Possible Interpretations of (The Lorax)

In many books, the theme is hidden, and it can be interesting to work out what it is. However, with The Lorax, it is the complete opposite. This book is about a natural paradise that slowly gets destroyed by the oblivious Once-ler who starts up a detrimental business. In the end, it is left up to a young boy to bring back the paradise that once was. I have always wondered about this theme. It is so obviously pointed at polluting companies in our world, and so obviously reprimanding them. But what about the story line makes it seem so black and white? These companies must be stopped. What makes a person want to single handedly bring back the nature in our world?

For me, this book was an inspiration. I've loved it since the third grade, when I was struck by its flat out honesty. Some of the things that really resonated with me were the incredible paradise Dr. Seuss shows. Then there is the barren wasteland it gets turned into. There is also the way the story is told from the destroyers point of view, and how deeply he regrets his decisions. What I think is extremely effective is the way the reader can relate with the Once-ler. Though we are inevitably going to end up being the little boy that gets handed the seed that could save the world, he's not our protagonist. We get pulled into the world with the paradise, and watch the Once-ler make all of his mistakes. In a way, the Once-ler also represents every single person who isn't doing something to stop the destruction of nature. He is us if we don't start to change. So this book with a straight out message does have a deeper meaning... Maybe the reason it affected me so strongly was because of the realization that though I am not trying to do bad things, like the Once-ler, I am hurting the environment. It is slipping away from all of us.

Another character in the book is the Lorax, the book's namesake. He is the one who warns the Once-ler to stop his business. Something that has always bothered me, is that if the Lorax saw what was happening with the environment and was obviously upset by it, why didn't he stop him. The easy answer would be that he wasn't strong enough, or didn't know how to, but I don't think that's it. One possible interpretation is in league with the idea that the Once-ler represents our factories and businesses. The Lorax could be our society warning to stop, and the Once-ler bad polluters not listening. That could be the reason the Lorax is seemingly flaky at times. Because our society's passion on the subject wavers. My other idea is that the Once-ler and the Lorax represent the greed and the conscience with in every single person. When we litter or drive our cars, we know what is happening, as the Lorax does, but the side of us that wants to do whatever the harmful thing might be, can argue and win over the other side of ourselves. As the Once-ler says: "Business is business and business must grow." Our conscience can't put up much of a fight once the argument is won. But as the Lorax does, it still resurfaces from time to time.