The Wizard of Oz, Humpty Dumpty, and Donald Trump
Power, Illusion, and the Meaning of Words,
Excellent analogies reposted from Paul Howard’s Substack
Classic tales often serve as mirrors for modern events, their allegories echoing in the headlines of today. Nowhere is this more vivid than in the connections between The Wizard of Oz, the story of Humpty Dumpty, and the ongoing political saga of Donald Trump. Each story, in its own way, explores the nature of power, the fragility of authority, and—crucially—the manipulation of meaning.
The Wizard of Oz: Leadership by Illusion
The Wizard of Oz is more than a whimsical adventure; it is a parable about leadership and the power of spectacle. The Wizard, ruling from behind a curtain, maintains his authority not through real power, but by crafting illusions and manipulating perceptions. His leadership is a performance, sustained by smoke, mirrors, and the belief of those he leads.
This allegory resonates in the age of mass media and social networks, where political figures can project strength and control through spectacle and narrative, even when their actual power is far less than it appears. The Wizard’s exposure—when Dorothy and her friends pull back the curtain—reminds us that authority built on illusion is always at risk of unraveling.
Humpty Dumpty: The Fragility of Power and the Manipulation of Meaning
Humpty Dumpty, famously perched on his wall, is a symbol of the precariousness of power. Once he falls, “all the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again.” The rhyme is a warning: some falls are final, some damage irreparable, no matter how powerful one’s allies may be.
But Humpty Dumpty is also a character in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass, where he delivers a line that has become a touchstone for debates about language and power:
“When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.”
This assertion is more than playful nonsense; it is a claim to absolute control over meaning itself. Humpty’s approach is a reminder that those in power can attempt to redefine reality by redefining the words we use to describe it.
Donald Trump: The Modern Allegory
Donald Trump’s political career has often played out as a blend of these two stories. Like the Wizard, Trump has relied on spectacle, media manipulation, and the creation of dramatic narratives to project authority. His rallies, slogans, and headline-grabbing statements are tools of performance, designed to command attention and loyalty.
Yet, as with the Wizard, Trump’s power has often been revealed as more fragile than it seemed. Legal challenges, electoral defeats, and public scrutiny have repeatedly pulled back the curtain, exposing the limits of his control.
At the same time, Trump’s approach to language is pure Humpty Dumpty. He is known for redefining terms—labeling unfavorable news as “fake,” recasting controversies as victories, and shifting the meaning of his own statements as needed. In Trump’s world, words mean what he says they mean, “neither more nor less.” This rhetorical strategy allows him to control the narrative, rally supporters, and deflect criticism, but it also erodes shared meaning and trust.
The media has not missed the parallel: headlines have dubbed him “Trumpty Dumpty,” questioning whether “all the GOP’s men” can put the party—or the country—back together after his fall.
Connecting the Allegories: Illusion, Language, and Irreversible Falls
The stories of the Wizard of Oz and Humpty Dumpty offer powerful lessons:
The Wizard’s authority, built on illusion, collapses when reality intrudes.
Humpty Dumpty’s fall is final, and his assertion of control over language is ultimately powerless to repair what is broken.
Trump’s political journey embodies both themes. His reliance on spectacle and shifting narratives echoes the Wizard, while his manipulation of language and the consequences of his actions mirror Humpty Dumpty’s fate. When words mean only what the speaker wants them to mean, public discourse becomes unstable—and when the fall comes, restoration is nearly impossible.
Conclusion
The tales of the Wizard of Oz and Humpty Dumpty are not just stories for children; they are enduring allegories for the nature of power, illusion, and the meaning of words. In Donald Trump’s rise and challenges, we see the Wizard’s spectacle and Humpty Dumpty’s fragility—and, perhaps most importantly, the dangers of a world where words mean “just what I choose them to mean.” These stories remind us: power built on illusion is always at risk, and the manipulation of meaning can hasten the fall.