# The Heads of Langwidere explained — Ozma of Oz

> Chapter companion for Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum.

## What happens

Dorothy, Tiktok, and Billina gain an audience with Princess Langwidere, who possesses a collection of thirty interchangeable heads. The Princess, after changing to her most beautiful head, demands Dorothy's head for her collection. When Dorothy refuses, Langwidere orders her army to imprison Dorothy in the North Tower. Tiktok fights the soldiers but runs out of power, and Billina is captured and sent to the chicken-house.

## Themes in this chapter

### Identity and Transformation

Princess Langwidere's ability to change heads at will explores themes of identity and the superficial nature of beauty.

### Good Versus Evil

Dorothy's refusal to submit to the Princess's selfish demand highlights the conflict between innocence and tyranny.

### Resourcefulness and Cleverness

Billina uses wit and boldness to gain entry, and Tiktok fights creatively despite his mechanical limitations.

## Character check-ins

### Dorothy Gale

Refuses to give up her head to Princess Langwidere and is imprisoned in the North Tower.

### Tik-Tok

Defends Dorothy by attacking the soldiers with his dinner-pail, but runs down and becomes immobile.

### Billina

Forces her way into the palace, is captured, and sent to the chicken-house after threatening to be poisonous to princesses.

### Princess Langwidere

Exhibits her collection of thirty heads, changes to No. 17, and orders Dorothy's imprisonment for refusing to exchange heads.

### Nanda

The maid who admits the visitors and assists the Princess with her heads.

## Key lines

> “Because there used to be three wings, and two were torn down, so the one on the right is the only one left. It is a trick of the Princess Langwidere to prevent visitors from annoying her.”

The Wheeler explains that the palace originally had three wings, but two were demolished, leaving only the right wing as a deliberate tactic by Princess Langwidere to discourage unwanted guests.

_Reveals the Princess's manipulative and reclusive nature._

> “I’m not used to taking cast-off things, so I’ll just keep my own head.”

Dorothy firmly refuses the Princess's offer to swap heads, asserting her independence and self-worth.

_Highlights Dorothy's strong sense of identity and refusal to be coerced._

> “My ac-tion has run down,” he called to Dorothy. “Wind me up, quick.”

Tiktok announces that his mechanical power has expired and urgently asks Dorothy to rewind him.

_Demonstrates Tiktok's dependency on winding and his vulnerability in combat._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters/vi-the-heads-of-langwidere
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ozma_of_oz_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters