In *The Wonderful Wizard of Oz*, the Scarecrow wants brains. He believes he cannot think because he is stuffed with straw, so he joins Dorothy on the journey to the Emerald City hoping the Wizard will help him.
The Scarecrow first meets Dorothy in a cornfield in Munchkin Country. Although he doubts his intelligence, his actions repeatedly show that he can reason, plan, and solve problems. This creates one of the story’s central ironies: he already possesses the ability he thinks he lacks.
After Dorothy and her companions defeat the Wicked Witch of the West, the Wizard gives the Scarecrow a mixture made from bran, pins, and needles as a symbolic “brain.” The Scarecrow feels more confident afterward, but the episode suggests that wisdom comes from recognizing and using abilities one already has. The Tin Woodman seeks a heart, while the Cowardly Lion seeks courage; these are distinct wishes, not alternate answers for the Scarecrow.