Dorothy Must Die

Dorothy Must Die is set in the world of Oz created by L. Frank Baum in his book series (George M. Hill Company, 1900-1920). The story borrows both from the books and the 1939 Wizard of Oz movie that starred Judy Garland as Dorothy. Baum originally wrote the books as if the stories were real and relayed to him by the characters, and the world of Dorothy Must Die hints at travel between the Land of Oz and Earth, suggesting that Paige nods to this tradition of storytelling. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the first book in Baum’s series, tells of Dorothy’s journey to Oz, and Paige uses that story as historical background. Years before Amy travels to Oz, Dorothy arrived via cyclone, was hailed as a sorceress for killing a wicked witch, and journeyed to the Emerald City, where she and her companions made history by seeking aid from the Wizard. Dorothy Must Die also pulls from The Lost Princess of Oz, which tells of how Ozma disappeared. In the original tale, Dorothy and the Wizard searched for Ozma, but Paige twists this story, instead making Dorothy responsible for Ozma’s disappearance.

Dorothy Must Die also draws upon the movie. In the film, Dorothy, Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Lion journey to Oz to ask the Wizard for a way home, a brain, a heart, and courage, respectively. In Dorothy Must Die, Dorothy got her wish and was sent home, only to return and become the tyrannical villain of the Oz Amy finds. The brain, heart, and courage of Dorothy’s companions become supernatural forces that protect Dorothy. The most noticeable thing Dorothy Must Die borrows from the movie are the red shoes (Ruby Slippers). In the books, the shoes were silver, but they were changed to red in the movie so they would pop better in Technicolor.