The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Chapter 17 Summary

Summary

Dorothy spends three anxious days in the Emerald City while her companions—The Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion—express satisfaction with their new qualities. The Scarecrow hints at great thoughts, the Tin Woodman notices a kinder heart within his tin breast, and the Lion boasts of newfound bravery. Despite their contentment, Dorothy continues to long to return to Kansas.

On the fourth day The Wizard of Oz summons Dorothy and reveals a plan to cross the deadly desert by air: he will make a balloon. He admits he arrived in Oz by balloon and, tired of being exposed as an impostor if he left the Palace, nevertheless decides to accompany Dorothy. Dorothy helps sew strips of green silk while Oz glues the interior to make the bag airtight. They attach a clothes-basket, build a fire beneath the opening to fill the balloon with hot air, and the people of the Emerald City gather to watch. As the balloon rises and The Wizard—announcing the Scarecrow as ruler in his absence—prepares to leave, Dorothy rushes with Toto but the ropes snap. The balloon lifts off with The Wizard aboard; he calls back that he cannot return, and the citizens watch him go. The chapter ends with the people mourning the loss of the Wonderful Wizard while affirming the Scarecrow’s new rule, and with Dorothy left behind still longing for home.

Key events

1. Dorothy endures three days of longing while her friends express contentment
2. The Wizard reveals his plan to make a balloon to cross the desert
3. Dorothy sews green silk strips into a large balloon and Oz coats it with glue
4. They attach a basket and fill the balloon with hot air over a fire
5. The Wizard boards, names the Scarecrow ruler, and the ropes break
6. The balloon departs with The Wizard aboard; Dorothy and the city are left behind

Analysis

This chapter functions as a turning point that shifts agency and leadership within Oz while deepening Dorothy’s emotional stakes. The Wizard’s confession that he is a "humbug" and his decision to leave reveal his desire to escape the constraints of reputation; his leaving marks the end of centralized authority and the beginning of local, decentralized governance embodied by the Scarecrow. The practical, almost domestic scene of sewing the balloon underscores themes of craft and improvisation in a fantastical world—magic gives way to ingenuity (silk, glue, hot air) rather than supernatural intervention. The balloon itself is a symbol of fragile escape: it offers hope but depends on precarious technology (hot air rather than gas), foreshadowing that departures in this world are uncertain and subject to accident. Dorothy’s failure to board emphasizes her persistent vulnerability and isolation despite the companionship she has acquired; the emotional pivot leaves her stranded and reframes the narrative from a communal adventure to a more personal quest. Baum’s narrative technique mixes stage-direction clarity (step-by-step construction) with public spectacle (the city’s gathering), reinforcing the civic dimension of Oz while preparing for new leadership dynamics and renewed tests for Dorothy. The chapter thus closes one arc—the Wizard’s presence—and opens another centered on Dorothy’s continued efforts to return home under altered political and social circumstances.

Important quotes

“I am now going away to make a visit. While I am gone the Scarecrow will rule over you. I command you to obey him as you would me.”

NarratorThe Wizard announces his departure and appoints the Scarecrow as ruler, transferring authority before leaving in the balloon.

“Gradually the balloon swelled out and rose into the air, until finally the basket just touched the ground.”

NarratorDescribes the successful inflation of the silk balloon using hot air, setting the stage for the Wizard's ascent.

“I can’t come back, my dear," called Oz from the basket.”

The Wizard of OzOz answers Dorothy's plea after the ropes break, confirming he cannot return and leaving Dorothy behind.

Characters in Chapter 17

• Dorothy Gale
• The Wizard of Oz
• Scarecrow
• Tin Woodman
• Cowardly Lion
• Toto
• The Soldier with the Green Whiskers