The Cat in the Hat, Analyzed

[Iolaus]

Warning - To be read for amusement purposes only!!

I got this in an email today. I have no idea who Josh Lebeau is, but he kinda takes out the magic, doesn't he.

The Cat in the Hat, by Dr. Seuss,
A book review by Josh LeBeau

The Cat in the Hat is a hard-hitting novel of prose and poetry in which the author re-examines the dynamic rhyming schemes and bold imagery of some of his earlier works, most notably Green Eggs and Ham, If I Ran the Zoo, and Why Can't I Shower With Mommy? In this novel, Theodore Geisel, writing under the pseudonym Dr. Seuss, pays homage to the great Dr. Sigmund Freud in a nightmarish fantasy of a renegade feline helping two young children understand their own frustrated sexuality.

The story opens with two youngsters, a brother and sister, abandoned by their mother, staring mournfully through the window of their single-family dwelling. In the foreground, a large tree/phallic symbol dances wildly in the wind, taunting the children and encouraging them to succumb to the sexual yearnings they undoubtedly feel for each other. Even to the most unlearned reader, the blatant references to the incestuous relationship the two share set the tone for Seuss' probing examination of the satisfaction of primitive needs. The Cat proceeds to charm the wary youths into engaging in what he so innocently refers to as "tricks." At this point, the fish, an obvious Christ figure who represents the prevailing Christian morality, attempts to warn the children, and thus, in effect, warns all of humanity of the dangers associated with the unleashing of the primal urges. In response to this, the cat proceeds to balance the aquatic naysayer on the end of his umbrella, essentially saying, "Down with morality; down with God!"

After pooh-poohing the righteous rantings of the waterlogged Christ figure, the Cat begins to juggle several icons of Western culture, most notably two books, representing the Old and New Testaments, and a saucer of lacteal fluid, an ironic reference to maternal loss the two children experienced when their mother abandoned them "for the afternoon." Our heroic Id adds to this bold gesture a rake and a toy man, and thus completes the Oedipal triangle.

Later in the novel, Seuss introduces the proverbial Pandora's box, a large red crate out of which the Id releases Thing One, or Freud's concept of Ego, the division of the psyche that serves as the conscious mediator between the person and reality, and Thing Two, the Superego which functions to reward and punish through a system of moral attitudes, conscience, and guilt. Referring to this box, the Cat says, "Now look at this trick. Take a look!" In this, Dr. Seuss uses the children as a brilliant metaphor for the reader, and asks the reader to examine his own inner self.

The children, unable to control the Id, Ego, and Superego allow these creatures to run free and mess up the house, or more symbolically, control there lives. This rampage continues until the fish, or Christ symbol, warns that the mother is returning to reinstate the Oedipal triangle that existed before her abandonment of the children. At this point, Seuss introduces a many-armed cleaning device which represents the psychoanalytic couch, which proceeds to put the two youngsters' lives back in order.

With powerful simplicity, clarity, and drama, Seuss reduces Freud's concepts on the dynamics of the human psyche to an easily understood gesture. Mr. Seuss' poetry and choice of words is equally impressive and serves as a splendid counterpart to his bold symbolism. In all, his style is quick and fluid, making The Cat in the Hat impossible to put down. While the novel is 61 pages in length, and one can read it in five minutes or less, it is not until after multiple readings that the genius of this modern master becomes apparent

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Hunnhh?

Iolaus, I'm sorry, a little foggy tonight (probably burnout from wearng the kilt to work), but I have no clue what this has to do with anything. Was this supposed to be somebodys satirical review of a Dr. Seuss book? Or worse yet, a real review?

Either way, thanks for sharing, but next time, please resist! :-D

[davedove]

I always get kind of irritated with this type of analysis. How does this guy know this is what Seuss meant to symbolize? Maybe Seuss was just having a weird day! Now if that's what the reviewer got out of it, that's fine. In fact, the best authors can be read by ten different people who will get ten different interpretations. But don't say this is what the author meant unless he says so.

[Iolaus]

Sorry, I should've indicated that I took this as a satirical exercise that should be read for amusement purposes only. I will amend the original post.

[Southern Breeze]

Now I know what happens when you write reviews while stoned!!!

[Iolaus]

I always get kind of irritated with this type of analysis. How does this guy know this is what Seuss meant to symbolize? Maybe Seuss was just having a weird day! Now if that's what the reviewer got out of it, that's fine. In fact, the best authors can be read by ten different people who will get ten different interpretations. But don't say this is what the author meant unless he says so.

You'd be suprised what people will come up with when they are forced to do something. If I had to guess where this originated, I'd say some college professor assigned the book for review and some kid with a couple of psych classes under his belt decided to throw in everything he could think of, including the kitchen sink.

[Sherry]

Or it's totally tongue-in-cheek, making fun of what passes for education sometimes. I was chuckling as I read it. It's been a while, but I remember those days.

Sherry

[davedove]

You'd be suprised what people will come up with when they are forced to do something. If I had to guess where this originated, I'd say some college professor assigned the book for review and some kid with a couple of psych classes under his belt decided to throw in everything he could think of, including the kitchen sink.

Now that I can believe. Especially when you look at it with a satirical bend. If it was a college assignment, I can see the kid getting good marks for his insight!;)

[Iolaus]

Or it's totally tongue-in-cheek, making fun of what passes for education sometimes. I was chuckling as I read it. It's been a while, but I remember those days.

Sherry

Right, that's the other option.