scarecrow

history

When Oscar, the false Wizard, finally left Oz in his hot air balloon after decades of ruling the Emerald City, he announced that Scarecrow would be his official replacement as the new King of Oz in his absence. And Scarecrow ruled very wisely thanks to his new brain, and was loved by all who knew him. He was therefore greatly respected by all the people of Oz, who were very happy to have him as their ruler. The crown he wore on his head was badly dented and misshapen because it was always falling off and hitting the ground due to his uncoordinated movements. Much later, Scarecrow was deposed as King when the radical general Jinjur organized an all-female Revolt Army and took control of the Emerald City. Fortunately, the Scarecrow escaped capture by riding a donkey with an orphan boy named Tip and his creation, Jack the Pumpkinhead, to the Tin Castle of his friend the Tin Man, who now ruled the Winkie Country. On their way back to the Emerald City, they met the Queen of the Field Mice, who allowed a dozen of her subjects to accompany the Scarecrow hidden in her straw-filled torso. When they arrived back at the Royal Palace of Oz, the Scarecrow released the mice into the throne room and scared off Jinjur and her army. He and his companions then went to Glinda the Good Witch of the South to ask for her help in overthrowing Queen Jinjur. Glinda agreed to help them only if they helped her find King Pastoria's long-missing daughter, Princess Ozma, who was the rightful ruler of Oz. When Ozma was finally found and her place on the throne was officially reinstated, the Scarecrow happily resigned and went to live with his dear friend the Tin Man and the Winkie.

When Princess Ozma set out to cross the Deadly Waste to the neighboring kingdom of Ev, Glinda the Good Witch of the South made a magic carpet to fly safely over it. Ozma went to Ev to save the royal family who had been sold to the evil Nome King, and the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion joined the group. Along the way, they met Dorothy Gale, who happened to be stranded on the shores of Ev after being thrown overboard from a ship bound for Australia to see relatives. Dorothy was accompanied by Billina the Kansas hen and Tik-Tok the mechanical copper man. Dorothy and her friends had been imprisoned by the vain Princess Langwidere, who wanted Dorothy's head to add to her collection. Fortunately, the Scarecrow recognized his old friend, and Ozma rescued Dorothy and her friends just in time. The group then soon arrived at the Nome Kingdom. The Nome King had transformed the royal family of Ev into ornaments for his decoration collection and through a rigged guessing game, he tricked the Ozians and began to transform them as well. The Scarecrow was turned into a golden ornament, but was eventually freed along with everyone else by the hen Billina. At the end of their mission the group managed to save the royal family of Ev and returned to the Emerald City and also brought Tik-Tok with them to serve as part of the "Royal Army of Oz".[2]

After a few years living in Oz's Royal Palace in the Emerald City, the Scarecrow decided to return to his roots as a farmer. Ozma granted him some land in Winkie Country, and Jack the Pumpkinhead designed him a mansion.[3] He also has a boat made from a hollowed-out corncob, decorated with sparkling jewels and a purple silk sail.[4] Glinda sent the Scarecrow to Jinxland and the Quadling Country to rescue some visitors from Oz; Trot, Cap'n Bill, and Button-Shiny.[5]

personality

She helped the Scarecrow over the fence, and together they started down the yellow brick road in the direction of the Emerald City. Toto did not like this new admission to the group at first. He sniffed around and smelled the stuffed man as if he suspected there might be a rat's nest in the straw, and he often growled at the Scarecrow in an unfriendly manner. "Don't worry about Toto," said Dorothy to her new friend. "He never bites, he's just never seen a straw man walk before." "Oh, I'm not afraid," replied the Scarecrow. "Even if he did bite me I wouldn't be sorry. Let me carry your basket for you. I shouldn't mind because I can't feel tired. I'll tell you a secret," he continued as he walked. "There's only one thing in the world that I'm afraid of." "What is it," asked Dorothy, "the munchkin farmer who made you?" "No," replied the Scarecrow; "it's a match!"