Living being in The Oz Series
leader of the Wheelers
Also known as one who seemed to be their leader, one clothed in a most gorgeous suit, the captive Wheeler, his foe, the prisoner.
The foremost of the Wheelers, clothed in a most gorgeous suit, who acts as the race's spokesman: he confronts Dorothy at the foot of the rocks, accuses her of picking their lunch-boxes and dinner-pails, and pronounces the local law that whoever picks a dinner-pail without permission must die immediately.
Appears in 2 chapters, first in chapter 51, last in chapter 54.
This encyclopedia covers chapters 1 to 100 of the story and shows the world as it stands at chapter 100, so it contains spoilers up to that point. To read it spoiler free, one chapter at a time, open the interactive codex.
What the story establishes
| Affiliation | Leader of the Wheelers, the wheeled race of this country. (as of ch. 51) |
| Appearance | A Wheeler clothed in a most gorgeous suit of embroidered garments of many colors; like his fellows he rolls on wheels growing at the ends of his arms and legs instead of hands and feet. (as of ch. 51) |
| Being nature | A Wheeler: a member of the strange wheeled race whose arms and legs end in round wheels of the same hard substance as finger-nails and toe-nails, rolling swiftly over level ground. |
| Body conditions | A Wheeler's body: limbs ending in round wheels of the same hard substance as finger-nails and toe-nails, so that he moves on all fours by rolling rather than walking. |
| Conflict | Physically overpowered and held fast by Tiktok's copper grip; his true helplessness is exposed, and his struggle becomes concealing his people's weakness rather than harming Dorothy. (as of ch. 54) |
| Current goal | Having been released by Tiktok after showing the party the way to the palace's Left Wing, to keep his people's helplessness secret and to cure the Wheelers' mischievous, impudent behavior as he promised Tiktok he would (as of ch. 54) |
| Dialogue style | Shifts from indignant bluster and whining threats to a full emotional collapse: he bursts into tears, confesses the Wheelers' helplessness in a pleading, self-pitying tone, then becomes eager and grateful, promising reform and thanking Tiktok for his kindness. (as of ch. 54) |
| Health condition | Physically overpowered: stumbled and fell flat on his back, then held fast by Tiktok's copper grip and shaken until his teeth rattled together like hailstones. (as of ch. 54) |
| Is alive | yes (as of ch. 51) |
| Motive | To avoid discovery of the Wheelers' helplessness and to prevent further attacks on his people; now driven by a wish to reform and stop pretending fierceness after being exposed by Tiktok. (as of ch. 54) |
| Personality | Outwardly blustering and quick to threaten, but in truth cowardly and helpless; once exposed he breaks down in tears, becomes contrite and cooperative, and is willing to reform and stop frightening children. (as of ch. 54) |
| Quirks | Pretends to be fierce and terrible and writes sand-warnings to frighten travelers, though he is actually helpless; readily bursts into tears and swings between whining threats and eager cooperation. (as of ch. 54) |
| Referential profile | masculine (as of ch. 51) |
| Skills | Rolls swiftly on his wheels over level ground and intimidates strangers by writing warning signs in the sand and putting on a fierce, blustering front. (as of ch. 54) |
| Social status | The leader and spokesman of the Wheelers, distinguished by his most gorgeous suit and by pronouncing the law of their country. (as of ch. 51) |
| Status | Released by Tiktok after guiding the party to the Left Wing of the royal palace of Ev; rolled away to rejoin his fellow Wheelers, his secret of helplessness kept as promised (as of ch. 54) |
Relationships
- leader of → Wheelers ch. 51The most gorgeously clad Wheeler stands out as leader and spokesman of the race, voicing their accusation against Dorothy and pronouncing their law.
- species of → Wheelers ch. 51The leader is himself one of the Wheelers, a member of the wheeled race whose limbs end in wheels.
- oath bound → Dorothy ch. 54In exchange for Dorothy keeping his secret, the Wheeler leader promises never again to frighten children who approach; fulfillment_status: pending.
- threatens → Dorothy (ended) ch. 51The Wheelers' leader confronts Dorothy, accuses her of picking and stealing their dinner-pails, and pronounces the local death-law: whoever picks a dinner-pail without permission must die immediately.
- accuses → Dorothy (ended) ch. 51The Wheelers' leader accuses Dorothy of theft, charging that she picked their lunch-boxes and dinner-pails and still holds a stolen dinner-pail in her hand.
- reveals secret to → Tiktok (ended) ch. 54The captive Wheeler leader confirms and confesses the Wheelers' secret helplessness and pretended fierceness, and tells Tiktok about the rule of Ev and Princess Langwidere.
- imprisoned by → Tiktok (ended) ch. 54Tiktok held the Wheeler leader fast by the neck of his jacket only until he had guided the party to the Left Wing of the royal palace of Ev, then released him to rejoin his fellow Wheelers.
- captures ← Tiktok (ended) ch. 54Tiktok grabs the fallen Wheeler leader by the neck of his gorgeous jacket and holds him fast as a prisoner to force information from him.
- confronts ← Dorothy (ended) ch. 51From the safety of the rocks Dorothy challenges the leader's cruelty, protesting that she is a harmless stranger who has done no harm and only picked one of each because she was hungry and did not know the trees were theirs.
- commands ← Tiktok (ended) ch. 54Tiktok orders the captive leader to send the other Wheelers away and to guide them to the palace's Left Wing, shaking him until he obeys.
- persuades ← Dorothy (ended) ch. 54Dorothy, pitying the miserable Wheeler, reassures him his secret will be kept if he promises to stop frightening children, calming him into cheerful cooperation.
From the text
"It is the law here that whoever picks a dinner-pail without our permission must die immediately."Chapter 51
"That is no excuse," retorted the leader, who was clothed in a most gorgeous suit.Chapter 51
"Now I and my people are ruined forever!" he sobbed; "for you have discovered our secret. Being so helpless, our only hope is to make people afraid of us, by pretending we are very fierce and terrible."Chapter 54
"You'll be sorry for treating me in this way," whined the Wheeler. "I'm a terribly fierce person."Chapter 54
See leader of the Wheelers chapter by chapter in the interactive codex →