66. The Scarecrow
Wizard of Oz
Man has always searched for knowledge. From the cavemen to Einstein to Hodgman, the quest for complete world knowledge is eternal. Turns out all you have to do is ask a fake magic man to give you a degree.
Dorothy Gale's first companion in her quest towards the Emerald City, The Scarecrow feels, because he has a head stuffed with straw and hay, he needs a brain. He feels this so strongly that he has to sing a song about it.
Scarecrow's desire is misguided, however, as he frequently displays moments of clear thinking and common sense. Many who interpreted the book as a political allegory view the Scarecrow as a reflection of the stereotyped American farmer - although he has been persuaded as nothing more than a rube or hick, he possesses strong common sense and a remarkable insight and quick-wittedness that only requires some self-esteem to have him push his abilities to their fullest extent.
Defining moment: When the Wizard gives him a brain, he displays his "newfound" intelligence and he rattles off an algebraic equation to prove it.
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