Archetypal Analysis: How the Grinch Stole Christmas

The school of criticism that best interprets Dr. Suess’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is an archetypal analysis. The author frequently follows recurring symbols and themes found in numerous types of literature. Using several universal symbols, images, and character types, Dr. Suess has definitely created a poem filled with archetypal images and story patterns. Generally, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” follows the archetypal pattern in which the main character, the Grinch, leaves his home on a quest – specifically, to stop Christmas from coming in Whoville. During this journey, being in itself a popular story line in literature, the Grinch encounters several common archetypes that reflect particular actions or situations that represent human nature. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is an obvious example of “Good versus Evil.” The “Who’s down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot,” (1); a happy, family-oriented town of individuals who had no notion of evil in their minds is distinguished as something “good”. However, “the Grinch hated Christmas”(2) and succeeds in stealing Christmas from the guiltless Who-families, distinguishing himself as “evil.” Additionally, the evil Grinch encounters Little Cindy-Lou Who, who asks him, “’Santy Claus, why,/Why are you taking our Christmas tree?” (74, 75) Her innocence reflects yet another archetypal character. She may also be considered a hero, as she predominantly exhibits goodness and struggles against evil. Furthermore, the Grinch is most definitely the villain in this piece of literature. Not only was “his heart two sizes too small,” (8) he enslaves his own animal and uses an exceptional amount of effort just to ruin Christmas for the Who’s. The archetypal symbol of his shadow, the darker side of his unconscious self and less pleasing side of his personality is