Butter Battle Book Symbolism

Books have been around for many centuries. They can be factual, fiction, science fiction, horror, mystery, romance, children literature; you name it. Reading books may positively impact people and their futures. In 1984, Theodor Seuss Geisel wrote The Butter Battle Book (Harris). This book was all about the current event during that time period. Geisel writes about what happens in the world. The level he writes on is for everyone to understand and learn from. Children and the elderly have the opportunity to comprehend his books. The time the books are written in corresponds to the activity that happened. Theodor Seuss Geisel’s The Butter Battle Book demonstrates his life and utilizes symbolism and imagery in the children’s literature genre.

For example, Yooks and Zooks had a wall in between them, which symbolizes separation. Similarly, Geisel was in a war himself and felt the detachment to civilization. Adding on, the wall gradually grew, symbolizing more separation. The Yooks and Zooks created a kind relationship and the wall was breaking the bond with one another, just like America and the Soviet Union (Goodall). Furthermore, growing and expanding the wall within the Yooks and Zooks symbolizes the start of a war. The higher the wall, the more it represents more war between the Yooks and Zooks. The lower the wall, the less it represents less war. Reducing or destroying the wall within the Yooks and Zooks symbolizes the end of war and destruction (Goodall). When Geisel wrote this book, it was not intended to be humorous; it was intended to be serious because it involves a real life situation that had a big impact to the world that caused death to many people (Dr. Seuss and Hughes). The weapons used in the book (e.g. boomeroo) symbolizes a bomb. These weapons symbolize terror and fear because they are dangerous. Both weapons are severe and cause a lot of destruction (Goodall). The chief of the Yooks symbolizes the President of America during the Cold War, who was Ronald Reagan. The chief of the Yookeroo advantages and privileges the Yooks. Chief Yookeroo forces the countries to ruin their relationship (Goodall). Grandpa

For example, “I think I can communicate with kids because I don’t try to communicate with kids. Ninety percent of the children’s books patronize the child and say there’s a difference between you and me” (Nel). This proves that Geisel mainly writes to teach children. He creates his writing for all to enjoy and learn. Geisel makes a point for adults and children to comprehend. Speaking of, “...children’s reading and children’s thinking are the rock-bottom base upon which this country will rise” (Nel). This sentence conveys that Geisel writes to teach children to think and how to read. He wrote The Butter Battle Book to show his readers the ability of good for war books. Geisel wrote this book for readers to think how the war started. All ages can be able to think about war, “It is literature, and good children’s literature is as worthy of praise as good literature for grown-ups” (Nel). This shows that Geisel writes for adults and children to understand. The children who read his books do not understand the political reality behind his books since they are compared to adult literature (Dr. Seuss and Hughes). Geisel’s writing is not noticed also from the words he uses, which gets little respect. For example, “I meant what I said and I said what I meant.” He wrote books that were interesting to children. Geisel won many awards for his writing and all ages enjoyed it, mainly kids.