SynapTale

Constructed being in The Oz Series

Scarecrow

Also known as the stuffed man, the poor creature, the poor Scarecrow, the Wise Scarecrow, the new ruler, our ruler, His Majesty, the Scarecrow, this queer King, the ruler of this magnificent city, the Scarecrow King, the wisest personage in the Land of Oz, the stuffed monarch.

A living scarecrow of straw who was set on a pole in a Munchkin cornfield to frighten crows; his head is a straw-stuffed sack with a painted face, and though he cannot feel pain he laments having no brains and joins Dorothy to ask the Wizard of Oz for some.

Appears in 66 chapters, first in chapter 3, last in chapter 95.

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

AffiliationCompanion of the Tin Woodman, with whom he has decided never to be parted; he returns with him to the Kingdom of the Winkies as Royal Treasurer. (as of ch. 48)
AgeExtremely young — made only two days before Dorothy found him ('I was only made day before yesterday'); by the arrival at the Emerald City he is still merely days old, his whole life spanning the journey itself. (as of ch. 4)
Animating lackBrains: his head is stuffed with straw instead of brains, and his single wish — seeded by the old crow's counsel that 'brains are the only things worth having in this world' — is that Oz give him brains so people will not call him a fool.
AppearanceA figure in a suit of faded blue clothes with a painted-face sack head, now stuffed not with straw but with clean dollar bills — fives and tens in his legs and boots, fifties, hundreds and thousands packed so tight in his body he can scarcely button his jacket; he still wears his green-glassed spectacles. (as of ch. 43)
Being natureA living, speaking construct made of straw and cloth rather than born; self-aware though he believes he has no brains.
Body conditionsStuffed entirely with straw, including a straw-filled sack for a head with no brains; light enough to lift easily.
ConflictNo active threat remains: the Nome King transformed him into a solid gold ornament, but Billina's guessing restored him, and after the Scarecrow blinded the King with Billina's eggs and Dorothy seized the magic belt, the whole party escaped safely and returned in triumph to the Emerald City. (as of ch. 63)
Construction materialStraw stuffed into old clothes: a small sack head with painted eyes, nose, and mouth, an old pointed blue Munchkin hat, a worn and faded blue suit stuffed with straw, and old blue-topped boots — so light Dorothy can lift him with both arms.
Creation accountMade only two days before by a Munchkin farmer, with a second Munchkin looking on: the farmer painted his ears first (so he heard his own making), then one eye, then a bigger second eye, nose and mouth, then made his body and limbs, fastened on his head, and set him on a tall stick in the cornfield to scare crows.
Current goalTo remain always at the Tin Woodman's side and serve as his Royal Treasurer in the Winkies. (as of ch. 48)
Dialogue styleCheerful, candid, and self-deprecating; speaks in a husky voice, confides secrets, and freely admits he knows nothing. (as of ch. 3)
EquipmentCarries Dorothy's basket of bread after she hands it to him; now also wears green-glassed spectacles fitted by the Guardian of the Gates and locked fast with the key. (as of ch. 10)
Gender identityman (as of ch. 3)
Green spectacles count1
Health conditionHis left foot was smashed by the iron giant's mallet while rushing to pull the Sawhorse from danger, but because his body is stuffed with straw he declares himself not injured in the least. (as of ch. 58)
Is aliveyes (as of ch. 3)
Maintenance needsMust not cut a hole in his painted mouth to eat, or the straw he is stuffed with would come out and spoil the shape of his head.
Material vulnerabilitiesFire above all: a lighted match is the one thing in the world he fears, since a spark in his straw would burn him up — hence he keeps a good distance from campfire flames. Water strands him helpless (stuck soaking on a pole midstream), and eating would spill his straw and spoil his head's shape.
Maturation stageAdult
Modular partsAssembled parts: a straw-stuffed sack head with a painted face, a straw-stuffed cloth body, arms and legs, an old blue Munchkin hat, and blue-topped boots.
MotiveTo obtain brains from the Great Oz so people will not call him a fool. (as of ch. 3)
PersonalityGood-natured, cheerful, and modest despite his complaint; brave about physical harm since he cannot feel it, but sensitive about being thought a fool. (as of ch. 3)
QuirksBeing brainless, walks straight ahead into holes in the road and falls flat, then laughs merrily at his own mishaps; he never eats. (as of ch. 4)
Referential profilemasculine (as of ch. 3)
Sex profilenonbiological (as of ch. 4)
SkillsCan see well in the dark, declaring he can see as well by night as by day; he uses this to guide Dorothy through the dark forest to a cottage. (as of ch. 4)
Social statusNo longer King of the Land of Oz: he was deposed in a revolution by a soldier woman named General Jinjur, who was in turn deposed by Ozma, the rightful heir who now rules. (as of ch. 53)
Special capabilitiesCannot feel pain or get tired, since he is stuffed with straw ('If anyone treads on my toes or sticks a pin into me, it doesn't matter, for I can't feel it').
StatusAn honored guest at Ozma's Emerald City holiday: he rides the Sawhorse in the grand procession, cheered by the people, and at the games proposes and referees the race between the Sawhorse and Jim. (as of ch. 86)

Relationships

122 further relationships are in the interactive codex.

From the text

“All magic is unnatural, and for that reason is to be feared and avoided.”Chapter 38
“the only people worthy of consideration in this world are the unusual ones. For the common folks are like the leaves of a tree, and live and die unnoticed.”Chapter 40
For I consider brains far superior to money, in every way.Chapter 48
“No, indeed. I don’t know anything. You see, I am stuffed, so I have no brains at all,” he answered sadly.Chapter 3
It is such an uncomfortable feeling to know one is a fool.Chapter 4
for a fool would not know what to do with a heart if he had one.Chapter 5

See Scarecrow chapter by chapter in the interactive codex →

All entries in The Oz Series