<P> The Tin Woodman, better known as either the Tin Man or (incorrectly) the Tin Woodsman (the third name appears only in adaptations, the first--and in rare instances, the second--was used by Baum), is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum . Baum's Tin Woodman first appeared in his classic 1900 book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and reappeared in many other subsequent Oz books in the series . In late 19th - century America, men made out of various tin pieces were used in advertising and political cartoons . Baum, who was editing a magazine on decorating shop windows when he wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, was reportedly inspired to invent the Tin Woodman by a figure he had built out of metal parts for a shop display . </P> <P> Originally an ordinary man by the name of Nick Chopper (the name first appearing in The Marvelous Land of Oz), the Tin Woodman used to make his living chopping down trees in the forests of Oz, as his father had before him . The Wicked Witch of the West enchanted his axe to prevent him from marrying his sweetheart, after being bribed by the lazy old woman who kept the Munchkin maiden as a servant, and did not wish to lose her . (In a later book of the series, The Tin Woodman of Oz, the woman is said to be the Witch's servant, and it is the Witch herself who decides to enchant Nick's axe .) The enchanted axe chopped off his limbs, one by one . Each time he lost a limb, Ku - Klip the tinsmith replaced it with a prosthetic limb made of tin . Finally, nothing was left of him but tin . However, Ku - Klip neglected to replace his heart . Once Nick Chopper was made entirely of tin, he was no longer able to love the lady he had fallen for . </P> <P> In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Dorothy Gale befriends the Tin Woodman after they find him rusted in the forest, as he was caught in rain, and use his oil can to release him . He follows her to the Emerald City to get a heart from The Wizard . They are joined on their adventure by the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion . The Wizard sends Dorothy and her friends to the Winkie Country to kill the Wicked Witch of the West . The Tin Woodman's axe proves useful in this journey, both for chopping wood to create a bridge or raft as needed, and for chopping the heads off animals that threaten the party . When the Winged monkeys are sent by the Witch of the West against the group, they throw the Tin Woodman from a great height, damaging him badly . However Winkie Tinsmiths are able to repair him after the death of the Witch . </P> <P> His desire for a heart notably contrasts with the Scarecrow's desire for brains, reflecting a common debate between the relative importance of the mind and the emotions . This occasions philosophical debate between the two friends as to why their own choices are superior; neither convinces the other, and Dorothy, listening, is unable to decide which one is right . Symbolically, because they remain with Dorothy throughout her quest, she is provided with both and need not select . The Tin Woodman states unequivocally that he has neither heart nor brain, but cares nothing for the loss of his brain . Towards the end of the novel, though, Glinda praises his brain as not quite that of the Scarecrow's . </P>

Who needed a heart in wizard of oz