Ozma of Oz · Chapter
XIII: The Nome King Laughs explained
After Ozma fails her guess and becomes an ornament, the Nome King laughs as the Tin Woodman is also transformed.
What happens
After Ozma fails her guess and becomes an ornament, the Nome King laughs as the Tin Woodman is also transformed. One by one, the officers and private enter the palace to guess and are turned into ornaments. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tik-Tok, the Cowardly Lion, the Hungry Tiger, and the Sawhorse are left waiting. The King eventually retires for the night, and the guests are shown to sleeping chambers. Dorothy realizes Billina is missing and cannot find her, but eventually goes to sleep.
Themes in this chapter
Courage and Adventure
Despite the loss of companions to transformation, Dorothy and the remaining group press on, facing the unknown dangers of the Nome King's palace.
Friendship and Loyalty
The Scarecrow grieves for the Tin Woodman, and Dorothy worries about Billina, showing deep bonds among the adventurers.
Characters to notice
- Dorothy Gale
Remains after others are transformed; eats cakes, drinks coffee, and worries about Billina before falling asleep.
- Scarecrow
Grieves the loss of the Tin Woodman and tries to maintain order among the remaining party.
- Tik-Tok
Observes that they will all become absurd ornaments tomorrow; speaks in his mechanical voice.
- Billina
Hides under the Nome King's throne to sleep after eating cake crumbs; goes missing by chapter's end.
- Nome King
Laughs at the Tin Woodman's transformation, orders refreshments, and eventually retires for the night.
- Cowardly Lion
Sleeps after eating cakes; tries to console Dorothy about Billina's disappearance.
Key passages
“Suddenly the Nome King began laughing. “Ha, ha, ha! He, he, he! Ho, ho, ho!” “What’s happened?” asked the Scarecrow. “Why, your friend, the Tin Woodman, has become the funniest thing you can imagine,” replied the King, wiping the tears of merriment from his eyes.”
The Nome King burst into laughter, and when the Scarecrow asked why, he explained that the Tin Woodman had been turned into a hilariously amusing ornament.
Highlights the King's cruel amusement at the transformation of the Tin Woodman.
““I am in great sorrow over the loss of my old comrade, the Tin Woodman. We have had many dangerous adventures together, and escaped them all, and now it grieves me to know he has become an ornament, and is lost to me forever.””
The Scarecrow expressed deep sadness at losing his longtime friend the Tin Woodman, recalling their shared adventures and lamenting his transformation into an ornament.
Emphasizes the Scarecrow's grief and the theme of friendship.