Theodora Gender Roles

I have chosen this topic for my investigation as I find mythical (fictional) movies to be fascinating and am especially interested in the link between the famous movie, “The Wizard of Oz” and the prequel, “Oz the Great and Powerful”, notionally set 20 years before the events of the original film. Made in 2013, the prequel focuses on the character Theodora, who is presented initially as a good witch but who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West in the later film. I decided to study how the scriptwriters use her language to reinforce and exert power over the other characters. There are many techniques the scriptwriters use to portray Theodora in the film, for example through the use of imperatives and interrogatives which makes the audience realise the power shifts between the characters. I anticipate that in the film Oz the Great and Powerful she will use imperatives and Interrogatives towards the character of Oz, as he is a new character of whom she has little knowledge. …show more content…
At the start even though the scriptwriters have presented Theodora as a witch, she is a weaker female speaker; she exhibits typical features of gendered talk which applies to Lakoff’s theory of weak female talk such as women using simplistic assumption as Theodora says, “Well, yes. Because you will be our king”. This shows Theodora to be hopeful and trusting towards anyone without thinking of the consequences. Another feature showing that even though Theodora is a witch, she is also typically weaker female speaker is that she exhibits the uses of empty adjectives, such as “Yes, a beautiful scepter and a grand palace. Oh, and you will save the people” which shows Theodora is desperate to impress the male character and persuade him to fulfil the prophecy. Theodora’s language also supports Lakoff’s theory of gendered talk when she shows a lack of sense of humour; in the