The Lorax

Each year, on Earth Day, teachers read Dr. Suess’s The Lorax to students of all ages. "We have presented The Lorax in both elementary and university classrooms" (page 128) as a way to gently discuss the importance of conservation and caring for the ecosystems around us. This article “Playing Seriously With Dr. Seuss: A Pedagogical Response to The Lorax” provides an in-depth analysis of the story, and themes that could be discovered through reading the text.

If you have not read the book, you may want to watch the video version below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-Y0Az-4wUg

The Loxax is linked to global issues relating to environmental pollution and conservation. After reading the essay and rereading The Lorax by Dr. Suess, it can be easily be compared to the BP oil spill disaster that faces our nation today.

Is the Lorax an effective spokesperson for the earth?

Analysis:

A theme in this story is that you should speak up against forces that are destroying habitats. However, D&K suggest that the Lorax has a “sharpish and bossy” persona. Does this type of personality really get the message across? D&K suggest “acting with temperance and tact” is a lesson that could be relayed to children when it comes to confronting these issues. Even though the Lorax was sharp and cross, you could also debate whether the Lorax did enough. Maybe he could have done more to convince the Once-ler of the damage he was doing. “A word count in the book reveals that the Lorax used “my” three times and “the” six times when referring to the trees, swans, bears, and fish. (D&K p.131). By the Lorax claiming the habitat was solely his, does the Lorax allow the Once-ler to disassociate from the habitat and relinquish responsibility? Perhaps the Lorax could have made the Once-ler realize that this was his habitat, too, and thus he should also feel responsible for its wellbeing.

Connection:

This is a video of a woman who was speaking out against BP during a hearing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d865zypYe_U

Was the woman an effective spokesperson? Could you hear the message she was trying to convey? Do you think she made her point?

Personal thoughts:

The Lorax may not have been as outgoing or shocking as the woman in the video, but I don’t believe that her actions are an effective way to get a message across. I think the Lorax does show courage to confront the issue and express his concerns directly to the responsible party. However, I don’t think he did enough to stop the destruction. Unfortunately, I do not have a suggestion as to how The Lorax could have handled the situation better. The conclusion I have made is that there must be some effective middle ground between what the woman at the BP hearing did and the effort made by The Lorax.

Whose responsibility is this?

Analysis:

The last line of The Lorax reads, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” This line is told to the young boy who is listening to the Once-ler’s story. D&K state “The Once-ler’s anguish for what he has done, for he does show remorse (mainly in the video), leads to no personal volition other than to pass the responsibility of righting his wrong to a younger boy.” (D&K p. 139). The essay questions whether our society tends to “burden” children with issues of this nature. Maybe the Once-ler should have personally done more to fix the mess he made. Or should we all feel responsible to fix someone else’s mess?

Connection:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1metHzxJ5s

This is a news broadcast showing how company executives are placing the blame of the oil spill on each other.

Personal thoughts:

It is human nature to feel defensive, and that could possibly cause someone to pass blame onto someone else. I don’t believe that one action or event is the definitive cause of another action or event. I believe that the lesson to be learned is that we are all human, therefore mistakes and issues are going to happen inevitably. The question “Who’s to blame?” is important in preventing issues, however, not as important when it comes to resolving issues. The important question to ask is “Who will be responsible?” for the issue, no matter where the blame lies. Whether it’s the Once-ler’s fault for doing the damage, or the Lorax’s fault for not speaking up effectively, the damage was done. It should be everyone’s responsibililty to “right the wrong” and clean up the mess. Just as it should be everyone’s responsibility to clean up the oil spill in the gulf and help the problems that were created because of it. This earth is our habitat and we are all responsible for caring for it. That is the message that should be delivered in our classrooms.

Is there another interpretation?

Analysis: Possibly Dr. Seuss' most controversial work, The Lorax has become so popular because of the fact that many sides can be debated.

Terri Birkett, member of NOFMA, took it upon herself to add reason to the rhyme of Dr. Seuss and rewrote his book, The Lorax- her version titled, Truax. Several timber industry groups sponsored the creation of a book called as a rebuttal to the Seuss book. It is a very interesting twist on The Lorax.

It is an encounter between Guardbark, protector of trees, and Truax, the logger. In a fast paced, fun, rhythm and rhyme style, the book addresses issues such as harvesting trees, regeneration, old growth, biodiversity, endangered species and other forestry issues. Its simplistic and humorous fashion reaches the imaginations of children and enables them to understand the logic in forest management (http://www.aadl.org/node/9624)

Unlike The Loxax, Truax forgoes plot for merely a discussion betwixt Lumberjack (Once-Ler, but with a face) and Guardbark (The Bizarro Lorax.) In their first interaction, Guardbark, speaking for the trees, throws a hissied fit, whereas patient Lumberjack was Cucumber Boy (as in “cool as a.”) Even the animals, appearing only on Lumberjack’s half of the illustration, think Guardbark a nut. Once-Ler, despite being only a pair of disembodied hands, seems more a person than either these blokes.

The book, though, takes a surprising turn: it makes sense. The logging industry helps prevent wildfires, sets aside preserves, and even replants (http://www.aadl.org/node/9624).

Personal Thoughts: It is intriguing that The Lorax caused such conversation and debate. After reading The Lorax, one seems to unconsciously form an opinion. However, after reading The Truax, it certainly sheds light on a different side of the facts. The book makes some valid points about logging industry. “Helps prevent forest fires, replants trees, etc.”. The Truax also get also talks about the benefits in the logging industry in relation to

As classroom teachers, it would be interesting to compare and contrast these two books.