The Tin Woodman of Oz
A man made entirely of tin once lived in the fantastical kingdom of Oz. He went by Nick Chopper and was referred to as the Tin Woodman all around the country.
However, Nick wasn't always composed of tin. He was once a human, just like everyone else in Oz, once upon a time. He was a woodcutter by trade, and nothing made him happier than to spend the days in the forest, felling trees and crafting exquisite furniture.
In the middle of a forest one day, Nick suffered a tragic accident. When the axe unexpectedly slipped out of his hands while he was felling a tree, it severed his arm. Nick was in pain and shock and was unsure of what to do.
Thankfully, an elderly witch named Mombi who was passing by saw what had happened. She rushed to Nick's rescue and, using her magic, transformed Nick's arm into a brand-new one that was made entirely of tin.
Nick was appreciative of Mombi's assistance, but he soon learned that having a tin arm has its disadvantages. The tin arm would corrode and need to be replaced each time he used it to fell a tree. After a while, Nick's entire body was composed of tin, and he was no longer a human person at all. This continued for a while.
Nick initially experienced heartbreak. He was unsure of how he would carry on living as a Tin Woodman. But with time, he became accustomed to his new form, and he even started to appreciate the many advantages of being made of tin.
He no longer experienced pain, for one thing, no matter how severely his body had been harmed. In addition, he was able to move more quickly and effectively than ever before, which allowed him to cut down more trees in a single day than he had ever imagined being able to.
The fact that he never had to sleep was the finest part of being a Tin Woodman, though. Nick was able to work continuously without ever having to take a break, which allowed him to make far more money than he ever could previously.
But even with all of these benefits, Nick still missed being a human. He missed being able to communicate with others in a meaningful way and missing having a heart that could sense emotions.
Nick once came across a group of hikers in need of assistance while he was out in the bush. They included a young girl named Dorothy, a scarecrow, a timid lion, and a straw man.
In order to assist the travelers, Nick agreed to travel with them to the Emerald City, where they hoped to encounter the powerful wizard who might be able to grant them their heart's desires.
As they traveled together, Nick developed feelings for the people and thought of them as members of his family. They had numerous difficulties and roadblocks along the way, but they never wavered from their commitment to one another.
When they eventually arrived in Emerald City, they encountered the wizard, who consented to fulfill their wishes. The cowardly lion wanted courage, the scarecrow wanted a brain, and Dorothy wanted to go back to Kansas.
But the Tin Woodman had no idea what he desired. He lacked the capacity for feeling, the mind to reason, and the bravery to confront his anxieties. He gave it a lot of consideration, and soon he understood what he most wanted in life.
His goal was a heart.
The wizard was surprised by this request, but he gave in. He presented Nick with a stunning heart made of gold, and Nick was overjoyed and content.
All of the pilgrims had finally fulfilled their dreams after a protracted and perilous journey. The Tin Woodman was finally able to feel all of the feelings he had been missing thanks to his newly discovered heart.
The travelers bid the wizard farewell and set out on their return trip. Nick shared tales from his past as a Tin Woodman with the others as they traveled, and he expressed his gratitude to them for giving him a sense of normalcy once more.
When they at last made it back to Kansas, Dorothy and the others bid the Tin Woodman farewell and parted ways. Nick stayed behind and made himself at home in a modest residence close to a forest, where he could pass the time by splitting wood and regaling others with tales of his exploits in Oz.