Comparing The Nightmare Before Christmas And How The Grinch Stole Christmas

When people are asked to name some of the classic Christmas movies, they are quick to say movies such as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (1964), Frosty the Snowman (1969), and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), but they forget to mention the dismal, chilling The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). But why is that, doesn’t Tim Burton still show the joy that Christmas brings, but in a slightly new perspective? Aren’t The Nightmare Before Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas quite similar depictions of how some may deal with the “Christmas blues”? The Nightmare Before Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas both originated as poems with rhythms similar to most Christmas poems. Tim Burton and Dr. Seuss both portray the cliché themes

In The Nightmare Before Christmas, Sally, a ragdoll made in a lab by Dr. Finklestien, constantly warms Jack of the danger he will put himself and everyone else in if he takes something that doesn’t belong to him. As noted by Alan Bond in his “Skeletons, Rag Dolls, and Ambiguous Swamp Creatures: Gender In Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas,” Sally “ is the only person in all of Halloweentown to not get caught up in the excitement of Christmas, and as such she works alone to stop Jack and fix the situation,” (Bond 3). Sally shares a similar role with the female protagonist in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. In Ron Howard’s take of the old story, Cindy Lou Who goes beyond all to show that the Grinch is not a malicious being who is solely evil. In contrast to Sally, Cindy Lou tries to amplify the Grinch’s role in Christmas celebration by nominating him as Cheermeister to lead the Christmas Whobilation (How the Grinch Stole Christmas). Even though both female characters try to steer the main character back on the right path, there are some differences regarding the interests and characteristics of Sally and Cindy Lou. Sally is in love with Jack, unlike Cindy Lou who just wants to show the Grinch that he is still a decent person. Sally and Cindy Lou are connected by their deep admiration for Jack and the Grinch. Another

Each lesson learned by the characters contains many sub-morals that all underlie one: the lesson of acceptance. The overall similarity in this case revolves around what the revelation came to each character. In the end both Jack and the Grinch realize that they accept the circumstances they are in and come to terms with liking themselves for who they are. Instead of Jack becoming the ruler of a different holiday, he is completely content with being the Pumpkin King. For the Grinch, he comes to terms with the fact that Christmas is a time for coming together with people that love you. Not only does he realize this but he also learns that he is a good person with a huge