Post by Lao Pride Administrator on 14th May, 2011 at 1:48am
In a memorable image accompanied with ominous music, Dorothy's fantasies are shattered by the appearance of a stern-faced, ugly Miss Gulch riding her creaky bicycle down the country road toward the farm. After leaning her bicycle against the fence, she speaks to Uncle Henry to complain about Dorothy (actually about Dorothy's dog).
In the living room, the exasperated, unpleasant and sour Miss Gulch presents Dorothy's guardians with an ultimatum. She has a court order to take Toto away as Dorothy clutches her dog protectively in her arms: "That dog's a menace to the community. I'm taking him to the sheriff and make sure he's destroyed."
Dorothy begs for reconsideration: "Destroyed? Toto? Oh you can't. You mustn't. Auntie Em, Uncle Henry, you won't let her, will ya?...Please, Aunt Em. Toto didn't mean to. He didn't know he was doing anything wrong. I'm the one that ought to be punished. I let him go in her garden. You can send me to bed without supper."
Dorothy identifies with her dog - and volunteers to take Toto's place for punishment. The hated, nasty woman threatens further action (to take the whole farm if she doesn't get the dog), although Auntie Em insinuates that Toto is harmless to gentle people.
Miss Gulch presents a sheriff's order allowing her to take Toto, and Dorothy's helpless guardians, after protesting with only token resistance, are forced to comply with the law and give up the dog: "Well, we can't go against the law, Dorothy. I'm afraid poor Toto will have to go."
As Uncle Henry stuffs Toto into the wicker basket to be put on the back of the woman's bicycle, Dorothy prophetically screams: "No, no, I won't let you take him. You go away! Ooooh, I'll bite you myself...You wicked old witch!" After Dorothy turns away to her room, sobbing, Auntie Em criticizes Miss Gulch for her misguided influence and strength in the community - but then withholds her anger due to her Christian faith.
"Almira Gulch! Just because you own half the county doesn't mean you have the power to run the rest of us. For twenty three years, I've been dying to tell you what I thought of you. And now, well, being a Christian woman, I can't say it."
In the living room, the exasperated, unpleasant and sour Miss Gulch presents Dorothy's guardians with an ultimatum. She has a court order to take Toto away as Dorothy clutches her dog protectively in her arms: "That dog's a menace to the community. I'm taking him to the sheriff and make sure he's destroyed."
Dorothy begs for reconsideration: "Destroyed? Toto? Oh you can't. You mustn't. Auntie Em, Uncle Henry, you won't let her, will ya?...Please, Aunt Em. Toto didn't mean to. He didn't know he was doing anything wrong. I'm the one that ought to be punished. I let him go in her garden. You can send me to bed without supper."
Dorothy identifies with her dog - and volunteers to take Toto's place for punishment. The hated, nasty woman threatens further action (to take the whole farm if she doesn't get the dog), although Auntie Em insinuates that Toto is harmless to gentle people.
Miss Gulch presents a sheriff's order allowing her to take Toto, and Dorothy's helpless guardians, after protesting with only token resistance, are forced to comply with the law and give up the dog: "Well, we can't go against the law, Dorothy. I'm afraid poor Toto will have to go."
As Uncle Henry stuffs Toto into the wicker basket to be put on the back of the woman's bicycle, Dorothy prophetically screams: "No, no, I won't let you take him. You go away! Ooooh, I'll bite you myself...You wicked old witch!" After Dorothy turns away to her room, sobbing, Auntie Em criticizes Miss Gulch for her misguided influence and strength in the community - but then withholds her anger due to her Christian faith.
"Almira Gulch! Just because you own half the county doesn't mean you have the power to run the rest of us. For twenty three years, I've been dying to tell you what I thought of you. And now, well, being a Christian woman, I can't say it."
