The Lorax

Sandra Florence
BIOL 1120-F16-Taylor
December 2, 2016

(Geisel, 1971)

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1. The Truffula Trees were scarce, valuable natural

resources. What made them valuable and scarce?
The Truffula Trees were valuable because their brightcolored tufts were much softer than silk and they had a
sweet smell of fresh butterfly milk.

2. Why did the Once-ler chop down the first

Truffula Tree?
The Once-ler chopped down his first Truffula Tree so he could use the
soft tuft to knit a Thneed.

3. What benefit did the Thneed have for

consumers?
The threads made from the soft tufts of the
Truffula tree were used to create all manner
of items that consumers use such as; shirts,
sock, gloves, hats, carpets, pillows, sheets,
curtains and covers for bicycle seats.

4. The Lorax did not think anyone would

want to purchase a Thneed. Was he
correct?
The Lorax was not correct. There was a great demand for the items
the Once-lers factory created.

5. What new capital resource did the Once-ler invent? How did
this help his business?
The Once-ler invented a Super-Axe-Hacker which could cut down four
Truffula Trees at one time. This helped him make Thneeds four times
faster.

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6. Who was harmed as more and more Truffula Trees were

chopped down and they became scarcer?
The Brown Bar-ba-loots had to leave because the Truffula Trees
produced shade for them to live under and the Truffula Fruits they ate.
Without enough trees there was not enough food and shelter. The
Swomee-Swans had to leave because of the smoke and smog in the
air. The Humming-fish had to leave because
the water was
polluted.

7.

Was it wise of the

Once-Ler to chop
down all the trees?
It was not wise for the Once-Ler to chop down all
the trees. Without renewing the resource at the foundation of his
business, he worked himself out of business. In addition, his business
enterprise had a negative impact on the environment.

8. In the story, all the trees were chopped down. In the modern
U.S. economy why would this not happen?
Smart business owners understand that you cant destroy the resource
that supplies your business. In addition, the current regulatory
environment would not allow it.

9. What situation or condition would promote the cutting down of

all trees or the overuse of natural resources?
Societal perceived needs could surpass the environments ability to
supply resources. In some cases greed would be an underlying reason
to eliminate or overuse natural resources.

10.
When a good, service, or natural resource becomes more
and more scarce, what happens to the price?
According to the supply and demand principle, when a good, service or
natural resource becomes scarcer the price will rise.

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11.
Compare the Once-lers attitude toward the environment
at the beginning of the story with his attitude at the end.
The Once-ler was consumed with greed and success. This clouded his
ability to appreciate the long term impact. In the end, he was able to
see that although he once thought what everyone needed were more
Thneeds, what they really needed were more Truffula Trees.

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1. Both the Once-ler and the Lorax were passionate about their
goals. Discuss several reasons to explain why the Once-ler
succeeded while the Lorax failed.
Neither the Once-ler nor the Lorax tried to see the issue from each
others perspective. Crazy greed, consumerism and selfishness drove
the Once-lers success. The extrinsic value the Once-ler, his family,
employees and consumers received was a stronger driving force than
the intrinsic value of the environment the Lorax was promoting. The
Once-Ler got bigger and bigger by taking action. When he wanted to
grow faster, he developed tools to do that. When he needed more
help, he acquired it. The Lorax took no action other than to complain.
2. An argument was once made for protecting desert tortoises is
that, desert tortoises are important because people enjoy
seeing them. Explain why this is or is not a valid argument for
the preservation of a species (such as the Swamee-Swans in
the video).
While many people enjoy things for the aesthetic value, many others
are driven by different priorities. For many, they need to understand
how the value of something pertains to them. In addition, the beauty
of something often takes second seat to the economics. The desert
tortoise is considered a bellwether species of the Mojave Desert, which
means that many other species depend on it for survival.
Understanding this value and subject impact is going to be a stronger
driving force for more people than what the tortoise looks like.
3. Can aesthetic appreciation and value be taught? Why or why
not? Is it possible to persuade someone that a mountain vista
or seashore is beautiful if they did not already appreciate it?
Why or why not?
Aesthetic appreciation and value can be taught. I am learning it, but it
has come in an unconventional way. I believe I have always had a
surface appreciation for the beauty of nature, but it hasnt been
something that filled my soul. I look at a lovely view or picture and in
that moment think its beautiful and quickly move on. But my psyche
doesnt go beyond the surface. This last year, I have been taking
classes in geography and the environment. Enhancing my
understanding of nature and all its moving and essential parts has
caused me to look at the world around me differently. I have a far
deeper appreciation for the natural world. In a sense, science has

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been the foundation of a new appreciation and understanding for the

value of nature.

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4. Many countries have laws that prohibit the abuse of animals.

Discuss reasons for these laws to exist. Do these laws
establish that the animals have a moral standing in their own
right?
Animal welfare laws exist to protect the welfare of animals. Its
unfortunate that we have to have laws for this purpose. Basic decency
should prevent the mistreatment of animals. I am probably splitting
hairs, but I believe animal welfare and animal rights are not the same
thing. Animal welfare laws establishes how animals can and should be
treated. According to the National Animal Interest Alliance, animal
welfare includes the following five freedoms: (Strand, 2014)

Freedom from Hunger and Thirst by ready access to fresh water

and a diet to maintain full heath and vigor.
Freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate
environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
Freedom from pain, injury or disease be prevention or rapid
diagnosis and treatment.
Freedom to Express Normal Behavior by providing sufficient
space, proper facilities and company of the animals own kind.
Freedom for Fear and Distress by ensuring conditions and
treatment which avoid mental suffering.

Animal rights pertains to an animals moral standing in society. A court

case in New York is attempting to move closer to defining their moral
standing by declaring two chimpanzees persons under the law. I
think this is a slippery slope for society. I personally believe in a middle
ground depicted by the following graphic:

(Mathiesen,
2016)

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5. Identify one environmental issue that you believe to be

overblown and overstated in the threat that it will ultimately
pose. Discuss the actual threat and how it differs from the
public perception of the threat.
Global warming can be a divisive political issue. There are times, when
things get thrown into the global warming bucket that may or may not
be attributed solely to global warming. This makes it harder for the
global warming movement to seem completely legitimate. When there
are multiple reasons or possibilities for a situation, it should be
reported as such.
The media has reported that the sinking of five islands in the Pacific
Ocean is due to climate change. But, according to Dr. Simon Albert,
this largely misinterprets the science. (Mathiesen, 2016) A report
tracking the shapeshifting of 33 reef islands in the Solomon Islands
between 1947 and 2014 found that five had been washed away
completely and six more had been severely eroded. The participants of
the study conclude that the loss is a combination of sea-level rise and
high wave energy. Dr. Albert points out, the ocean has been rising in
the Solomon Islands at 7mm per year, more than double the global
average. Since the 1990s trade winds in the Pacific have been
particularly intense. This has been driven partly by global warming
and partly by climatic cycles in particular the Pacific Decadal
Oscillation. (Mathiesen, 2016) My understanding of this issue is that
there are natural causes for sea rise as well as atmospheric warming.
By declaring the demise of the islands purely as a product of global
warming, the threat of global warming is overstated.
6. The Lorax says that the Once-ler is greedy. Greed is defined as
a selfish desire for food, money, or possessions over and above
what one needs. What are some of the ways that the Once-ler
proved his greed? He says, "I biggered my money which every
needs." Is it true that everyone needs money? How much
money do people need? Is it right to make a ton of money
while destroying the environment?
The Once-Ler proved his greed when the consequences of his actions
were pointed out and despite some initial empathy, he chose to move
forward with his enterprise. Not only did he move forward, he enlisted
more help and developed tools to produce more and more product and
consequently wealth. His attitude was that business is business
regardless of who it hurts.

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In our modern society, everyone needs money or a way to barter for

what they need. Need however is relative and is an individual choice
in a free society. I recently had a business meeting at John Howie, in
Bellevue, WA. I was terribly uncomfortable at the price we paid for
food. The restaurant was surrounded by high end retail stores. I was
shocked at the price tags for apparel and accessories. In one store, the
price for a purse was equivalent to the price of a new car. I wondered
to myself, how one could justify spending so much when there are so
many in the world who have so little. However, I dont believe in
socialism. Just like the products produced by the Once-Ler, if there is
a market for these things, they will continue to be produced and sold.
In a capitalist society, there are people that are going to make a lot of
money. However, they shouldnt have the right to do so, while hurting
others by destroying the environment.

7. What did the once-ler mean by "UN-LESS"? What responsibility

does he seem to think "someone like you" needs to take? What

kinds of things can we do today to ensure that natural
resources will be available for purposes in the future?
UN-LESS is a warning and a call for change. I think we all have a
responsibility in our own actions as well as using our voice for those things
that dont have their own voice. Its interesting that the Once-ler gives the
Truffula Tree seed to the boy to plant and hopefully begin to regenerate the
Truffula forest. Yet, he wasnt willing to come down from his miserable life in
the tree to plant it himself and repair the damage he created. Its as if he
believes that others have more of a responsibility than he does. This is not so
different from society today. Many look to others to take action while doing
very little themselves.
I can personally, re-use and re-cycle. I can protect the air by using Latex
paint versus oil based paints that release hydrocarbon fumes. I can properly
maintain my car so it emits fewer pollutants. I can conserve energy by
turning off or unplugging the things use power. I can conserve water and use
rechargeable batteries. I can use my purchasing power at companies that
support green practices.

8. The Once-ler explains his actions by saying, "If I didn't do it,

someone else would." Is this a good excuse for doing what he
did?

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Its not a good excuse, but he is probably right. If he didnt use the
Truffula trees someone else would have. The difference however, may
have been that someone else may have understood how important
replenishing the resource would be.

9. The Lorax says he speaks for the trees. What does this mean
to you? What is the Lorax's attitude at the end of the story?

The Lorax was speaking for the trees, because they dont have a voice.
At the end of the story, the Lorax lashes out because his dander was
up. He calls the Once-ler a dirty old Once-Ler. Shortly after, the last
Truffula Tree falls and the Lorax leaves sad and defeated through a hole
in the smog. However, he leaves behind the word unless on a pile of
rocks. At first the Once-Ler doesnt understand what it meant, but as
time passed, he began to realize the meaning Unless someone like
you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.

The Lorax cared an awful lot, but that caring didnt translate into
action. Long before the last Truffula Tree fell, the Lorax could have
been planting new seeds and organizing others to assist in either
preventing the use of the trees or renewing the resource.

Works Cited
Geisel, T. S. (aka Dr. Seuss) 1971). The Lorax. New York: Random House.
Mathiesen, K. (2016, May 10). Headlines 'exaggerated' climate link to sinking of
Pacific Islands. Retrieved from The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/10/headlinesexaggerated-climate-link-to-sinking-of-pacific-islands
Simon Albert, J. X. (2016). Interactions betweem sea-level rise and wave exposure
on reef island dynamics in the Soloman Islands. Environmental Research
Letters, 10.

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Strand, P. (2014, June 10). What is animal welfare and why is it important? Retrieved
from National Animal Interst Alliance:
http://www.naiaonline.org/articles/article/what-is-animal-welfare-and-why-isit-important#sthash.uu9gsLWJ.dpbs