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| + | [[File:TheForbiddenFountainOfOz.jpg|thumb|The Forbidden Fountain, as seen on the cover of ''[[The Forbidden Fountain of Oz]]''.]] |
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| − | The '''Forbidden Fountain''' contains the [[Water of Oblivion]], the "most dangerous" thing in [[Land of Oz|Oz]]. Whoever drinks |
+ | The '''Forbidden Fountain''' contains the [[Water of Oblivion]], the "most dangerous" thing in [[Land of Oz|Oz]]. Whoever drinks suffers instant amnesia. |
==Description== |
==Description== |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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Some later Oz writers have found the Fountain irresistibly tempting. It is the crucial element in the McGraws' ''[[The Forbidden Fountain of Oz]]''. It also plays important roles in [[Jack Snow]]'s ''[[The Shaggy Man of Oz]]'', [[Rachel Cosgrove|Rachel Cosgrove Payes's]] ''[[The Wicked Witch of Oz]]'', and [[Edward Einhorn]]'s ''[[Paradox in Oz]]''. |
Some later Oz writers have found the Fountain irresistibly tempting. It is the crucial element in the McGraws' ''[[The Forbidden Fountain of Oz]]''. It also plays important roles in [[Jack Snow]]'s ''[[The Shaggy Man of Oz]]'', [[Rachel Cosgrove|Rachel Cosgrove Payes's]] ''[[The Wicked Witch of Oz]]'', and [[Edward Einhorn]]'s ''[[Paradox in Oz]]''. |
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| + | The podcast ''[[The Chronicles of Oz]]'' turns the fountain into a kind of doomsday device that once activated has the power to destroy the Emerald City unless deactivated by someone who has royal blood; necessitating Tip to transform into Ozma, thus sacrificing his existence, to save the city. |
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| − | In creating the Forbidden Fountain, [[L. Frank Baum]] drew, perhaps unwittingly, on a rich store of folklore and legend. The idea of the drink that purges memories can by found in Norse and Hindu and other world mythologies. In the West, it is most familiar in the water of Lethe in Greek mythology: the souls of the recently dead drink from the river Lethe to forget their old lives. |
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| − | Baum is perhaps unusual in the stress he places on the moral influence of the Water of Oblivion. In his works, the drink not only wipes the memory but leaves the drinkers "as innocent as babes." (Amnesia functions in the same way in ''[[Aunt Jane's Nieces on Vacation]]''.) |
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[[Category:Magical Items]] |
[[Category:Magical Items]] |
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Revision as of 21:05, 13 March 2019
The Forbidden Fountain, as seen on the cover of The Forbidden Fountain of Oz.
The Forbidden Fountain contains the Water of Oblivion, the "most dangerous" thing in Oz. Whoever drinks suffers instant amnesia.
Description
The Fountain stands on the grounds of the Royal Palace in the Emerald City. Clear, sparkling water bubbles up in its golden basin, but it bears a sign that reads, "All Persons are Forbidden to Drink at this Fountain."
History
Centuries ago, a wicked king ruled the Land of Oz and made himself and his people miserable and unhappy. Glinda placed the Fountain in its present location, and the king drank from its water. His people still feared him, so he made them drink from the fountain as well. Then the king and his people grew wise together. That king placed the warning sign on the Fountain to prevent anyone from drinking of it by accident.
Ozma used the Water of Oblivion to defeat the invasion of the Nomes, Phanfasms, Whimsies, and Growleywogs. (The Emerald City of Oz)
Later, the Nome King and Kiki Aru were made to drink from the Water of Oblivion after attempting the conquer the Land of Oz. (The Magic of Oz)
Background
Some later Oz writers have found the Fountain irresistibly tempting. It is the crucial element in the McGraws' The Forbidden Fountain of Oz. It also plays important roles in Jack Snow's The Shaggy Man of Oz, Rachel Cosgrove Payes's The Wicked Witch of Oz, and Edward Einhorn's Paradox in Oz. The podcast The Chronicles of Oz turns the fountain into a kind of doomsday device that once activated has the power to destroy the Emerald City unless deactivated by someone who has royal blood; necessitating Tip to transform into Ozma, thus sacrificing his existence, to save the city.