In The Butter Battle Book, author and illustrator, Dr. Seuss, uses his unique drawing style to help tell his tail. His illustrations throughout the book add an extra level and depth to the story that his words and clever rhymes do not. First depicted on page 2 and then all throughout the book, is the towering stone wall that divides the two very similar towns of the Yooks and the Zooks, which have very differing opinions. This long winding wall is used to mimic to Berlin wall. On page 5 and then again on page 7 propaganda posters are hung. The first is hung in the home of a Zooks, which are recognized by their orange jumpsuits, as opposed to the blue-wearing Yooks. It reads “Butter Side Down!” promoting the way in which Zooks butter their bread, unlike the Yooks who butter their bread side up. The poster on page 7 reads “Yooks are Not Zooks. Keep Your Butter Side Up!” and is hung on the Yook side of the wall. It’s written in large bold black text above an outstretched blue (Yook) hand holding a piece of bread buttered side up. As the story progresses and the protagonist (Grandfather and the Yooks) and the antagonist (VanItch and the Zooks) engage in a heated arms race. Each one trying to outdo the other in weaponry and power (shown through military rank and uniform). The idea of an arms race, like that of the Cold War, relates directly to the central theme of the book. In the end of the book both Grandfather and VanItch stand atop the wall that divides both their people, each holding a Big-Boy Boomeroo, a small device similar to an atomic bomb. Each are threatening to drop it (seen below), but the books concludes as a mystery to whomever drops it first. “‘Grandpa!’ I shouted. ‘Be careful! Oh, gee! Who’s going to drop it? Will you...? Or will he...?’ ‘Be patient,’ said Grandpa. ‘We’ll see. We will see...’” The book concludes with a steadfast, both sides too stubborn to give up. The reader has no inclination to who will drop the bomb or even if a bomb will be dropped. This suspense is pertinent to the message of the book, which is to highlight the outrageous and silliness of the story’s conflict.
(Yooks and Zooks at a steadfast at the conclusion of the book.)
The Butter Battle Book, written in 1984, is a direct response to the Cold War, especially to the Cuban Missile Crisis. Through his illustrations and rhymes Seuss expresses how he believes these events are stupid and foolish. He even mocks propaganda and the ridiculous level that stubbornness can go to. Seuss uses which side bread should be buttered on as a representative of the real life conflict between Communism and Democracy. This is done to show the triviality and stupidity of their differences and disagreements. The arms race ending in nuclear weapons mirrors the Cuban Missile Crisis. The book ends with the two opposing sides come to a steadfast, neither side dropping their “atomic bomb”, but threatening to, which is exactly what happened in the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Dr. Seuss shows a different side of persistence and dedication in the Butter Battle Book. It is a more negative one than in The Tennis Court Oath. Here, persistence and dedication represent a more stubborn foolish type, which in turn has the possibility of leading towards extreme violence and massive destruction. Dr. Seuss tries to show just how dangerous persistence and dedication can become when they are dragged out to extreme levels and there is no sort of compromise. When the only thing that matters is the goal and nothing else, no matter what the cost, persistence and dedication turn from noble and quality characteristics, to deadly weapons, capable of destruction a “Big-Boy Boomeroo” or atomic bomb is.
Seuss, Dr. The Butter Battle Book. New York: Random House, 1984. Print.
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