How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from The Wizard of Oz.
Quote #4
DOROTHY: Why, you're nothing but a great big coward!
An important step on the road to coming of age is seeing things for what they are, and realizing that they can't hurt you. Or, on a more practical level, speaking truth to power. "Hey I can see that you're lying to me and I'm gonna call you on it." It's a huge psychological milestone for a child when he or she sees that his or her parents are fallible humans.
Quote #5
COWARDLY LION: Well, wouldn't you feel degraded to be seen in the company of a cowardly lion? I would.
The Lion's being a bit of a little kid here, looking for excuses not to go on this trip. As is often the case, Dorothy gets to step up and be the adult: giving him "permission" to come with them to the Wizard. In a lot of ways, she's come of age already.
Quote #6
OZ DOORMAN: The Wizard? But nobody can see the Great Oz! Nobody's ever seen the Great Oz! Even I've never seen him!
DOROTHY: Well, then how do you know there is one?
This is a logical question, and we bet you've heard parents deliver some variation of it to their children. The only difference is that Dorothy's asking the question and the adult is the one caught in it. Another sign that Oz is full of children in need of some growing up.