The Sneetches- Belonging

To belong or not to belong is the feeling of being excluded or included by a group, person, place or community. I believe to belong on many levels you must first feel you are entitled to belong. This may come about through your personal experiences and how you tuley feel about yourself and your self worth.

In the illustrated story 'The Sneetches' illustrated and written by Dr. Suess he demonstrates individuals within a group desperately seeking approval of another group they are made to believe are more elite.

Dr. seuss introduces his book describing the two groups “the star-belly sneetches had bellies with stars. The plain-belly sneeches had none upon thars. With this green star he uses symbolism to create two different social groups within a larger community. The plain belly's desperately seek the approval and acceptance of the star-belly's as they feel excluded and have less worth. To be called 'plain' insinuates that you are ordinary and have less value in comparison with the word 'star' which implies you are exceptional. This results in the formation of a class system where one group is perceived as better than the other. This also demonstrates the symbolism within the text.

Over a long period of time, the plain bellied were ridiculed and isolated from the star bellies. This must have diminished their feeling of belong individually and as a group “they kept them away never let them come near and that's how they were treated year after year.”. The star belly sneetches used discrimination, intimidation and bullying to reinforce their higher class status wearing down the self worth of the plain bellies. “they would brag ' we're the best kind of sneetch on the the beaches.' with their snoots in the air, they would sniff and they'd snort 'we'll have nothing to do with that plain belly sort.” in this he uses both alliteration and rhyming to engage the readers but also entertain. this is also shown through his illustrations where we see the start bellied