Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz · Chapter
The Glass City explained
Dorothy, Zeb, Jim, and Eureka fall through a great crack in the earth and descend slowly into a strange underground world lit by six colored suns.
What happens
Dorothy, Zeb, Jim, and Eureka fall through a great crack in the earth and descend slowly into a strange underground world lit by six colored suns. They land on a glass roof in a beautiful but silent glass city. The group discovers that the air supports weight, allowing Eureka to walk on it, and they encounter a serene, beautifully dressed man who walks through the air without falling. The animals begin to talk, and the travelers realize they have entered a bizarre new adventure.
Themes in this chapter
Adventure and Exploration
The group's descent into the earth and arrival in the glass city marks the beginning of a new, strange adventure in an unknown world.
Transformation and Identity
The animals gain the ability to speak, and the characters' appearances are altered by the colored lights, hinting at changes in their nature.
Characters to notice
- Dorothy Gale
Recovers from the fall and observes the glass city with curiosity; she tries to reassure Zeb and Jim.
- Zeb
Frightened and bewildered by the strange environment; he is amazed by the talking animals and the glass city.
- Jim the Cab-Horse
Speaks for the first time, expressing fear and sarcasm about their predicament; he is thin and anxious.
- Eureka the Kitten
Emerges from her cage, speaks for the first time, and demonstrates the ability to walk on air.
Key passages
“The houses of the city were all made of glass, so clear and transparent that one could look through the walls as easily as through a window.”
The city's buildings are entirely constructed of transparent glass, allowing clear views through the walls.
Describes the unique architecture of the glass city.
“He reached the edge of the tall roof, stepped one foot out into the air, and walked into space as calmly as if he were on firm ground.”
The man walked off the roof into the air as if it were solid ground.
Demonstrates the strange property of the air in this underground world.
“I have nine lives, said the kitten, purring softly as it walked around in a circle and then came back to the roof; but I can't lose even one of them by falling in this country, because I really couldn't manage to fall if I wanted to.”
Eureka explains that she cannot fall in this country because the air supports her weight.
Highlights the magical property of the air and Eureka's newfound ability to walk on it.