The Lorax, By Dr. Seuss: The Future is in Our Hands
In class, we just read the picture book The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. It is the story of the Once-Ler and the Lorax. In it, the Lorax speaks for the animals and plants of a forest. Then the Once-ler comes and begins hacking down trees, driving all the animals away and creating pollution and smog just because he is greedy and wants money. I think that in this book, which I believe is definitely based on Global Warming and rich, greedy corporation owners, also shows an incredible relationship between children and adults. I think it shows this through the Once-ler and the one child he trusts with the future of the world.
At the end of the book, after the Once-ler is done telling his story to a small boy, he hands him something. He gives him the last Truffula Tree seed of them all, this basically means that he trusts this yound boy with the future of the environment and an entire species, which is obviously a HUGE burden. One thing that I really noticed, is that of all people, the Once-ler chooses to trust a child. I believe that this signifies how many rich, greedy adults have really done a lot to mess up our world, and therefore our futures. Also, how at this point the only people who can change this are the people of the future and the ones who have to turn around the messes that have been created for them, the children. In addition, i think that the Once-ler knows that if he gives it to another grown up like him, and gives them the power that he got when he started controlling the Truffula Trees, adults who have seen so much of the world will make the same mistakes he did, whereas, an innocent child will not know how to do wrong and will not be tempted by wrongs and know to do the right thing.
Also, I think that the roles three adults play in the book back up my opinion. First of all, a character only shown once, is the man who comes and buys the Thneed, is important. He is just a passer-by who see's the Thneed and decides even though it really shows no purpose he will by it. So many people in our counrty who have money, do not think of things that might need it and are greedy and simply buy things for pleasure. Also, I think that the Lorax, being really the only good character, shows how there are only a few people doing good in our world and putting themselves second to the good of others. Lastly, I think that the Once-ler being an adult supports the adults being the ones who aren't thinking about the good of others, and trying for nothing but to become wealthy.
In conclusion, I think that in the book The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss the way that the Once-ler is an adult and the person he trusts the future with is a child, shows in a big way a message Dr. Seuss way trying to portray about kids being the ones to save the future.
Hi Maddy!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. The Once-ler knows he messed up, and knows he has to fix it. He trusts in a kid who will listen to him. An adult would have done it his own way and end up with no more truffala trees. A kid will listen to the Once-ler tell the story of his mistake and correct it. Also, I agree with how you say that people with money will spend it on anything. The only things you need to survive comfortably are food, water, a shelter, and a way to keep warm. But everyone who can afford it has more than that, just because they have money to spend.
Great post!
Jadyn :)
That is a very interesting thought that you had about how giving the seed to a child represents how children have been burdened by the mistakes of the adults. I completely agree with you. I find it interesting that you came up with this thought about this little detail in the story witch is something that hadn't even crossed my mind while reading the story. Great post.
ReplyDeleteHey Maddy! This is so good. I was really inspired by this story. I definitely love the fact that the seed is given to a kid. This 1) shows that kids can change the world! and 2) represents the hope for the future. The seed could have been given to an adult, but an adult is old could just want money. Kids, on the other hand, want happiness and don't really care about money. That's why it was so good that he picked a kid. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Maddy!! I love how you looked so deep into a small detail. I think this shows how the future of our environment is in our hands, since the adults who messed it up won't work to make it better. We need to learn this so all the generations to come could believe in helping the environment, rather than just letting greedy people control our future for us.
ReplyDelete