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'@@ -1,104 +1,2 @@ -{{Short description|1971 children's book by Dr. Seuss}} -{{About|the book created by Dr. Seuss|other uses|Lorax (disambiguation)}} -{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2017}} -{{Infobox book -| name = The Lorax -| title_orig = -| translator = -| image = The Lorax.jpg -| caption = -| author = [[Dr. Seuss]] -| cover_artist = -| country = United States -| language = English -| series = 1 -| genre = [[Children's literature]] -| publisher = [[Random House]] -| pub_date = June 18, 1971 (renewed 1999) -| pages = 64 -| isbn = 0-394-82337-0 -| dewey = [E] -| congress = PZ8.3.G276 Lo -| oclc = 183127 -| preceded_by = [[Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?]] -| followed_by = [[Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!]] -| illustrator = Dr. Seuss -}} -'''''The Lorax''''' is a [[children's literature|children's book]] written by [[Dr. Seuss]] and published in 1971.<ref name=SLJPicture2012/> It chronicles the plight of the [[Biophysical environment|environment]] and the Lorax, the main character, who "speaks for the trees" and confronts the Once-ler, a [[business magnate]] who causes environmental destruction.<!-- dummy edit; can be deleted. --> - -The story is commonly recognized as a [[fable]] concerning the danger of greed causing human destruction of the natural environment, using the [[literary element]] of [[anthropomorphism|personification]] to create relatable characters for industry (the Once-ler), the environment (the Truffula trees) and [[Environmental movement|environmental activism]] (the Lorax). The story encourages activism and involvement in making the situation better: a quote from the Lorax states, "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not". The Lorax shows Dr Seuss’s views on climate change and pollution, teaching kids about how important it is to do our part to protect our environment or in this case truffula trees. - -It was Dr. Seuss's personal favorite of his books. He was able to create an engaging story addressing [[Industrial Revolution|industrial]]/[[economic]] and [[environmental issues]]. Dr. Seuss stated: "''The Lorax'' came out of me being angry. The ecology books I'd read were dull...In ''The Lorax'' I was out to attack what I think are evil things and let the chips fall where they might".<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lebduska |first1=Lisa |title=Rethinking Human Need: Seuss's The Lorax |journal=Children's Literature Association Quarterly |date=1994 |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=170–176 |id={{Project MUSE|249457}} |doi=10.1353/chq.0.0932|s2cid=143446540 }}</ref> - -==Plot== -A boy living in a polluted area wanders down the Street of the Lifted Lorax and visits a reclusive figure known as the Once-ler. The boy pays the Once-ler fifteen cents,{{Efn|Written as "pence" when published in the UK.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}}} a nail, and the shell of a great-great-great-grandfather snail to hear the story of how the Lorax was lifted away. - -Many years ago, the Once-ler arrived in a beautiful valley teeming with Truffula Trees and a plethora of animals. Having long searched for such a tree as the Truffula, he chopped one down and used its foliage to create a highly versatile garment called a Thneed. A creature known as the Lorax emerged from the tree's stump and voiced his disapproval of the Once-ler's actions. Ignoring the Lorax, the Once-ler sold the Thneed for $3.98 and called upon his relatives to aid him in his new business. - -The Once-ler's shop soon became a large factory, and new vehicles were built to log the Truffula forest and ship out Thneeds. As time passed, the valley was ravaged with pollution, and the Lorax had to send the animals away to find more hospitable habitats. The Once-ler showed no remorse and vowed to continue "biggering" his operations, until one of his machines felled the [[Resource depletion|last Truffula Tree]]. With no more raw materials, the factory closed down, and the Once-ler's relatives deserted him. The Lorax vanished into the sky, leaving behind a pile of rocks bearing the word "UNLESS". From that point on, the Once-ler remained in isolation, pondering the Lorax's message. - -After finishing his story, the Once-ler finally understands what the Lorax meant: ''unless'' somebody cares, the situation will not improve. He gives the boy the last Truffula seed and urges him to cultivate a new forest, hoping that the Lorax and the animals will return. - -==Inspiration== -It is believed that a [[Cupressus macrocarpa|Monterey cypress]] in [[La Jolla, California]] was the inspiration for ''The Lorax''. In June 2019, the tree was reported to have fallen.<ref>Michelle Lou [https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/16/us/lorax-tree-falls-trnd/index.html The tree thought to have inspired Dr. Seuss' 'The Lorax' has fallen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618002354/https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/16/us/lorax-tree-falls-trnd/index.html |date=June 18, 2019 }} June 16, 2019 [[CNN]]</ref> Another likely inspiration was the relationship between the [[patas monkey]] and the [[whistling thorn]] [[acacia]].<ref>Joanna Klein, "Can It Be? ''The Lorax'' Sprang from a Monkey?: A New Essay Explores the Possible Real-life Inspiration for a Dr. Seuss Character", ''[[The New York Times]]'', August 7, 2018, p. D6.</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Klein |first=Joanna |date=July 23, 2018 |title=Who Was the Real Lorax? Seeking the Inspiration for Dr. Seuss |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/23/science/lorax-dr-seuss-environment.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |location=Trilobites |access-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110192352/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/23/science/lorax-dr-seuss-environment.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Is this monkey the inspiration for Dr. Seuss's Lorax? |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/monkey-inspiration-dr-seuss-s-lorax |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=www.science.org |language=en |archive-date=April 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402020653/https://www.science.org/content/article/monkey-inspiration-dr-seuss-s-lorax |url-status=live }}</ref> - -==Reception== -{{external media| float = right| video1 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?311256-4/business-society-the-lorax Panel discussion on "Business and Society in ''The Lorax''", New York Law School, March 1, 2013], [[C-SPAN]]}} -Based on a 2007 online poll, the [[National Education Association]] listed ''The Lorax'' as one of its "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children".<ref name=NEA2007>{{cite web |url= http://www.nea.org/grants/13154.htm/ |title= Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children |author= National Education Association |year= 2007 |access-date= August 22, 2012 |archive-date= July 30, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130730194044/http://www.nea.org/grants/teachers-top-100-books-for-children.html |url-status= dead }}</ref> In 2012 it was ranked number 33 among the "Top 100 Picture Books" in a survey published by ''[[School Library Journal]]'' – the second of five Dr. Seuss books on the list.<ref name=SLJPicture2012>{{cite web |url= http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production/2012/07/06/top-100-picture-books-poll-results |title= Top 100 Picture Books Poll Results |author= Bird, Elizabeth |publisher= A Fuse No. 8 Production. Blog. [[School Library Journal]] (blog.schoollibraryjournal.com) |date= July 6, 2012 |access-date= August 22, 2012 |archive-date= December 4, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121204030956/http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production/2012/07/06/top-100-picture-books-poll-results |url-status= dead}}</ref> - -In a retrospective critique written in the journal inspired by Jerald L, ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'' in 2011 upon the 40th anniversary of the book's publication, [[Emma Marris]] described the Lorax character as a "parody of a misanthropic ecologist". She called the book "gloomy" and expressed skepticism that its message would resonate with small children in the manner intended. Nevertheless, she praised the book as effective in conveying the consequences of ecological destruction in a way that young children will understand.<ref>{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1038/476148a|title = In retrospect: The Lorax|journal = Nature|volume = 476|issue = 7359|pages = 148–149|year = 2011|last1 = Marris|first1 = Emma|bibcode = 2011Natur.476..148M|doi-access = free}}</ref> - -In 2012, Travis Scholl evaluated the book in a positive manner and noted the similarities between the Lorax and Biblical prophets. He attributed the similarities to Geisel's Lutheranism.<ref name="stl2012">{{cite news |url=https://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/civil-religion/happy-birthday-dr-seuss/article_e366a878-64b6-11e1-b91f-001a4bcf6878.html |title=Happy birthday, Dr. Seuss! |last=Scholl |first=Travis |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |location=St. Louis, Missouri |issn= |date=March 2, 2012 |access-date=September 9, 2023 |archive-date=September 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230909040613/https://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/civil-religion/happy-birthday-dr-seuss/article_e366a878-64b6-11e1-b91f-001a4bcf6878.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> - -==Controversy== -In 1988, a school district in California kept the book on a reading list for second-graders, though some in the town claimed the book was unfair to the [[logging]] industry.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080519233035/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,958654,00.html?iid=chix-sphere "California: Chopping Down Dr. Seuss"]. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''. October 2, 1989.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://people.com/archive/a-boy-sides-with-dr-seusss-lorax-and-puts-a-town-at-loggerheads-vol-32-no-17/|title=A Boy Sides with Dr. Seuss's Lorax, and Puts a Town at Loggerheads – Vol. 32 No. 17|date=October 23, 1989|access-date=October 13, 2017|archive-date=October 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014034259/http://people.com/archive/a-boy-sides-with-dr-seusss-lorax-and-puts-a-town-at-loggerheads-vol-32-no-17/|url-status=live}}</ref> - -In the mid-1990s, Terri Birkett, a member of a family-owned hardwood flooring factory, authored ''Truax'', a 20-page booklet illustrated by Orrin Lundren and published by the National Oak Flooring Manufacturers' Association (NOFMA).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/NDow/files/TRUAX1.pdf |title=Truax|first=Terri |last=Birkett|publisher=National Oak Flooring Manufacturers' Association (NOFMA) Environmental Committee|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714145354/http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/NDow/files/TRUAX1.pdf |archive-date=July 14, 2011 }}</ref> ''Truax'' offers a logging-friendly perspective; as with like ''The Lorax'', it consists of a conflict between two people: a logging industry representative who promotes efficiency and re-seeding efforts; and the Guardbark, an [[anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] tree who personifies the [[environmentalist]] movement. In ''Truax,'' the Guardback behaves like the Onceler, refusing to listen and lashing out; but in the end, he is convinced by the logger's arguments. ''Truax'' was criticized for what were viewed as skewed arguments and clear self-interest, particularly a "casual attitude toward endangered species" that answered the Guardbark's concern for them. The book's approach as a more blatant argument instead of one worked into a storyline was also noted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcdf.org/meadows/truax.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020509134328/http://www.pcdf.org/meadows/truax.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 9, 2002|title=The Lorax and the Truax — Hey, Can We Talk?|publisher=The People-Centered Development Forum|access-date=January 18, 2017|first=Donella |last=Meadows|work=The Global Citizen |date=October 15, 1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cc.com/video/5ddxt7/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-green-eggs-sham|title=Green Eggs & Sham? |date=Oct 16, 2001|work=The Daily Show With Jon Stewart|quote=According to Terri Birkett, a popular Dr. Seuss character is being used to teach children to hate the wood products industry.|access-date=July 16, 2017|archive-date=October 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014034257/http://www.cc.com/video-clips/5ddxt7/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-green-eggs---sham-|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first= John J. |last=Madonna|url=http://www.aadl.org/node/9624|title=What's A Truax? Well I'm So Glad You Asked, Let Me Tell You!|date=Jan 4, 2008|publisher=Ann Arbor District Library|access-date=January 18, 2017|archive-date=February 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201131017/http://www.aadl.org/node/9624|url-status=live}}</ref> - -The line, "I hear things are just as [[Lake Erie#Water quality issues and restoration|bad up in Lake Erie]]," was removed more than fourteen years after the story was published after two research associates from the Ohio Sea Grant Program wrote to Seuss about the clean-up of Lake Erie.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Morgan |first1=Judith |title=Dr. Seuss & Mr. Geisel: A Biography |date=1995 |publisher=Random House |isbn=9780679416869 |page=276 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nFZbAAAAMAAJ&q=lake+erie&pg=RA1-PA276 |language=en |access-date=December 4, 2020 |archive-date=October 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018162410/https://books.google.com/books?id=nFZbAAAAMAAJ&q=lake+erie&pg=RA1-PA276 |url-status=live }}</ref> The line remains in the home video releases of the television special, in the audiobook read by [[Rik Mayall]], and in the UK edition published by HarperCollins Children's Books.{{Citation needed|date=May 2019}} - -==Adaptations== -[[File:Climate March 0777 Lorax (34371727026).jpg|thumb|Placard "We speak for the trees", reference to ''The Lorax'', at the [[People's Climate March (2017)]].]] - -===1972 television special=== -{{Main|The Lorax (TV special)}} -The book was adapted as an animated musical television special produced by [[DePatie-Freleng Enterprises]], directed by [[Hawley Pratt]] and starring the voices of [[Eddie Albert]] and [[Bob Holt (actor)|Bob Holt]]. It was first aired by [[CBS]] on February 14, 1972. A reference to pollution of [[Lake Erie]] was spoken by one of the Humming-Fish as they depart; it remains in DVD releases of the show, although later removed from the book. The special also shows the Onceler arguing with himself, and asking the Lorax whether shutting down his factory (thus putting hundreds of people out of work) is practical. An abridged version of the special is used in the 1994 TV movie ''[[In Search of Dr. Seuss]]'', with [[Kathy Najimy]]'s reporter character hearing the Once-ler's story. - -===2012 feature film=== -{{Main|The Lorax (film)}} -[[Universal Pictures]] and [[Illumination (company)|Illumination Entertainment]] released a [[3D film|3D]] [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] film based upon the book. [[The Lorax (film)|The Lorax]] was released on March 2, 2012; the release coincided with the 108th birthday of Seuss, who died at 87 in 1991. The cast includes [[Danny DeVito]] as the Lorax, [[Zac Efron]] as Ted (the boy in the book), and [[Ed Helms]] as the Once-ler. The film includes several new characters: [[Rob Riggle]] as villain Aloysius O'Hare, [[Betty White]] as Ted's Grammy Norma, [[Jenny Slate]] as Ted's neurotic mother Mrs. Wiggins, and [[Taylor Swift]] as Audrey, Ted's romantic interest. The film debuted in the No. 1 spot at the box office, making $70&nbsp;million, though it received mixed reviews. The film eventually grossed a domestic total of $214,030,500.<ref>{{mojo title|lorax|The Lorax}}</ref> [[Danny DeVito]] did his role in five different languages, including the original English audio, and also for the [[Russian language|Russian]], [[German language|German]], [[Italian language|Italian]], Catalan/Valencian, Castillan Spanish and Latin Spanish dub editions, learning his lines phonetically.{{cn|date=March 2024}} - -===Audiobooks=== -Two audio readings have been released on CD, one narrated by [[Ted Danson]] in the United States (Listening Library, {{ISBN|978-0-8072-1873-0}}) and one narrated by [[Rik Mayall]] in the United Kingdom (HarperCollins, {{ISBN|978-0-00-715705-1}}). - -===Musical=== -A musical adaptation of ''The Lorax'' was originally included in the script for the Broadway musical ''[[Seussical]]'', but was cut before the show opened.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Jones|first1=Kenneth|title=Ahrens & Flaherty Double Bill of Musicals Pairs Lorax and Emperor's New Clothes|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/ahrens-flaherty-double-bill-of-musicals-pairs-lorax-and-emperors-new-clothe-141201|magazine=Playbill|access-date=December 26, 2014|date=June 1, 2007|archive-date=December 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226112226/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/ahrens-flaherty-double-bill-of-musicals-pairs-lorax-and-emperors-new-clothe-141201|url-status=live}}</ref> - -From December 2, 2015, to January 16, 2016, a musical version of the book ran at the [[Old Vic]] theatre in London, with former [[Noah and the Whale]] frontman [[Charlie Fink]], who also wrote the music for the production.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oldvictheatre.com/whats-on/2015/dr.-seusss-the-lorax/ |title=Dr. Seuss's the Lorax - the Old Vic |access-date=2015-07-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702104801/http://www.oldvictheatre.com/whats-on/2015/dr.-seusss-the-lorax/ |archive-date=July 2, 2015 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> - -From July 2 to August 12, 2018, the musical ran at the [[Old Globe Theatre]] San Diego, California with Steven Epp as The Once-ler. The role of the hero to be trusted with the last seed, a boy in the original book, was filled by a girl in the musical.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Lorax Musical |url=https://www.theoldglobe.org/pdp/18-summer-season/dr.-seusss-the-lorax/#?startDate=2023-01-01&?endDate=2023-01-31 |website=Old Globe Balboa Park San Diego |publisher=Old Globe |access-date=16 January 2023 |archive-date=January 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116012127/https://www.theoldglobe.org/pdp/18-summer-season/dr.-seusss-the-lorax/#?startDate=2023-01-01&?endDate=2023-01-31 |url-status=live }}</ref> - -== See also == -* [[Deforestation]] -* [[Revegetation]] -* [[Tragedy of the commons]] - -==Notes== -{{notelist}} - -==References== -{{Reflist|30em}} - -{{Dr. Seuss}} -{{The Lorax}} - -{{DEFAULTSORT:Lorax, The}} -[[Category:1971 children's books]] -[[Category:American picture books]] -[[Category:Books about environmentalism]] -[[Category:Books adapted into plays]] -[[Category:Books by Dr. Seuss]] -[[Category:Children's books adapted into films]] -[[Category:Environmental fiction books]] -[[Category:Random House books]] -[[Category:Literary characters introduced in 1971]] +I WILL EAT YOUR TOES!!! + dfjhagfuadlfgladgliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiih sdfugfdshjgyiuyjjjjhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh You should tell your mommy you love her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111gffffffffffdhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj '