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Archetypes In How The Grinch Stole Christmas

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Within literature, there are a multitude of archetypes which appear in varied bodies of work; Archetypes are recurring symbols, attitudes, plot lines, or characters that appear within reading material. Upon examination, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss is one fine example of a body of literature that contains archetypes. One of the most evident archetypes is the Villain character who is, in this case, the Grinch. The Grinch detests Christmas and the people who enjoy; as a result, he devises to steal Christmas and ruin the day for all the whos’ in Whoville. This malevolence and desire to harm cast the Grinch as a very typical villain. In addition to being an archetypal villain, the Grinch is also fits the description of the typical literary outcast as he lives high …show more content…

As is customary, this occurs at the end when the Grinch renounces his evil ways, returns all the supplies to the Whos’, and partakes in their Christmas celebrations. This story line spans many different story types but is found in examples such as Harry Potter, (not the Grimms’ brothers) Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, and Rapunzel. Lastly there are a few symbolic archetypes, the most important being the symbol of light. When the Grinch decides to return all the presents, the morning is described as being “bright and light”, which symbolizes hope and renewal. The symbol of light is featured in many other literary works such as “The Great Gatsby” (the green light, Jay’s infinite hope), Frankenstein (the discovery of new sciences, the creation of a being), and Macbeth (Malcolm the heir being the last hope to save Scotland from tyranny). To conclude, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is abundant in archetypes that not only enhance the plot but help to make its’ message more comprehensible (through comparison of other books and life situations by the

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