The Wizard of Oz

One might expect a line around the theater, news crews outside and a packed house for the re-release of The Wizard of Oz on the big screen. Not at this big screen showing of The Wizard of Oz. The theater was small and nice and cozy, with only a handful of movie goers. Nonetheless, this did not take away from the amazing experience of seeing The Wizard of Oz on the big screen. A movie everyone has seen a countless number of times, but only on VHS on their home television. I have chosen the Cowardly Lion to psychoanalyze from the film. When we first meet the lion, he does not come off as cowardly whatsoever. He is mean to Dorothy and the others and tries to boss them around. He attempts to take advantage of the fact that he is the king of the jungle. He roars, he threatens and he scares them out of their socks. However, this act of toughness is short-lived and quickly breaks down with his true colors of a coward coming out. This is a sign that the lion is someone who is confused and does not know who he is or where he belongs in the world. He is told by society that he is the king of the jungle and needs to be tough and fearless, but that just is not who he is. He is scared of little Toto and many other things, including the witch and those flying monkeys, who I have to admit, scared the you know what out of me as a little kid too. All the lion needs is a little comfort from his new found friends and an authority figure, such as The Wizard, to tell him he does have courage and he will be just fine in this world. By the end of the movie, he gets his crown and his thrown and finds his place on earth.