Short Biography of Political Activist, Theodore Geisel

Theodore Geisel: a poet, a cartoonist, an author, and a political activist. To children, this man is known dearly by his pseudonym, Dr. Seuss. Geisel, considered to be the greatest of all children’s writers, was an alumnus of the renowned Dartmouth College, and Lincoln College, Oxford. Through senseless language, wild settings, and nonsensical plots, Seuss emboldens all children to grow fond and enjoy reading. His wife, Helen Palmer-Seuss, said, “Ted doesn’t sit down and write for children. He writes to amuse himself. Luckily what amuses him also amuses them.” For this, many of the whimsical books Geisel wrote to entertain “children” contain political undertones to entertain himself. These political connotations are a statement to his more aesthetic audience. His most famous of these political works are Yertle the Turtle, The Sneetches, The Butter Battle Book, and the Lorax. By taking a closer look at the writings of Dr. Seuss, one recognizes that his books contain many themes not typically viewed as appropriate for children. These themes and subjects are his political outcries. During a period where seditious libel was punishable to extreme measures, Theodore Geisel’s children’s books were the most viable way to voice his and many others opinions on social and political issues of the time.
Yertle the Turtle (1958) is a classic children’s story. It is also said to be representative of Hitler and the Nazi Regime during World War II. It is a story about a turtle king who is depicted as a dictator. Yertle the Turtle is the king of his pond. He decides that his small pond is not good enough for him. By stacking his subjects on top of each other, Yertle can then see more, and thus be king of more. He has no regard for the pain and suffering of those under his rule. He only cares about bettering his own situation. His pride becomes his downfall. He does not think anything should be higher or better than he is. Finally, his own subjects bring him down, and the Turtle

Cited: Writings And Life Of Theodor Geisel. Ed. Thomas Fensch. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland And Company, 1997 Dr. Seuss. The Butter Battle Book. Random House. New York. 1984. Dr. Seuss. The Lorax. Random House. New York. 1971. Dr. Seuss. The Sneetches and Other Stories. Random House. New York. 1961. Dr. Seuss. Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories. Random House. New York. 1958. Fields, Suzanne. “Yertle the Turtle Goes to War”. Jewish World Review. March 31, 2003. MacDonald, Ruth K. Dr. Seuss. Twayne Publishers. 1988. The Butter Battle Book. (Dr. Seuss). National Review. 1984.