Dr. Seuss once said, “Be who yo=u are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” His words can be understood as a universal theme about identity. By looking at an author, interpreting their work, and examining other examples that share the same ideas, a universal theme can be identified and understood. Dr. Seuss is credited with saying these words. Theodore Seuss Geisel was born on March 2, 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts, to parents Theodore Robert Geisel and Henrietta Seuss Geisel. He worked with his father as a master brewer until 1920 when they were forced to shut down their business because of Prohibition. His father began working for the Springfield Zoo, where Theodore spent a lot
…show more content…
Seuss’ words are reflected in other books, movies, and songs. The Giver by Lois Lowry is a young-adult novel that explores the theme of self-awareness. In the book, Jonas is assigned the job of Receiver of Memory for his community in which conformity is valued above everything else. Through his journey in self-awareness, Jonas ultimately leaves his community. This theme is also seen in movies. Stand by Me, a film based on the novella “The Body” by Stephen King, also explores this theme. In the movie, a group of four friends set out on a journey one hot summer day to find the body of Ray Brower, who has been missing and has apparently been run over by a train. Gordie LaChance and his friends Chris Chambers, Vern Tessio, and Teddy Duchamp all must confront their own issues to discover their own personal truths. “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten is a song that also promotes self-awareness and identity. This is shown in the lyrics of the chorus: “Starting right now I'll be strong (I'll be strong) / I'll play my fight song / And I don't really care if nobody else believes / 'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me” (Platten). Like the boys in Stand by Me, the singer must overcome a personal struggle to realize who she really is. The theme of self-awareness or identity is revealed in many different
Seuss’ words are reflected in other books, movies, and songs. The Giver by Lois Lowry is a young-adult novel that explores the theme of self-awareness. In the book, Jonas is assigned the job of Receiver of Memory for his community in which conformity is valued above everything else. Through his journey in self-awareness, Jonas ultimately leaves his community. This theme is also seen in movies. Stand by Me, a film based on the novella “The Body” by Stephen King, also explores this theme. In the movie, a group of four friends set out on a journey one hot summer day to find the body of Ray Brower, who has been missing and has apparently been run over by a train. Gordie LaChance and his friends Chris Chambers, Vern Tessio, and Teddy Duchamp all must confront their own issues to discover their own personal truths. “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten is a song that also promotes self-awareness and identity. This is shown in the lyrics of the chorus: “Starting right now I'll be strong (I'll be strong) / I'll play my fight song / And I don't really care if nobody else believes / 'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me” (Platten). Like the boys in Stand by Me, the singer must overcome a personal struggle to realize who she really is. The theme of self-awareness or identity is revealed in many different