RWBY Volume 4 Fan Theory + The Wizard of Oz Symbolism (SPOILERS)

Well, quite the ending for Volume 3. I don't think anyone can deny that every episode got darker and darker towards the very end of the volume. The next volume can not get here soon enough. Here is my theory for the future of RWBY...and things are not looking good for Ruby.

We all know the symbolism behind the names and mannerisms of different characters within the show.

Ozpin - The Wizard of Oz; Glinda Goodwitch - Glinda the Good Witch; Qrow - The Scarecrow; General Ironwood - The Tin Woodman, or Tin Man; Zwei - Toto; Ruby - Dorothy

These are just a few examples. However, I believe we can add in three entries after the Volume 3 finale:

Cinder Fall - The Wicked Witch of the East; Salem - The Wicked Witch of the West; The Grimm Dragons - The Flying Monkeys

It was once my belief that the show was more based on the film adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, but as time went on, that belief was dispelled entirely. By studying the events of the novel series, I believe we can predict some of the coming events in RWBY.

It has become quite obvious that Ruby is meant to symbolize Dorothy Gale, the lead protagonist of The Wizard of Oz series. By this math, we can deduce that Cinder is meant to symbolize the Wicked Witch of the East. Why? Dorothy Gale accidentally killed the Wicked Witch of the East at the beginning of the first book in the series. This event is represented in RWBY as Cinder's death at the hands of Ruby, who murdered her by accident. The timing of the death of the East Witch is symbolized by the title of the episode in which Cinder met her demise: "The End of the Beginning".

Salem, whose name is meant to reference the Salem Witch Trials, represents the Wicked Witch of the West, the main antagonist of the series. She is The Wizard of Oz's and Dorothy's arch-nemesis, much like Salem is to Ozpin and Ruby.

Now for the theory.

The name "Ruby" is derived from the Ruby slippers, the objects of the West Witch's desire in the film adaptation. This is only meant to draw the connection between Dorothy and Ruby.

However, Ruby's silver eyes are a different story. As Qrow states in the volume finale, the silver eyes are an incredibly rare trait, and deliver their possessor incredible power beyond that of any Semblance. Ruby's silver eyes are a direct allusion to the Silver Shoes, objects within the Wizard of Oz novels which wield immense power. The Shoes are coveted by the West Witch, and she stops at nothing to steal their power from Dorothy, eventually succeeding in obtaining one of the shoes, but never the other.

What does this mean? It means that Ruby will lose half of her power to Salem, either temporarily or permanently. I believe Salem will use the power of the Grimm glove to steal this power from Ruby, much like Cinder did with the Fall Maiden. This attack will leave Ruby either partially blind, missing one eye, or heterochromic, with only one eye remaining silver. There is also the possibility that Ruby will be left with a fractured Aura. Any way you look at it, things will not end well for Ruby in Volume 4.

Now for Roman Torchwick.

First of all, Roman Torchwick is very much alive. Why? A Grimm swallowed him whole. You may think "Well, that means he's dead!" But in reality, he's not. Here's why:

Salem and Cinder have complete control over the Grimm. Not once in the entire attack on Beacon did a Grimm attack Cinder, Mercury, Emerald, or Neo. Cinder's entire faction was impervious to Grimm attacks. So why would one attack Roman, who was seen as an integral part of the Witches' plan? Why would Cinder direct Neo to release him from his cell only to have him killed? Roman's death makes absolutely no sense in context.

But I believe the answer to how Roman can still be alive is located in the first sentence of the last paragraph: Salem has complete control over the Grimm. The Grimm didn't swallow Roman on a whim; it was directed by Salem to do it. Why? Because Roman was about to kill Ruby, and Salem needs her alive to steal the power of her silver eyes, the same power which will enable her to overpower Ozpin. Without the power of the silver eyes, she stands no chance against Ozpin, much like the West Witch stood no chance against the Wizard of Oz without the Silver Shoes.

In case you're still holding out on this theory, consider the following quote from Cinder from Volume 1, "Black and White":

"We have big plans for you, Roman. All we ask is a little cooperation."

Just as the Silver Eyes were first mentioned early on in the series and became relevant only now, this quote will be flushed out in Volume 4. When Cinder said "we", she was referring to herself and Salem. If Salem has such big plans for Roman, why in the world would she direct a Grimm to kill him? She wouldn't.

So, in RWBY Volume 4, I predict we will see Ruby lose at least half of her power to Salem. We will also see Roman Torchwick not only return to the series, but become even more relevant to the story and much more powerful than he already is.

Thoughts?