Freudian Psyche in Geisel's The Cat in the Hat Essay

Theodor Seuss Geisel, more famously known by his pen name Dr. Seuss, “was a writer... cartoonist [, and a political illustrator] who had published over 60 books” (Dr. Seuss Biography) in his lifetime and has influenced nearly every American that has ever learned how to read. With children stories that hold deeper insight than most would expect to find in children books to stories that are pure nonsensical like Green Eggs and Ham that came from a bet (Biography). Dr. Seuss’s literary elements in his seemingly innocent works hold deeper meaning behind them and often paralleling to the events that were happening during his lifetime, like his book Yertle the Turtle. Dr. Seuss’s life had lead him into becoming an influential person in many people’s

In the poems “A Barred Owl” by Richard Wilbur and “The History Teacher” by Billy Collins, each poet illustrates adults who are providing explanations for children to protect them from the harsher realities of life. In “A Barred Owl”, Wilbur conveys his point that children should be shielded from these harsh realities, through the use of personification and understatements. However, in “The History Teacher”, Collins conveys his point that protecting the students’ innocence is a lost cause, through his use of metaphors as well as understatements. Both poets use similar and different devices to convey their respective points.

Born in 1904, Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, is perhaps one of the most beloved children’s authors of the twentieth century. Although he is most famous as an author of children’s books, Geisel was also a political cartoonist, advertisement designer, and film director. He used the power of imagination to produce unforgettable children’s books and helped solve the problem of illiteracy among America’s children. By using his experiences in life as a foundation for most of his books, Theodor Geisel was able to shape the character of many of his readers, as well as teach children subliminal messages through a unique writing style that incorporated various elements and techniques. Through a few of his books,

Firstly, the two main characters in this story, Kitty and Stew, are crucial elements of the story to present its theme. When Kitty was a child, her and Stew were intimate. She would laugh at her father's jokes about playing with the hairs of his nose. (Gaitskill, 290) This

The boat represents the only way of life for the family due to the tradition of it being passed down the family. But the boat can cause disruption throughout the family because it is the center of attention for the family. The author was introduced to the fisherman lifestyle when he was a kid, “when I was very small he took me for my first ride,” (224) which can symbolize the family trying to get the author ready for the future. The mother (whose family passed down the boat) had a strong connection due to growing up with the boat being in her life. The mother put a lot of pressure on the family to stay in the family business and not go elsewhere. When she found out about the daughters leaving, the author said, “she was worried about herself and about her family and her life,” indicating her devotion towards the boat. The daughters were able to find a different path and move away from the boat and so did the son but it wasn't as easy for him. He felt the most pressure being the youngest and the only male in the family next to his father saying, “I would remain with him as long as he lived and we would fish the sea together,” (234) putting the father in a tough spot since he wanted his son to

Many people think it is just about a cat trying to have fun but it is not. It is about the chaos that is going on in the world around them. Dr.Seuss was known to bring situations to life in his stories and that is what he did just here. Not only does this story teach children on how to rebel against their parents and not pay attention to any of the rules it also says that to a point children should listen and have certain traditions with in their family.

(e)The fish tells the children that the Cat in the Hat “should not be here when your mother is not” to warn them that the Cat is going to cause trouble (10).

Oh, the exhaustive ways to interpret the expansive wonderland of creativity that is the mind of Dr. Seuss. Most known for his beloved children’s books, Theodor Seuss Geisel, or more commonly, the one and only Dr. Seuss, has contributed to the education of youth for close to 80 years. This includes even after his death, through the continuing legacy of his books. The books have also made him a worldwide pop culture phenomenon. Their widely successful movie adaptations, such as The Cat in the Hat or an even better example, How the Grinch Stole Christmas which has become a holiday franchise of its own, help to carry the stories of Seuss into the 21st century. However, looking through youthful eyes at the bright colorful cartoons and marveling at the silly rhymes and ridiculous made up words; it is easy to overlook some of the deeper controversial messages that can be found in Seuss’ seemingly simple stories. Literary criticisms suggest that Seuss was actually a profound political and social activist, expressing his views on the real world through the stories of his own outlandish one. An example of this can be found within the story of The Sneetches published in 1961 from which, two opposing interpretations have arisen. Both of these interpretations hold larger messages of criticisms against human nature and social conduct. Through the fantastical story of plain and

The protagonist faces an internal conflict of his sanity vs. his alcoholism. The anonymous narrator also is in external conflict with Pluto because the cat symbolizes the struggle the narrator consistently endures in his alcoholism. Initially the narrator was very fond and had an “intensity of gratification” for his cat Pluto, but this could be perceived as the pleasure that alcohol brings when someone has the idea of drinking being “fun”. However, as the narrators’ feelings towards Pluto grow more resentful, and angry that can be attributed to the intense decline of his personality once he starts to become more of an alcoholic. Based on the validity of this assumption, then the central idea directly links to Pluto’s symbolism because the narrator mistreating the cat represents how the narrator is also ill-treating himself with alcohol. Accordingly, the many terrifying deeds the narrator pursued upon Pluto illustrated the insanity that has been induced on the narrator due to the ill-effects of his alcoholism.

Shortly after, the family is about to set off for Florida. After a brief conversation, Bailey forbids his mother from bringing the cat along for the ride. Once again, the Author expresses her view of her self-absorbed, callous mother through the grandmother. Going against her son’s orders, she decides to bring the cat anyways, for fear it may miss her too much or, in a freak accident, asphyxiate itself on on the gas burners. An utterly selfish action for nothing more than getting what she wants, just because she wants it. This action would prove to be disastrous in the end, showing the self destructive behavior of a woman unfit to be called a “mother” by O’Connor.

The extreme measures taken by the citizens of the apartment building, spurred on by Mr. A.M., are all out of fear of the rats. Throughout the story, ridiculous pieces of information about the rats are mentioned to reference to how quickly fear can distort normal perception, such as when someone suggests that “the Norwegian rats attacks cats”(Mahfouz). It is the response to this seemingly absurd statement that causes the reader to question the symbolism behind the cats in addition to the rats, which in turn sparks thought regarding the meaning behind the story: “Cats are not without their uses”(Mahfouz). Because the rats are open to interpretation as either literal rats, allegorical enemies, or symbolic of fear, the cats are also brought into question as to whether they are representative of literal cats, allegorical sacrifices, or symbolic of the measures individuals are willing to take when they are afraid. The line suggesting that the cats are okay to sacrifice indicates that the rats are symbolic of

This means that both the fish owner also owns a cat, and that God at some point had to create this evil force.

This shows us that the mother is already aware of Little Red Riding Hood’s curiosity and bad behaviours. She expects her daughter to forget about her sick grandmother and give into her Id, which she does. Little Red Riding Hood has the primitive mind of a baby – all Id -- guided by her needs and feelings. She does not think about the consequences of her actions and follows only one rule: “the pleasure principle”. She does not think about the outcome of her decisions in a world of reality, but instead in her own world ruled by pleasure.

This piece was written to depict my family’s cat that can, like most cats, be temperamental and

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll endures as one of the most iconic children 's books of all time. It remains one of the most ambiguous texts to decipher as Alice 's adventures in Wonderland have created endless critical debate as to whether we can deduce any true literary meaning, or moral implication from her journey down the rabbit hole. Alice 's station as a seven year old Victorian child creates an interesting construct within the novel as she attempts to navigate this magical parallel plain, yet retain her Victorian sensibilities and learn from experience as she encounters new creatures and life lessons. Therefore, this essay will focus on the debate as to whether Alice is the imaginatively playful child envisaged by the Romantics, or a Victorian child whose imagination has been stunted by her education and upbringing.