ENG 200: Critical Reading & Writing Literature
Dr. Suess’s infamous literary work, The Lorax, depicts a young boy venturing out beyond the wall to the inhabitable land now occupied by the Once-ler as he tells him about what really happened to the trees. Dr. Suess perfectly captures an allegory about the destruction of mother nature that is suited for children in the form of poetry. Comparing this literary work to Once Upon A Time as that story was creating a children’s story while holding an overall message, The Lorax creates a children’s story targeted towards children while holding that same theme.
As the story presents itself as the young boy as he wishes to learn more about the trees and the infamous Lorax, which he heard so much about. From walking the dark and windy road he comes across the Once-ler as he will tell the tale of the story for a fee. He tells the story dating back long, long, ago when the Grickle grass was bright green, and the Truffula trees were vibrant pinks and purples. The Brown Bar-Ba Loot bears were singing and dancing, as well as the Humming fish. The skies were clear, the air was pristine, and everything was swell. Even in the illustration, Dr. Suess already sets up a sticking contrast compared to the dystopian future the boy is from to the precious forest that the Once-ler describes. Upon loving the silky tops of the trees, the Once-ler sets up shop and begins working on, what he believes to be, the best invention yet. The Thneed. With its multiuse purpose, it would be a knockout in the market. Perfect for the ideal consumer. This alludes to capitalism today, as companies are always searching for the next best thing. Newer, better, faster, cheaper. Anything that would sell and that people would buy, with an afterthought of what it is doing to mother nature.
As Once-ler starts chopping down trees to produce his Thneeds, then comes the Lorax straight from the trunk of the trees. He vouches that he speaks for the trees as the trees do not have a tongue. In Dr. Suess’s fashion, the Lorax speaks in rhymes yet his message is conveyed. As no one will speak up for the trees, or even the environment for the fact, the Lorax does so to ensure their longevity. We can infer that the Lorax part in the story is also playing a role as the Once-lers conscience. Warding away from the business out of fears of the environmental catastrophe that will ensue, yet sides with greed. Once business had grown, the company grew as well infuriating the Lorax. Once-ler ensured that there is no worry since he only chopped down one tree, but consumed with greed began chopping down more. The Lorax then speaks for the bears, as they are forced to leave, then for the fish and they can not live in the water anymore. Showing the consequences of mass production affecting nature. As the ecosystem has been shown to be dependent on one another, a fragile state to affect. Much wildlife is endangered due to the plenty of factories being built, and the pollution in the air and water making it inhabitable for fish to swim in the water. Affecting the nature around them, even so that animals that remain can no longer eat the food that grows there due to the chemicals and pollution in the soils.
The company started getting tractions as Once-ler expanded his business from the West to the East coast supplying for public demand. We notice remorse from the Once-ler, yet he justifies his choices in the end for growing bigger. We noticed the change in scenery as his business grows as well, reflecting that it was not what it once was. The imagery shows a dark blue sky filled with clouds alluding to the pollution from the factories. The lushes trees that remained before dwindles down to only the stumps lefts. The green Grickle grass loses its vibrant color as it transcends to a dark and gloomy grey. The Once-ler blinded by the green dollar bills can not see the change he had done to the environment.
Once the time has come for him to cut the last tree, he packs up his shop and leaves for more trees. Leaving the place in ruin. Illustrating to the audience the harsh realities of consumerism and capitalism. People who are money driven have no care for environmental conservation. They care about the green dollar bills rather than the green grass that grows on our earth.
Dr. Suess portrays the little boy at the beginning of the story as the eyes of the young readers who will learn from this. Creating a relatable character for the target audience ensures this message will get across. While sticking to this theme of alliteration and onomatopoeia, he also evokes rhyming poetry creating a joyful read about a present threat that looms. The allegory Dr. Suess present is that when left alone, nature shows true beauty and prosperity. With its incredible biodiversity and precious wildlife, the environment was thriving perfectly on its own and was not in demand of a factory to be built destroying its way of life. Alluding to the Eden that once was, conveys a strict moral disturbance. Mother nature is happy, thriving, surviving, and innocent when left alone, until the dark disturbance of humans’ need for innovation comes.
Then, in the end, we are given hope. As the Once-ler wraps up his story, he reflects on the Lorax’s complex exit. With a stump stated UNLESS on the side, confused for years, has finally found its meaning. The Lorax had hope that the Once-ler, and others, would one day respect the world around them and wish for trees. The Once-ler gives the boy his last remaining tree seed and plants it. Then the Lorax appears. Conveying hope for the readers with the final appearance of the Lorax.
Maya Young 