Are You Having Yuletide Doubts?

What is the Meaning of Christmas: How the Grinch Stole Christmas Ideologically

P.H R.

         Most everyone knows the classic Dr. Seuss tale involving a young Who girl and a petulant Grinch. The film released in 2000, starring Jim Carey as the somehow loveable green grouch, follows the childhood of the fabled character explaining how he became the infamous Grinch and how Cindy Lou brought him to love Christmas. Now, Christmas is about family, clearly.  After all, little Cindy Lou preaches that through the whole film leading her father to a speech directed at the whole town of Whoville at the end. Just like the children’s book the How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie is based off of, and all other Dr. Seuss stories, there is an overarching theme, but when you view the film starring Jim Carey, there are many themes that would not necessarily be picked up on otherwise. But, the main focus will be on the idea that family, and people in general, are most important, and how this and other subjects place it left of center when viewing the ideology of film, as well as making the target audience children accompanied by their parents.

           Three scenes pop out specifically supporting these ideas, the first being at the very beginning when Cindy Lou is shopping with her father.  She asks if all of the gifts she is forced to carry are necessary and her father says, “This is what Christmas is all about.” She is torn, wishing that had not been the answer.  The film presents this subject perfectly true.  Nearly everyone around the holiday season gets so wrapped up in debt, presents, and superficial things that they overlook the gift of family and love. This in particular draws the motion picture to the left of center, challenging the normalcy and trying to exploit the fault in the whole season.

            Second, when the Grinch is invited to the Whobilation by Cindy Lou, it further emphasizes the major theme by showing how a little girl would risk humiliation and debatably her life to bring joy to someone, and make sure they were not left out. The fact a little girl would notice such a thing and not the adults, not to mention giving the Grinch help to change his life, challenges the idea that you need to wait to do something worth while or impactful. You do not need to grow up or make an elaborate plan, just do, because even the smallest gestures can make a difference, further tugging the film to the left side.

            Third, there is the very end of the film when the Grinch finally has his change of heart.  As the Who’s down in Whoville began to sing, waking up with no presents or belongings, spreading the joy of Christmas, the Grinch releases “Maybe Christmas does not come from a store. Maybe Christmas means a little bit more.” Finally, everyone in Whoville and the Grinch up on Mount Crumpit, can see what Cindy Lou saw all along which shows it is never too late to change and become something better, and it can start simply with kindness, giving the last shove to the left of center.

            With this kind of repetition and blatant stating of the overarching theme, it would easily reach the target audience of young children and their parents.  There are even a few Easter eggs only parents would catch making it interesting for both. On top of all that it has become a classic holiday film that will continuously remind everyone each year that every individual deserves joy and love, because the people are what make the place.