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Kidnapped Santa - Page 3

© Mary C. Legg

Baum tries to rewrite the Christmas Consumer Story, by creating conflicts between good and evil. Certainly it is a much better version than Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer or Frosty the Snowman with much deeper allegorical meanings for the reader, but the problem isn't the parable or the quality of writing; but what the reader does for his neighbor.

" The Caves of the Daemons are five in number. A broad pathway leads up to the first cave, which is a finely arched cavern at the foot of the mountain, the entrance being beautifully carved and decorated. In it resides the Daemon of Selfishness. Back of this is another cavern inhabited by the Daemon of Envy. The cave of the Daemon of Hatred is next in order, and through this one passes to the home of the Daemon of Malice--situated in a dark and fearful cave in the very heart of the mountain. I do not know what lies beyond this. Some say there are terrible pitfalls leading to death and destruction, and this may very well be true."

Succinctly, Baum identifies the demons of contemporary society: selfishness, envy, hatred and malice. Pick any one of them before you enter the fifth cave. Consider which one you can sacrifice to help someone regain a more stable position in life. There are hundreds of social programs available. When you say your time is limited, consider the neighbor next door. Chart two hours a week to help someone at school, at church; at the synagogue, in the street, at work. Instead of plastic, give of yourself this year.

Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum http://www.gutenberg.net/etext/520

See previous articles: Wizard of Oz 1 http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/1656... with pumpkin pie

Wizard of Oz 2 Political Allegory http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/1656... with roasted turkey

ADDITIONAL LINKS:

UC San Diego History of the Wizard of Oz http://history.acusd.edu/gen/filmnotes/w... with book jacket illustrations

American Fairytales http://www.gutenberg.net/etext/4357 American Fairy Tales by L. Frank Baum

Wonderful Wiz of Oz http://www.eskimo.com/~tiktok/ozfaq.html http://thewizardofoz.info/ Eric Gjovaag was born January 21, 1966 in Seattle, Washington, USA has FAQs re L Frank Baum and the books/film

L Frank Baum http://www.halcyon.com/piglet/author01.h... chronology

http://www.halcyon.com/piglet/author.htm author

http://www.halcyon.com/piglet/ozozite.htm offers an index to the books

http://www.halcyon.com/piglet/movies.htm movie index

http://www.halcyon.com/piglet/weblinks.h... has also an index to places, things, characters and weblinks

Lyman Frank Baum http://www.underthesun.cc/Classics/Baum/ has a collection of links and 26 works online plain vanilla text-well laid out and legible

The copyright of the article Kidnapped Santa - Page 3 in Fairytales is owned by Mary C. Legg. Permission to republish Kidnapped Santa - Page 3 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.