Species in The Oz Series
Winkies
Also known as the land of the Winkies, the yellow Winkies, her slaves, the West country of the Winkies, girls from the country of the Winkies, an aged Winkie.
The yellow people of the western country of Oz, long enslaved and cruelly treated by the now-dead Wicked Witch of the West and freed by Dorothy; among them are skilled tinsmiths and goldsmiths.
Appears in 15 chapters, first in chapter 2, last in chapter 84.
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
| Cultural norms | Freed from the Wicked Witch's bondage by Dorothy, they rejoice, keep the day of liberation as a lasting holiday spent in feasting and dancing, and gratefully devote themselves to helping Dorothy's party, sending the travelers off with gifts and cheers. (as of ch. 13) |
| Habitat | The West of the Land of Oz. (as of ch. 2) |
| Innate traits | A not-brave yellow people, easily frightened; but skilled craftsmen — among them very good tinsmiths who can mend dented tin and a goldsmith who can forge a solid-gold axe-handle. (as of ch. 13) |
Relationships
- enslaves ← Winged Monkeys ch. 14When the Golden Cap fell into the hands of the Wicked Witch of the West, she used its charm to make the Winged Monkeys enslave the Winkies.
- indebted to → Dorothy ch. 13The freed Winkies feel deeply grateful to Dorothy for ending their long bondage and eagerly pledge to do everything in their power for her; fulfillment_status: pending.
- guards → the Witch's castle ch. 12The Winkies no longer guard the castle for the Witch: with the Witch melted and Dorothy declaring them free, they cease to be her fearful slave-sentries and instead rejoice, keep the castle as a place of celebration, and help Dorothy freely.
- located in → City of the Winkies ch. 35The Winkie people inhabit the City of the Winkies, their capital, over which the Tin Woodman reigns from his palace.
- rules ← Tin Woodman ch. 27The Tin Woodman rules the Winkies in the yellow West country: having helped destroy the Wicked Witch of the West, he was invited by the grateful Winkies to become their ruler.
- frees ← Dorothy (ended) ch. 13Dorothy's first act on entering the castle is to gather all the Winkies and declare that they are no longer slaves, freeing them from the dead Witch's bondage.
- rescues → Scarecrow (ended) ch. 13The Winkies help recover the Scarecrow: after the Woodman fells the tall tree holding his scattered clothes, they carry the clothes back to the castle to be restuffed.
- repairs → Tin Woodman (ended) ch. 13Winkie tinsmiths work three days and four nights hammering, bending, and soldering the battered Tin Woodman back into his old form, and a goldsmith fits his axe with a solid-gold handle.
- rescues → Tin Woodman (ended) ch. 13Led by Dorothy, the Winkies travel to the rocky plain where the battered Tin Woodman lies, lift him tenderly, and carry him back to the Yellow Castle.
- communicates with ← Dorothy's Traveling Party (ended) ch. 11The party resolves to travel into the land of the Winkies, where the Wicked Witch of the West rules, in order to seek her out and destroy her as Oz demanded; they prepare and set out the next morning.
- located in ← Dorothy's Traveling Party (ended) ch. 12–14The party remains in the Winkie country at the Yellow Castle through this chapter, but at its close the reunited company bids the Winkies good-bye and sets out for the Emerald City, leaving the Winkie land behind.
- repairs → Scarecrow (ended) ch. 13At the castle the Winkies re-stuff the Scarecrow's recovered clothes with clean straw, restoring him as good as ever.
- enslaves ← Wicked Witch of the West (ended) ch. 12The Wicked Witch of the West rules the Winkies' country and would make any passing traveler her slave.
- commands ← Wicked Witch of the West (ended) ch. 12The Witch calls a dozen of her Winkie slaves, gives them sharp spears, and orders them to go to the strangers and destroy them; the unwilling Winkies obey until the Lion's roar drives them back.
- threatens ← Cowardly Lion (ended) ch. 12When the Witch sends a dozen Winkies with sharp spears to destroy the party, the Cowardly Lion gives a great roar and springs at them, so frightening the timid Winkies that they flee back to the castle.
- gives → Cowardly Lion (ended) ch. 13The Winkies give the Cowardly Lion a golden collar as a parting gift.
- gives → Dorothy (ended) ch. 13As a parting gift, the Winkies present Dorothy with a beautiful bracelet studded with diamonds.
- gives → Scarecrow (ended) ch. 13The Winkies give the Scarecrow a gold-headed walking stick to keep him from stumbling.
- gives → Tin Woodman (ended) ch. 13The Winkies offer the Tin Woodman a silver oil-can, inlaid with gold and set with precious jewels, as a parting gift.
- gives → Toto (ended) ch. 13The Winkies give Toto a golden collar as a parting gift.
- punishes ← Wicked Witch of the West (ended) ch. 12When the Winkies return having been scared off by the Lion, the Wicked Witch beats them well with a strap and sends them back to their work.
- leader of ← Wicked Witch of the West (ended) ch. 2–12The Wicked Witch of the West rules the western country where the Winkies live.
From the text
“that country, where the Winkies live, is ruled by the Wicked Witch of the West, who would make you her slave if you passed her way.”Chapter 2
The Winkies were not a brave people, but they had to do as they were told.Chapter 12
There was great rejoicing among the yellow Winkies, for they had been made to work hard during many years for the Wicked Witch, who had always treated them with great cruelty.Chapter 13