The Quadrangle

Issue date: 3/30/05 Section: The Triangle

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss is a book that most children grow up reading. It is supposed to give the message to children to try new things, for they might like it. But is that really what the story is about? Is it not about a stalker who will not leave another person alone? Is it not telling children to give in to peer pressure?

There are two main characters in this book. There is Sam, or Sam I am and the other creature who has no name. The audience is never told of the two character's relationship before the book begins. The two could be friends, enemies or complete strangers, no one knows.

First, let us assume the two characters are friends. Sam wants the creature to try some eggs and ham that are green. The creature does not want to try them. Instead of respecting his friend's choice, like many other people would do, Sam continually badgers the creature. Sam follows him around asking him to try the strange food in different locations with strange, possibly dangerous animals. How many people would want to sit in a box with a wild fox eating moldy eggs and ham? So are we telling our children that going near wild animals is a safe thing to do?

When Sam finally gets his way, the creature likes the food. So this book is proof that peer pressure works. Let us substitute something else in for the green eggs and ham, for example, crack. Even though the child continually says he/she does not want to try drugs, eventually because of taunting by his/her friends, the child tries it and likes it. Now the child is hooked on drugs. From here who knows what else the child will do?

Now let us assume the two are not friends, but complete strangers. Now, the creature is talking to strangers, something children are told from a very young age not to do. After speaking to the stranger, Sam, he is then followed around by Sam and told to try the green eggs and ham. The creature leaves to get away from Sam, but Sam follows him. If this happened to a child, this could be a very scary event. A stranger follows a child around trying to get him/her to eat the green eggs and ham. No one knows what is in the concoction. For all anyone knows Sam could be a kidnapper, attempting to get the creature to eat the drugged food in order to easily kidnap him. If Sam is not trying to kidnap him, he is doing a wonderful job harassing a perfect stranger. So what message is this sending children? If a person starts to harass you, give in to them in order to make them stop. Another possibility is telling children that it is ok to follow people they do not know and bother them to no end. Are these the messages that children should be getting from their books?

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