The Grinch Got a Wonderful, Awful Idea!

Dr. Seuss’ 1957 print classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is almost, but not quite, as wonderful as the animated film that it inspired. If Seuss had included those wonderful songs in the book, then they would have surely been equals, but as it is, the film exists as kind of a minor miracle: a film taken from a book that actually surpasses it’s predecessor (I personally don‘t hold out much hope for the live action film, though. Rather I feel that they are fated to screw up a classic). Having said this, however, I still feel that the book itself is a masterpiece.

For those who some how don’t know, the Grinch is a creature who lives atop Mt. Crumpit with his delightfully cute, and often misused dog, Max. Lying far beneath them is the town of Who-Ville. It’s inhabitants, the Who’s, are the bane of the Grinch’s existence. As much as he abhors them on any regular given day, he completely loathes them on Christmas. Their celebrations lead to the one thing that really drives him up the wall: NOISE!

After fifty-three years of putting up with the entire wretched mess, the Grinch (who must be a slow thinker, I guess, if it took him that long ) decides to take matters into his own hands. His plot is diabolical and sure to work (at least in his opinion). Quite simply, he plans to dress as Santa Claus and kind of give them a reverse Christmas by taking away all of their presents instead of giving presents to them.

He succeeds at his task yet somehow it doesn’t stop the Who’s from raising their voices in a joyous Christmas song. Realizing the error of his ways, the Grinch returns all of their belongings and takes part in the Christmas feast.

As a child that ending was always bittersweet to me. Call me deranged, but I really enjoyed the Grinch as an evil character and I always felt somehow betrayed when he became a turncoat. To this day I still think that the super quick transition is a bit strange (and in fact it’s my one complaint against both the book and the movie), but I am more able to understand the moral behind it. Quite simply, people don’t need material objects to make them happy. Religious people may try to attach a more spiritual meaning to the ending and that’s their prerogative, but for myself, I enjoy the more simplistic approach. However, I do believe that in his own way, Seuss was lashing out at the mass commercialization that was beginning to surround the holiday.

Whether or not you believe in any of the religious connotations that have become almost synonymous with Christmas, it is obvious to everyone that the days of a more simple Christmas, one that you spent with your loved ones, perhaps exchanging hand made presents that had been a labor of love, are lost forever. When the Grinch realized that the Who’s didn’t need their material objects and noise makers to enjoy the holiday, he was touched by their compassion and true love for those around them. In the end it seems like he wasn’t actually protesting them, more their apparently shallow ways.

Recommended for children aged 4-8, this classic can be easily enjoyed by anyone, regardless of age. If you haven't already, start a new holiday tradition this Christmas by sharing this book with your loved ones (even if you don't have any children in your life).

My apologies to those who don't celebrate Christmas, although I'm sure that you, too, would get a kick out of how ridiculous the Grinch makes the entire thing seem.