The Lorax Adaptation Analysis Matt Villarreal

“The Lorax” the book 1971 by Dr. Seuss

• No background story is involved with the point of the story
• Main articulation of the story is environmental protection, and not over using our natural resources
• A young white male boy is used to play the character of the Once-ler
• Begins creating a product to sell for profit by using Truffula trees as its main source
• Causes a huge destruction of the Truffula trees
• Does this without realizing it because of being so caught up in the moment and joy of all the success the Once-ler is reaching
• Brought into a children’s story book to influence young audiences and expose them to a more serious and complicated issue of saving resources, along with the idea that everything depends on one another in the environment, such as animals, weather, plants, ecosystems and even human life, also creating the idea that it takes only one person to drive the process of more success in both the negative and positive aspects
• Truffula trees can represent any resource that we use to a certain extent, trees, oil, gasoline etc.
• There is no other evidence or any story of the young boy that goes to see the Once-ler, as it is mainly just about the experiences with the Once-ler’s story of the last Truffula tree
• The text was released just as the environmental movement started in the 1970’s along with the approach of Earth Day.
• More message appealing, basic concepts of the idea of environmental proctections

“The Lorax” the film 2012 from Dr. Seuss

• This new and interpreted version of the book has now taken a new form on a new generation just after the “International year of the Forests”
• Background story is complex and foundation for the hunt for the Truffula tree is inspired through a girl
• The young boy Ted, lives in a technically advanced setting
• Natural plastic and organic , energy saving materials
• Inspired by a young attractive girl to find the Truffula tree for her to have.
• Goes outside of town to the wastelands where he then finds the Once-ler
• Once-ler tells him the story of his past with the environment
• The movie brings in another character that tries to stop the production of Truffula trees, which is Mr. O’hare, tries to convince the city that they are better off without the trees
• Ted knocks down a part of the wall and then reveals what the town has been blinded to this whole time, a dump
• After this realization the city begins to turn around and starts growing Truffula trees
• More visually and aesthetically created for viewers in modern age, creates more than just the environmental message, but also conveys love and caring-ness through different relationships the characters have established throughout the movie
• Cute visually appealing characters to make young children attached, along with a background story to draw a bigger scope around the age level of the viewers
• Adults and teenagers are more likely to watch and pay attention to something that has more of a story (love/relationships) instead of just the message of the movie

Theses/Argument from “The Lorax”

I believe that this story can be taken into a different interpretation, I think not only does it convey the idea of saving the environment but also takes on the prevention of suicide. Suicide rates began to increase in the late 2010’s shortly before this movie was released

Depression and Suicide cured by emotional relationships and reaching out

Once-ler- victim of depression

Truffula trees- emotions and feelings of the Once-ler

Ted- savoir/the one to reach out to help victim idea of compassion and love

Success/money- covering up emotions and putting on a front (slowly being eaten away)

Once-ler in a dark and secluded place struggled by his problem with depression as he was once happy full of life on the outside (truffula trees, animals, people, friends) making tons of money  and a great deal of success through the process of slowly cutting and using natural resources (cover up for hiding emotions). O’hare stands as the bully, telling and hiding the real problems of the Once-ler for his own profit and success, not caring about feelings. The Once-ler then began to feel worse about himself through self-abuse and ending relationships (cutting down truffula tress, animal life leaving, friends no longer existent), then on the last verge Ted comes through and begins to listen to the story of the Once-ler (companion, the reach out). Eventually Ted comes through and convinces the town despite what O’hare says that we need these truffula trees. The ending of knocking the wall down symbolizes exposing ones problems to the world, and the town then begins to get involved once they see the tragedy and begin to plant and grow more truffula trees.