Shaggy Man

Infobox character
colour = SaddleBrown
series = Oz
name = The Shaggy Man


caption = cover of "The Shaggy Man of Oz"
art by Frank Kramer
first = "The Road to Oz" (1909)
last = arguable
creator = L. Frank Baum
nickname = Shaggy
alias =
species = human
gender = male
age = unknown
born = unknown, possibly in Kansas
death = probably immortal as long as he remains in an enchanted country
occupation = wireless telegraph operator
title = Governor of the Royal Storehouses
family = Brother, sometimes known as "Ugly One" or "Wiggy"
spouse = none known
children = none known
relatives = unknown
residence = Emerald City

"Shaggy Man is also the name of a DC Comics character."

The Shaggy Man is a character in the Oz books by L. Frank Baum. He first appeared in the book "The Road to Oz" in 1909. He is never known by any name other than 'the Shaggy Man' or occasionally just 'Shaggy.'

He is a kindly old wanderer, dressed in rags, whose philosophy of life centers on love and an aversion to material possessions. His one possession of value is the Love Magnet. His individuality is not welcome in America, but is accorded respect in Oz, where Ozma provides him with a fine wardrobe of silks, satins, and velvets, but as shaggy as his old rags. [Michael O. Riley, "Oz and Beyond: The Fantasy World of L. Frank Baum", p 154, ISBN 0-7006-0832-X ]

Character biography

The Shaggy Man appeared at the Kansas home of Dorothy Gale one day in August, asking for directions to the nearby town of Butterfield so as to avoid going there by accident, for he wants to avoid a man who owes him five cents, since he abhors money. Dorothy agreed to show him the way, but after a short time the two became inexplicably lost. The Shaggy Man told Dorothy about a magical device he has called the Love Magnet, which causes the owner to be loved by everyone he meets. He claimed that this artifact was given to him by "an Eskimo in the Sandwich Islands."

Eventually Dorothy and the Shaggy Man realized that they were wandering in an unknown fairyland. After a series of adventures, he and Dorothy reach the Deadly Desert, where his inguenity lets them pass safely over the sands.Michael O. Riley, "Oz and Beyond: The Fantasy World of L. Frank Baum", p 155, ISBN 0-7006-0832-X] Arriving in the Land of Oz, they found that their journey was prearranged so that Dorothy could attend a birthday party for Princess Ozma. The Shaggy Man was awed by the splendor of the fairy-realm, and resolved to live there permanently. Upon being questioned by Ozma, he revealed that he actually stole the Love Magnet from a girl in Butterfield, but was without remorse because doing so had allowed him to travel to Oz with Dorothy. Nevertheless, eager to be a good subject to the princess, he agreed to Ozma's decree that the Love Magnet be donated to the Emerald City and hung over the city gates.

In "The Patchwork Girl of Oz", the Shaggy Man serendipitously arrived to rescue Ojo and his traveling companions from man-eating plants that attacked them along a yellow brick road in the Munchkin Country. [Michael O. Riley, "Oz and Beyond: The Fantasy World of L. Frank Baum", p 173, ISBN 0-7006-0832-X]

In "Tik-Tok of Oz", it was revealed that the Shaggy Man had a long-lost brother who was being held prisoner by the Nome King.Michael O. Riley, "Oz and Beyond: The Fantasy World of L. Frank Baum", p 182, ISBN 0-7006-0832-X] Much of that book revolves about his efforts and those of his companions to rescue and disenchant this brother. Finally, the Shaggy Man decides to give up Oz to remain with his brother and other companions; the prospect of losing him from Oz persuades Ozma to allow these others to enter Oz.Michael O. Riley, "Oz and Beyond: The Fantasy World of L. Frank Baum", p 184, ISBN 0-7006-0832-X] Much like the Shaggy Man himself, this brother has no name which is ever revealed to the readers, and is simply identified as "the Shaggy Man's brother." He was called Wiggy in the stage version.

In "The Shaggy Man of Oz", the love magnet has worn through the nail and broken, and the Shaggy Man must go to the creator of the love magnet, Conjo (a retcon) in order to have it fixed. To get there, he visits many of the places visited in "John Dough and the Cherub".

Although Baum used The Shaggy Man a great deal in his books from his first appearance onward, he did not appear in any productions of The Oz Film Manufacturing Company. Frank F. Moore would portray the role on the Los Angeles stage opposite James C. Morton as Tik-Tok in the 1913 play, "The Tik-Tok Man of Oz". The role was modeled on Fred Stone's Scarecrow in "The Wizard of Oz", and Moore would go on to play the Scarecrow in "His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz".

References

External links

* [http://www.halcyon.com/piglet/ozites/oz0114.htm Oz encyclopedia entry for Shaggy Man]