Dorothy Gale is a fictional character created by L. Frank Baum as the protagonist of his Oz series, first appearing in the 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Origin
An orphaned Kansas farm girl living with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, Dorothy is transported to the magical Land of Oz by a cyclone (or house in some adaptations), along with her dog Toto. She embarks on a quest along the yellow brick road to the Emerald City, seeking the Wizard's help to return home, and along the way defeats the Wicked Witch of the East by accident.
Traits and Role
Dorothy embodies practicality, courage, and loyalty to her Plains roots, uniting companions like the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion in her adventures. In later books, such as Ozma of Oz (1907) where she gains her surname, and The Emerald City of Oz (1910), she relocates her family to Oz permanently, becoming a princess under Ozma.
Adaptations
Judy Garland famously portrayed Dorothy in the 1939 MGM film The Wizard of Oz , singing "Over the Rainbow" and wearing ruby slippers, cementing her as a cultural icon. The character appears in various media, including TV shows like Supernatural as Dorothy Baum, daughter of L. Frank Baum.
