Morality In How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Morality in Dr. Seuss Books
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more!” Does this sound familiar? This is a very recognizable quote for millions of individuals worldwide, from Dr. Seuss’ book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Dr. Seuss’ works have captured the attention of children for decades with his entertaining and educational books. Dr. Seuss’ books are focused on morality and environmental awareness. Dr. Seuss’ books express creativity for young children. His books are also very pleasurable and interesting for all age groups, from the young to the old. Theodore Geisel demonstrates to children positive ethical decision making and morality throughout his series of Dr. Seuss books.
While most of us have probably never heard of Theodore Geisel, we know his work well. Writing under the name “Dr. Seuss”, Geisel unveiled to millions of children the values that have defined the human experience. Geisel’s books have expanded our imagination, encouraged our sense of self-worth and challenged us to make the world and our local community’s better places. They’ve also reminded us that the ideas of freedom, individualism and liberty have always existed in tension with community, restraint and personal sacrifice. (Fea) …show more content…
Many of Dr.
Seuss’ books expressed social and political views. For example, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, about the materialism of the Christmas season; Yertle the Turtle, about Hitler and authoritarianism; The Sneetches, about racial equality; and The Lorax, about environmentalism and anti-consumerism. (Banned) Soon after the war, Seuss’ books went on the banned books list. In a 1992 New York Times Book Review article, Janet Maslin complained about what she felt was the “scare factor” in children’s literature. Maslin sited Seuss, and complained that educational children’s literature neither entertains nor soothes its young audience.
(Banned) There is more to Dr. Seuss’ books than rhyming words and funny pictures, there are also important morals in his books. In How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Theodore Geisel is trying to teach children that there is more to Christmas than just presents and gifts. Christmas is supposed to be about family and friends coming together and spending time with each other. The life lessons taught in The Lorax are far deeper and more complex than simply “Care about the environment.” This singular story explores complicated environmental and sociopolitical issues including ecology, extinction, unsustainable economics and corporate greed. In the end, it becomes clear that the best choices—for the trees, the environment, the animals, the business, and the people—must be made with sustainability in mind. (Russo)
In Dr. Seuss’ classic book, Green Eggs and Ham, the story is trying to teach children to try new things. “Sam-I-Am” tries very hard to get his friend to try green eggs and ham, but his friend will not eat them anywhere! But eventually he tries them and he actually likes them. The moral of the story is for children to try new things before they say they don’t like something. (Russo)
One of my favorites, Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! teaches children the importance of a little nonsense. Nonsense, as Geisel so eloquently stated, “Wakes up brain cells” – and it is, arguably, one of the most important ingredients in a happy and emotionally satisfying childhood. I like to use Seuss to stir up the creative juices in my daughter’s budding mind—and I’m happy to revert to my own childhood as I wonder, “How much water can fifty-five elephants drink?” (Russo)
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It 's not.” Quoted from Dr. Seuss’ book, The Lorax, the quote demonstrates what the world needs to do in order to save the environment. Dr. Seuss’ books are very enjoyable to read to young children. Anytime a child reads one of Dr. Seuss’ books, the children learn something new. Dr. Seuss definitely knew what would get children’s attention while reading his books. Theodore Geisel, depicts environmental and important decision making in his Dr. Seuss books. Morality is also a very important trait in Theodore’s works. Theodore wants to teach young children important morals in life that should be taught, but he teaches morality in an entertaining manner.
Works Cited
Banned Books Awareness n.p. n.d. Web. 6 Jan, 2014. http://bannedbooks.world.edu.
Fea, John. The Messages You May Have Missed Reading Dr. Seuss. N.p. n.d. Web 6 Jan, 2014. http://hn.us/article/3963. Salisbury, Austin. What Dr. Seuss Was Really Up To. N.p. n.d. Web. 6 Jan, 2014. http://www.relevantmagazine.com. Schwartz, Shelly. Who Was Dr. Seuss? N.p. n.d. Web. 6 Jan, 2014. http://history1900s.about.com. Russo, Juniper. 5 Morals Taught in Dr. Seuss Books. N.p. n.d. Web. 6 Jan, 2014.
http://shine.yahoo.com.
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more!” Does this sound familiar? This is a very recognizable quote for millions of individuals worldwide, from Dr. Seuss’ book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Dr. Seuss’ works have captured the attention of children for decades with his entertaining and educational books. Dr. Seuss’ books are focused on morality and environmental awareness. Dr. Seuss’ books express creativity for young children. His books are also very pleasurable and interesting for all age groups, from the young to the old. Theodore Geisel demonstrates to children positive ethical decision making and morality throughout his series of Dr. Seuss books.
While most of us have probably never heard of Theodore Geisel, we know his work well. Writing under the name “Dr. Seuss”, Geisel unveiled to millions of children the values that have defined the human experience. Geisel’s books have expanded our imagination, encouraged our sense of self-worth and challenged us to make the world and our local community’s better places. They’ve also reminded us that the ideas of freedom, individualism and liberty have always existed in tension with community, restraint and personal sacrifice. (Fea) …show more content…
Many of Dr.
Seuss’ books expressed social and political views. For example, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, about the materialism of the Christmas season; Yertle the Turtle, about Hitler and authoritarianism; The Sneetches, about racial equality; and The Lorax, about environmentalism and anti-consumerism. (Banned) Soon after the war, Seuss’ books went on the banned books list. In a 1992 New York Times Book Review article, Janet Maslin complained about what she felt was the “scare factor” in children’s literature. Maslin sited Seuss, and complained that educational children’s literature neither entertains nor soothes its young audience.
(Banned) There is more to Dr. Seuss’ books than rhyming words and funny pictures, there are also important morals in his books. In How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Theodore Geisel is trying to teach children that there is more to Christmas than just presents and gifts. Christmas is supposed to be about family and friends coming together and spending time with each other. The life lessons taught in The Lorax are far deeper and more complex than simply “Care about the environment.” This singular story explores complicated environmental and sociopolitical issues including ecology, extinction, unsustainable economics and corporate greed. In the end, it becomes clear that the best choices—for the trees, the environment, the animals, the business, and the people—must be made with sustainability in mind. (Russo)
In Dr. Seuss’ classic book, Green Eggs and Ham, the story is trying to teach children to try new things. “Sam-I-Am” tries very hard to get his friend to try green eggs and ham, but his friend will not eat them anywhere! But eventually he tries them and he actually likes them. The moral of the story is for children to try new things before they say they don’t like something. (Russo)
One of my favorites, Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! teaches children the importance of a little nonsense. Nonsense, as Geisel so eloquently stated, “Wakes up brain cells” – and it is, arguably, one of the most important ingredients in a happy and emotionally satisfying childhood. I like to use Seuss to stir up the creative juices in my daughter’s budding mind—and I’m happy to revert to my own childhood as I wonder, “How much water can fifty-five elephants drink?” (Russo)
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It 's not.” Quoted from Dr. Seuss’ book, The Lorax, the quote demonstrates what the world needs to do in order to save the environment. Dr. Seuss’ books are very enjoyable to read to young children. Anytime a child reads one of Dr. Seuss’ books, the children learn something new. Dr. Seuss definitely knew what would get children’s attention while reading his books. Theodore Geisel, depicts environmental and important decision making in his Dr. Seuss books. Morality is also a very important trait in Theodore’s works. Theodore wants to teach young children important morals in life that should be taught, but he teaches morality in an entertaining manner.
Works Cited
Banned Books Awareness n.p. n.d. Web. 6 Jan, 2014. http://bannedbooks.world.edu.
Fea, John. The Messages You May Have Missed Reading Dr. Seuss. N.p. n.d. Web 6 Jan, 2014. http://hn.us/article/3963. Salisbury, Austin. What Dr. Seuss Was Really Up To. N.p. n.d. Web. 6 Jan, 2014. http://www.relevantmagazine.com. Schwartz, Shelly. Who Was Dr. Seuss? N.p. n.d. Web. 6 Jan, 2014. http://history1900s.about.com. Russo, Juniper. 5 Morals Taught in Dr. Seuss Books. N.p. n.d. Web. 6 Jan, 2014.
http://shine.yahoo.com.