand people trying to find R2-D2. At this point, Obi Wan takes Luke under his wing on his side journey to become a Jedi.

Dorothy is also presented a similar supernatural aid. Her aid, though, does not stay with her on the way to her journey home. The Good Witch of the North just pops up on occasion to guide Dorothy on her way. She is also a guardian against the Wicked Witch in the beginning of her journey. The supernatural aid directs Dorothy to follow the yellow brick road to the great Oz, which will answer her questions of how to get home. She also gives her the famous “ruby slippers” which she tells her “you will know what to do with them when the time is right”. This is also a quote that is used many times in many mythical stories. As a side note, in the Wizard of Oz, the shadow side of the magician is shown through the wicked witch of the west, who is trying to interfere with Dorothy’s journey home.

The fourth step of the journey that they go through is that of “the crossing of the first threshold”. For Luke, his first “crossing” is when he leaves his home of Tatooine and enters the city of Aldaaran. In Aldaaran, Luke is taken out of his original peaceful environment, and thrown into a city full of goons and outlaws. At this point, you know that Luke officially begins his journey and there is no turning back from here.

Dorothy’s “crossing” occurs when she begins her journey down the yellow brick road. At this point, Dorothy begins her journey to meet the Wizard and get home. She meets many friends, and just like Luke, you know that there is no turning back from here. For the sake of argument, you could possibly say that the “crossing” is when she crosses into Oz. I believe that this was not the crossing, because to that point, she still did not “accept” the journey that was thrust upon her.

Finally, the final step of the departure, before these two became “heroes”, was the belly of the whale. Another term for the belly of the whale is “the near-death experience”. For Luke, this happens on his first adventure to save Leah, when he is almost killed by the trash compactor. This tests him mentally, and physically, as he was dragged under the water by some creature as well. He could have frozen up after this due to shock or killed, but instead he becomes stronger from his near death experience.

Dorothy’s near death experience occurs when she was first attacked by the flying monkeys. Dorothy, just like Luke, became strong from this, and when she finally confronts Oz about being a fake, you can look back on that and it gives a great example of a situation she went through to become stronger as a person. This was really the turning point when she became a leader, and you know she was going to succeed in her journey.

The Odyssey and The Wizard of Oz are much more in common than that of TWoO and Star Wars. The reason I say this is because of the journeys that Odysseious and Dorothy embark on during their journeys home. Odysseious, though, is guided by many Greek Gods and meets many friends, rather than Dorothy, who is only guided by The Good Witch (although learns many lessons from her friends), and if you even want to call the yellow brick road a guide.

All of these movies I’ve mentioned have had a hero on a mission to either get home, or to save a damsel in distress. Regardless of the situation though, they all have a goal, and all go through changes mental and physically which also changes the archetype which they all portray. That is how Star Wars and The Wizard of Oz compare with each other in many ways, shapes, and forms.

http://www.moongadget.com/origins/myth.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_wars_a_new_hope

http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/Virtualit/poetry/critical_define/crit_struct.html