Character Analysis
Dorothy is an orphan, and Uncle Henry and Aunt Em are her guardians. Uncle Henry is a "stern and solemn man" who "worked hard from morning till night and did not know what joy was" (1.4). Aunt Em, who is unsmiling and gray from head to toe, equally sounds like a bummer. Sometimes she's even sort of a creep. When Dorothy was a child, "Aunt Em had been so startled by the child's laughter that she would scream and press her hand upon her heart…" (1.3). Loosen up a little, lady!
However hardened and miserable Dorothy's aunt and uncle may come across to us readers, Dorothy's love for them is evident from the beginning. When the little girl lands in Oz, her first thought is not for herself, but for them: "I am anxious to get back to my Aunt and Uncle, for I am sure they will worry about me" (2.39). Home is everything to Dorothy, so her reunion with her relatives in the final chapter is poignant. And hey, things in Kansas seem to be looking up. Uncle Henry built a new farm, and Aunt Em is super excited to see Dorothy.