The Wizard Performs Another Trick explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Justice and Fair Trial

  The chapter centers on a formal trial with a jury, prosecution, defense, and verdict, highlighting the importance of evidence and the fallibility of judgment.

• Humbug vs. True Magic

  The Wizard's trick with the piglet and the revelation of the real piglet in the vase blur the line between illusion and reality, questioning what is genuine.

• Friendship and Loyalty

  Dorothy's steadfast support for Eureka and the Tin Woodman's defense of the kitten demonstrate loyalty and care among friends.

Characters to notice

• Princess Ozma

  Presides over the trial in her throne room, dressed in splendid robes, and later retrieves her piglet from a vase.

• Eureka the Kitten

  The defendant on trial for allegedly eating Ozma's piglet; she confesses the piglet fell into a vase and is ultimately freed.

• The Wizard

  Performs a trick by producing a substitute piglet from his hat, later revealed to be one of nine he had.

• The Tin Woodman

  Defends Eureka in court with a speech, smashes the vase to free the piglet, and produces the substitute piglet.

• The Scarecrow

  Interrupts the Woggle-Bug during the trial with witty remarks about the mind's eye and justice.

• Professor Woggle-Bug

  Acts as the Public Accuser, presenting the case against Eureka with pompous and absurd arguments.

• The Hungry Tiger

  Spokesman for the jury, delivers the guilty verdict and recommends the death penalty.

• Dorothy Gale

  Anxiously supports Eureka during the trial, sobbing when the verdict is read, and later hugs the kitten after her innocence is proven.

Key passages

• ““Your Royal Highness and Fellow Citizens,” he began; “the small cat you see a prisoner before you is accused of the crime of first murdering and then eating our esteemed Ruler’s fat piglet⁠—or else first eating and then murdering it. In either case a grave crime has been committed which deserves a grave punishment.””

  The Woggle-Bug opens the trial by accusing Eureka of killing and eating Ozma's piglet, calling for severe punishment.

  The prosecution's opening statement sets the stakes for the trial.

• ““I will confess that I intended to eat the little pig for my breakfast; so I crept into the room where it was kept while the Princess was dressing and hid myself under a chair. When Ozma went away she closed the door and left her pet on the table. At once I jumped up and told the piglet not to make a fuss, for he would be inside of me in half a second; but no one can teach one of these creatures to be reasonable. Instead of keeping still, so I could eat him comfortably, he trembled so with fear that he fell off the table into a big vase that was standing on the floor.”

  Eureka confesses that she planned to eat the piglet, but it fell into a vase and got stuck, so she never actually ate it.

  Eureka's confession reveals the true fate of the piglet and proves her innocence.

• ““Justice,” remarked the Scarecrow, with a sigh, “is a dangerous thing to meddle with. If you hadn’t happened to find the piglet, Eureka would surely have been executed.””

  The Scarecrow comments that justice is risky, as Eureka would have been killed if the real piglet hadn't been found.

  A reflective observation on the precarious nature of justice in the trial.