In L. Frank Baum’s original book, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” the Land of Oz is surrounded by the terrible Poisonous Desert. On Mr. Baum’s maps, the eastern quadrant of this vast desert is referred to as the “Deadly Desert,” while the remaining three quadrants bear the names of the “Shifting Sands,” the “Impassable Desert,” and the “Great Sandy Waste.” All of them are poisonous. He tells us that stepping into any part of that desert will dissolve you into nothing. Dangerous indeed!
Where did the Poisonous Desert come from?
Over five hundred years ago, the Fairies created the beautiful Land of Oz. To protect it from the outside world, they surrounded the land with the vast Poisonous Desert. They intended the desert to protect Oz from evil influences. Obviously, it doesn’t work very well. Throughout the original Oz books, people are able to concoct a variety of ways to cross the desert. They cross in both directions, in and out of the Land of Oz.
In my new book, “The Lost Wizard of Oz,” I continue this tradition of a regretfully porous barrier around Oz. In her search for the lost Wizard, Glinda stumbles upon the latest, and most dangerous invader: Brannagh’s Army from the east.
The Symbolism of the Poisonous Desert in “The Wizard of Oz”
The desert is a symbol of our efforts to protect ourselves from our problems by isolating ourselves from the world. But we can’t do that. It simply doesn’t work. The world with its challenges will always find a way to intrude into our lives, just like in the Land of Oz. The Poisonous Desert underscores the notion that proper growth and resilience are born from confronting difficulties rather than seeking isolation.
Besides, not all evil influences came from outside of Oz. Consider old Mombi, a treacherous witch who appears in more than one of the original Oz books. She was there from the start. This reminds us that many of our troubles come from our own weaknesses and choices.
L. Frank Baum’s final words
On his deathbed, Mr. Baum uttered his final words, “Now we can cross the Shifting Sands…” He was leaving this world and moving on to the next.
