Yertle, the Turtle
The title character of the title story is one of the most famous Dr. Seuss characters and almost beyond question he is the darkest. Symbolism, metaphor and allegory can be applied liberally to the overwhelming bulk of the stories of Dr. Seuss, but when it comes to the tale of the turtle, it no longer becomes merely a question of interpretation. Yertle is irrefutably, unquestionably, and beyond all question a metaphor for fascist authoritarian ambition. Symbolically, he is Hitler on a half-shell, but his abrasive personality, narcissism, materialism, lack of self-esteem and ruthless cold-heartedness can be applied metaphorically to all leaders with a fascist bent.
The Gaze of the Worm
“The Big Brag” features the anti-Yertle. He is a small worm who will never be able to exercise fascist authority even if he so desired. He is overlooked and unde-rappreciated. He also possesses truly hypnotic eyes which created the opportunity for some of the most memorable illustrations of any one specific character in a Seuss work. That illustrated gaze sets the stage for a comparison through simile:
“And the little old worm cocked his head to one side
And he opened his eyes and he opened them wide.
And they looked far away with a strange sort of stare.
As if they were burning two holes in the air.”
The Feathers
“Gertrude McFuzz” reaches a boiling point after the title character eats three dozen berries. That’s when the feather’s start popping out with a zing and a zang:
“They blossomed like flowers that bloom in the spring.
All fit for a queen. What a sight to behold!
They sparkled like diamonds and gumdrops and gold!
Like silk! Like spaghetti! Like satin! Like lace!”
Mack’s Burp
Yertle seems to have it all. And for a turtle, he has really overshot expectations. He perches on this throne high above everything that can be seen. Except for one object which shines brightly above, even higher than he. It is the moon and in his madness, Yertle plans to put his authority to the ultimate test by forcing the turtles to build his throne all the way to the sky. But down at the bottom of the stack of turtles is little Mack and it is Mack’s lone, singular little burp that topples the whole empire which Yertle built for himself. The burp is a powerful metaphor for all the smallest acts of revolution which have eventually brought down seemingly all-powerful despots.
The Pill-Berry
The story of “Gertrude McFuzz” is about burning envy of the type that moves one to seek out impossible shortcuts to success. Gertrude has just one feather for a tail and envies the more robustly feathered Lolla-Lee-Lou. In desperation she follows the reluctant advice given by her uncle to eat pill-berries from the vine as a way of growing more feathers. The pill-berries thus become a metaphor for every shortcut to success which backfires, from plastic surgery to unapproved, off-label medication to treat brand new strains of viruses.
