3. When I began research about Theodor Seuss Geisel, I realized that
not too many readers understood the moral meanings behind the
literature he wrote. As I continued to research, I discovered that I
knew very little about his love for children literature and how his
books not only had moral values, but also political meaning. He
wrote most of his literature during the age of the civil rights
movement and war- time. The man who became known as, Dr. Seuss
kept the mind of a child alive with his many books of lesson of life.
To understand the morals in his books one most take a closer look at
the written words and the characters he wrote about.
The Cat in the Hat is one of his more popular books teaching a lesson
about morals. The first thing you notice is that the children are home
along. Left by them-selves to do any thing they want. Thinking
about this makes me realize that history continues to repeat itself
today with so many children home along facing all kinds of
temptation. As Geisel say, “So we set in the house we did nothing at
all. Doing nothing at all, is something I will not allow in my home. It
is one thing to abandon your children and leave them alone, but it is
entirely different to watch them sit and do nothing. Geisel makes you
aware of the fact that, even though it is raining outside the children
are idol. They just, “sit sit sit sit.” (Geisel) They are not reading, or
involved in any type of activity.
4. One of the many great things about Geisel is his ability to make you aware
of a social problem a fun way. Then walks in the cat in the hat as if he
owns the place promising fun and many good tricks. As he puts it, “I will
show them to you, your mother will not mind at all if I do.”
Geisel uses this fish to open up the mind of both the parent and children.
There are predictors out there just waiting to show our kids a lot things
that are not good for them. One wonders how many times the youth of
today, are startled when a parent is informed about something that they
should not be engaged in. I am certain that the percentage is greater now
than ever before of children involving themselves in the wrong activity
because they do have supervision. Fact, there is a fish in every childs life
whether they are left alone of not.
It is when he introduces the fish you begin to understand the
moral behind the cat. “No! No! Make that cat go away!” Dr. Seus writes.
You instantly realize the voice of reason is through a tiny fish that is
always, easily dismissed, and looked over. All the while, the cat continues
to entice the children in doing things he knows their mother would not
approve of. The tiny fish in the background constantly says,” No, tell him
to stop.” I wonder how Geisel does it. A man who is childless, but able to
dissect and understand the temptations most kids face in the world. This
book was published in the fifties and yet it is still very relevant to the time
we live in.
5. By the end of the book the cat is introduce to more characters by the name of thing one and thing
two. In the chaos he created, he makes a mess of what was once a clean home. The cat claiming, “these
things are good things” writes Geisel, when they are not. By this time, you feel the frustration of the
author who wants you to empathize with the two children abandoned and left alone to make decisions on
their own. One questions the morals of the age we live in today. What we are teaching our children? Are
we teaching them to stand up and say no to the cat’s they see? Or do they stand there, unmoving, unable
to speak, and to stunned to hear the fish in the background of their minds telling them to say no.
At the end of the book, the cat has made a mess and recognizes the time of the mother’s arrival.
The fish finally gets their attention, “Do something! Fast! Do you hear!” (Geisel) Upon this statement,
they acknowledge their mother getting closer to the house and so the clean up begins. The boy tells the
cat, “you do as I say you pack up those things and take them away,” writes Geisel. It takes the fear of
getting into trouble to invoked action. When you think about this, a certain realization comes to mind.
Most youth of today lack courage to stand up to a person who is a bully without fear. Gesiel has taken a
very common perspective in our society and presented it in a way that helps a child understand when
something or someone is dishonest. The mother returns home to a clean house, as if nothing has happen.
The Cat in the Hat is a book written to help young children read, but it also teaches morals and how to say
“NO”!
6. The Cat in the Hat is just one of many books Geisel wrote with great storylines and moral values. Green
Eggs and Ham is another classic he wrote. Seuss young reader book, which has the main protagonist
presenting a dish that, has never been eaten to a nameless person who simply refused to eat green egss and
ham. This book was written in a time when you were disliked simply because of your race. The protagonist
whose name is Sam-I-am leaves the nameless person alone after he tastes the green eggs and ham. The
nameless person finds he likes the dish shouting “I do I do like green eggs and ham” and takes up the name
Sam-I-Am. (Geisel) Written to encouraged reading but leaves lesson that is simple: try not to dislike
something due to appearance, to just simply try it, give it a chance. Try to be open minded, engaged in a
conversation with the person, you might discover that person could become your best fried.
Next, Geisel writes a book called, “Horton Hears a Who.” This is a story about a loveable elephant that
discovers a tiny world in a grain of sand. Only to be kicked out of his community because they think he is
crazy and try to destroy the small grain of sand. The most unforgettable lines in the book Horton Hears a
Who “a person is a person no matter how small.” I love the way Geisel draws in a playful way to grab the
attention of child and rhymes in a way to make them want to read leaving, while giving the moral of the
story, which is respecting people regardless of their difference. Whether they are big, small, different race,
or gender, every one should be treated equal.
7. In society today, first impression plays a very important role in our lives. Thus, parents
should leave a very good impression with their children. Everything has become viable to them due
to parent buying purchasing anything they ask for. Because of technology, you can now purchase
Geisel books on Tag Readers. These books comes with a computerize pen that allows children to read
with the pens assistance. This new powerful tool will enable Geisel lessons in life to continue to live
in our homes. That is just how wonderful Dr. Geisel books are too many old and young readers.
Hop on Pop is also a great book for children to begin to read. Geisel's rythming words are
specifically uses short vowel for the letter “O.” There are truly many wonderful books Dr. Seuss has
written for children to not only become better readers but to also understand the morals the morals
behind the story.
We give so much freedom, but so little wisdom in morals and integrity. Hoping they will not
be like the children in The Cat in the Hat who just stand around and let the cat ruin their house.
There is so much Theodor Seuss Geisel’s books offer that we sometimes fail to teach our children. I
have always been a fan of his literature as I watch my young children mature, and read the collection
of Dr.Suess books. The Cat in the Hat has become one of our favorites. I am satisfied; they are
learning to read while rhythms and wonderful illustration of are being taught.
8. Buckna, David. The Good Dr. Seuss. 16 Mar. 2008 .
<www.assistnews.net/stories>.
Kaplan, Melissa. Theodor Seuss Geisel: Author Study. 19 Dec.
2009. <http://www.anapsid.org/aboutmk/seuss.html>.
mitch. Literary Analysis of Dr. Seuss. 09 Feb 2003 . 21 Feb
2010 <slashdoc.com>.
Reed, Zero. Themes of Race in Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and
Ham” . 19 Aug. 2006. 21 Feb 2010
<bookstove.com/children/themes-of-race-in-dr-seuss-
green-eggs-and-ham · >.
SCOTT, A. O. Sense and Nonsense . 26 Nov. 2000.
<partners.nytimes.com/library/magazine/home/20001126
mag-seuss.html · >.
