The television version of The Wizard Of Oz is an adaptation of a book written by L. Frank Baum in 1900. Baum wrote 14 books about Oz. Number 12 tells the story of The Tinman.
Nick Chopper was a wood chopper. He and a girl named Nimmie Amee wanted to be married, but there was a problem in that Nimmie was the personal servant of The Wicked Witch Of The East. The Witch didn’t want to lose her servant, so she put a spell on Nick Chopper’s axe.
The spell caused the axe to cut off Nick Chopper’s arm. Nick had a new arm made from tin. The axe then cut off all Nick’s other limbs and even his head, but the tinsmith made replacement limbs and a neck to hold his head on. Finally, the axe cut Nick’s torso. The tinsmith made a new torso but did not include within it a heart.
The Tin Woodman, as he was now called, was quite productive, because he never got tired. The maiden was thrilled with all the benefits of a tin man, such as the fact that he could dance for hours.
Did The Tin Woodman marry Nimmie? No. He states, “I found that I no longer loved her. My tin body contained no heart, and without a heart no one can love.”
People without a heart sometimes accomplish much, but they miss out on the deepest experiences of life. With no heart we’d escape pain – true – but we wouldn’t feel joy either. And the saddest loss of all: we wouldn’t be able to love.
So always have a heart, and let it lead you along the path of love. No doubt the Wizard Of Oz would agree.
Excellent story and writing style Steve. very insightful as all of them all. Keep up the great work.