1984 vs The Patchwork Girl of Oz

Image public domain. Illustrated by John R. Neill. (1913).

I just read 1984 and The Patchwork Girl of Oz. They have similarities. But things that Orwell shows as evil, Baum shows as wonderful.

Ojo is wandering through Oz and he picks a clover, which is unlawful. He got caught because Princess Ozma has a magic mirror that she uses to spy on everyone.

There is a glass cat named Bungle who is made of transparent glass except for her ruby heart, emerald eyes, and pink brain marbles. Bungle's personality isn't well liked by the Ozians. So the Wizard of Oz (an agent of the state) lobotomizes the cat to make her more agreeable. Then the altered cat is released back into Oz.

Dr. Pipt is found guilty of performing magic without a licence. Glinda (agent of the State) uses her magic to eliminate Dr. Pipt's knowledge of magic and then he is pardoned. Because Glinda fixes Pipt's disabled body, he is happy that Glinda messed with his brain.

Glinda also performs mass surveillance by reaing her Great Book of Records, a magic book that tells Glinda everything that everyone is doing.

Orwell portrayed mass surveillance and brainwashing citizens as unbearable evils. But Baum shows these same things as wonderful. And Baum says at great length how wonderful Ozma (the state) is for spying on everyone and breaking their brains.

I just find it interesting to read a non Orwellian perspective where someone, Baum, believes a totalitarian government would be wonderful if the leaders on top were wonderful people, like Ozma and Glinda.

I don't think Orwell would have liked Oz or it's rulers.