Christmas Poem 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas'

Words: 347
Pages: 2

Hidden beneath the imaginative lines of the classic Christmas poem “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is an oppressive division between social classes that can be described through Marxist criticism. Dr. Suess includes the subjects of discrimination and exploitation for the purpose of challenging the wealthy and the big-box corporations within society. The poem begins with a description of a dominant class called the Whos who live in a wealthy town complete with luxury food, expensive shelter, and an abundance of materialistic items. The Grinch lives “just north of Whoville” (2) in a dingy cave, indicating that he is experiencing economic despair. Because the Grinch is in a lower economic class, the Whos push the Grinch to the outskirts of town