There are certain literary classics that have
become synonymous with their screen adaptations
and some of these films have become classics in their own right.
When you visualize The Wonderful Wizard of Oz or To Kill a Mockingbird,
chances are that you picture the scenes and characters
from their respective award-winning films.
These two stories, as different as they seem,
share more similarities than meet the eye.
So let's take a stroll down the yellow brick road from Kansas to Maycomb, Alabama.
Published 60 years apart,
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and To Kill A Mockingbird
were both enormously popular for their time.
Lyman Frank Baum's modernized fairy tale
blended elements from traditional European folk stories
with contemporary American attributes,
centering around an adventurous young heroine.
In the books, Dorothy starts out as no more than 11 years old,
possibly as young as six or seven.
Harper Lee's bildungsroman is told from the perspective of a female protagonist,
narrated by an older Scout Finch looking back on her childhood,
specifically from the ages of six to nine.
The novel's style evokes a child's voice,
in order to make these serious issues more accessible.
But for some, it may read a bit like a fairytale.
Its moral lessons are given from the viewpoint of a white narrative voice
that softens the realities of racism in 1930s Alabama.
Although it's to be debated whether The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
contained any references to American society of the 1890s,
Baum himself only states that the story was written for the benefit of children,
retaining 'only the wonderment and joy,
while leaving out the heartaches and nightmares.'
With the release of the musical film version
toward the end of the Great Depression,
moviegoers were provided a sense of escape and hope
through a colorful, imaginative fantasy environment.
New technology allowed for a greater visual impact
resulting in a picture that delighted both children and adults.
When the film was re-released in the 40s and 50s,
the themes of home and victory over evil
further resonated with audiences.
By the 60s, the Civil Rights movement was fully under way.
To Kill a Mockingbird struck a chord with readers across the country,
and a film adaptation was released just two years later.
"For a writer to capture that feeling is remarkable.
"Perhaps that is why,
"one book, in the last few years,
"has been so warmly embraced by tens of millions of people."
The film emphasizes the character of Atticus Finch, portrayed by Gregory Peck
in an iconic performance that saw him named,
“The Greatest Movie Hero of the 20th Century.”
Deliberately filmed in black-and-white
at a time when color movies had become the norm,
the production simultaneously conveys a particular era
and yet imparts a timeless quality.
Both film adaptations have cemented the images of these novels into popular culture.
The universal appeal of The Wizard of Oz
attests to the story’s ability to connect with viewers
of all ages and backgrounds.
To Kill a Mockingbird has also left an indelible mark on readers and viewers worldwide.
Despite its history with censorship,
the novel has become a fixture of school reading lists across the United States.
Both stories are known for their idealism and focus on platonic and familial love.
With The Wizard of Oz, Baum decreased the emphasis on romance,
choosing instead to focus on Dorothy's friendships
with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion,
as well as her relationships with her aunt and uncle,
and even Toto.
In the case of To Kill a Mockingbird,
Harper Lee had been quoted as describing it as a "love story, pure and simple,"
namely, her love of the South,
a father's love for his children, and the love they give in return.
By the end of both stories, our protagonists are still children,
just a bit older and wiser.
It's not exactly happily ever after,
but finally, they are home,
having learned valuable lessons about themselves and the world around them.