In The Wizard Of Oz What Did The Lion Want

Okay, let’s be real for a second. We’ve all seen The Wizard of Oz, probably more times than we can count. But let’s talk about the real drama queen of the group: the Cowardly Lion.

He’s big. He’s fluffy. He’s got a mane that screams “I woke up like this.” And yet, his entire personality is one giant, roaring puddle of anxiety.

So, what did the Lion want? On the surface, it’s simple. He wanted courage. But let’s dig into that, because modern life has taught us that “courage” is a weird, overpriced latte that we order but never quite finish.

The Courage Conundrum (Or: Why Your Boss Scares You More Than a Flying Monkey)

Think about it. The Lion could already roar. He could already scare people. But he froze when a little old lady yelled at him.

That’s us, isn’t it? We can plan a five-course dinner, but we crumble when we have to ask for a raise. We can pack a suitcase for a two-week trip in ten minutes, but we panic when we see a spider in the bathtub.

The Lion didn’t need a magical ability to be brave. He needed permission. He needed someone to tell him that being scared doesn’t mean you’re a coward. It means you’re paying attention.

What He Actually Wanted (Spoiler: It Wasn’t a Medal)

Let’s be honest. When the Lion finally gets his “courage” from the Wizard, what does he get? A medal. A shiny, round, very official-looking piece of hardware.

That’s the funniest part. The Wizard basically gave him a participation trophy for emotional growth. And it worked. The Lion immediately starts strutting like he owns the forest.

This is pure, relatable magic. Because we all have those moments where we fake it until we make it. You put on your “adult pants,” you take a deep breath, and you do the scary thing. And then you reward yourself with a coffee or a nap.

Lion Wizard Of Oz Cartoon

So, the Lion wanted validation. He wanted proof that his fear wasn’t a flaw, but a feature. He wanted a little sparkly sticker that said, “You did the thing.”

The Real World Version (Or: Why My Gym Bag Gathers Dust)

I’ll give you a perfect example. I joined a gym once. I had the membership card. I had the fancy water bottle. But I was terrified of the weight room.

I felt like the Lion in the forest. Everyone else looked like they knew what they were doing. I was just a guy in a t-shirt blinking at the dumbbells.

What did I want? Did I want muscles? No. I wanted the courage to look stupid. I wanted someone to hand me a medal that said, “You picked up the 10-pound weight without crying.” And I never got that medal. So I stopped going.

See? The Lion’s desire is universal. It’s not about being fearless. It’s about being fear-initiated and then doing it anyway.

The “I’ll Do It Tomorrow” Trap

The Lion waited. He waited for the Wizard. He waited for a magic potion or a spell. He wanted a quick fix.

We do the same thing. We wait for the “right time” to start a business, ask someone out, or finally clean out the garage. We wait for a magical boss to tap us on the shoulder and say, “You are brave.”

What Does The Lion Symbolize In Wizard Of Oz at Linda Redmon blog

But the Wizard was a fraud. The magic was inside the Lion all along. The medal just made him realize it.

I once procrastinated for three years before writing a short story. Three years! I was scared it would be bad. I was scared it would be boring. I was the Lion hiding behind a tree, humming “If I Only Had a Brain.”

The Punchline (And the Part That Makes You Smile)

Here’s the beautiful, hilarious truth: The Lion already had courage. He just couldn’t see it. He was brave enough to admit he was scared. He was brave enough to travel with a tin man and a half-wit. He was brave enough to jump into a tree to rescue a dog.

That’s you, too. You’ve already done brave things. You survived that awkward date. You got through that meeting. You put on matching socks this morning.

So, what did the Lion want? He wanted what we all want: a little pat on the back. A moment where someone says, “Hey, you’re doing okay.”

Next time you feel like a scaredy-cat, just remember the Lion. He got his shiny medal, and he roared. You don’t need a wizard for that.

You just need to look in the mirror and say, “Alright, let’s go pick up the 10-pound weight.” Then go buy yourself a medal. A cheap one. It works. I promise.