Suffering from writer’s block in the late summer of 1970, Theodor Geisel (known to us all simply as Dr. Seuss) was in need of inspiration, something to spark the flame that would become his next children’s story. In this same time period, Geisel was becoming increasingly aware of the misuse of resources and overconsumption present…
Thneeds are powerful. As stated in the song, they are the solution to all the needs of mankind, including basic human needs such as sleep, food, and treatment, for which one can can be used as a hammock, spice, or medication. Thneeds even fulfill the desires of nonhuman creatures. Now that all the Truffula trees…
The Lorax is one of the most powerful books I’ve come across so far in my life. Clothed as a colorful picture-book, it’s just as much an insightful commentary on our times, as true today as it was many years ago. And in saying less, it does more. So what does it do? It casts…
In The Lorax, the Once-ler creates a “Thneed,” which can be used as a shirt, a sock, a glove, carpets, pillows, and a host of other things. Although the Thneed is versatile, it is not inherently useful, as most people already have shirts, socks, gloves, carpets, and pillows. However, the way that the Once-ler markets…
As production of Thneeds grew and the city expanded, the picturesque environment in The Lorax slowly turned into an industrial wasteland. The degradation of the environment was accelerated by industrial pollution. Air pollution is the release of chemicals and particulates into the atmosphere. Industrial areas have higher concentrations of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide in…
Continuing on the first part of this segment, I’d like to discuss how we see the history of “Thneeds” play out in The Lorax. For the purpose of this blog post, I’ll be referring to the 1972 edition of the movie found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKHar6X3Nnw In the very beginning of The Lorax, we are thrown into…
The demand for Thneeds was fueled by consumerism. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, consumerism is the preoccupation of society with the acquisition of consumer goods. In The Lorax, the rampant consumerism fueled the economy, making the city more industrialized and degrading the environment. Since it is such a pervasive force in societies, it is…
In the 1971 publication of The Lorax (the e-book can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soRbNlPbHEo ), the word “Thneed” is rhymed with two distinct words by two different characters. These two characters are the Once-ler and the Lorax. The Once-ler is the first to link a word with “Thneed,” and it is “need.” As a response to…
In the opening two minutes of the 1972 The Lorax movie, we are shown a world of Grickle-Grass: a dreary, post-apocalyptic world without the Lorax where the Once-ler sits alone and miserable atop his factory. Then, at 2:12 we transition immediately into the world of the Lorax, with beautiful nature abounding and happiness galore. This…
In The Lorax, the Thneed was marketed as a thing that everyone needed. While this was patently untrue, the demand for the Thneed skyrocketed. The need for material goods fueled by consumerism may not be a positive force in society. Generally, the purchase of material goods has a very short-term effect on happiness, no matter…
It’s easy to point fingers when you read or watch a piece of art like The Lorax. Looking at the anonymous man in the book who buys the first Thneed so gullibly, or at the Once-ler, who ruins the beautiful, natural, and seemingly perfect world around him for the sake of material gain…it’s easy to…
Thneeds Who needs them? They’re plastic and cheap They’re toxic Society They’re made by Big Business, Corporations, Monsanto They’re stupid, I don’t need them And yet, You buy them You eat them You wear them and watch them You give them to your children To play with Because they make life easier. But… They’re…
In The Lorax, the Thneed was described as a “fine-something-that-all-people-need.” It was marketed as a highly versatile item in high demand. Although it was not always in high demand, the advertising strategy led to it becoming so. Thneeds exist today, and although they may not look like the Thneeds from The Lorax (though I must…
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