Protagonist

Character Role Analysis

Dorothy Gale

When a film only spends one or two brief shots away from someone, it doesn't take long to figure out who the hero is. Dorothy is the first and the last character we see, and thanks to Judy Garland's achingly sympathetic performance, we're always on her side. Her quest to return home carries us through the zany mayhem of Oz, while the other characters join her with variations on her basic goals. Even the Witch reacts to her actions rather than instigating any action of her own. It's the Dorothy Gale story from beginning to end; about as obvious a protagonist as you're likely to find.