Analysis Of Where The Wild Things Are Essay - 1494 Words | Bartleby

Where the Wild Things Are, a children’s book written by Maurice Sendak, is not only directed to young children, but has an underlying message that is intended for older generations to receive. This message, only used to enhance the meaning of the story, describes the addiction for one to have power and be in control. As the story goes on, the realization sets in that maybe the desire for power is not the best, at all times. The use of oppression becomes evident in this story, through Max, the main character, as he strives to control everything around him. Maurice Sendak uses repetition and parallelism in the imagery and text of Where the Wild Things Are to show Max’s progression to assume power and eventually discard it. In the very …show more content…

As Max begins to lose control of his behavior and imagination, these white frames become smaller and smaller. Once Max’s imagination has taken him to Where the Wild Things Are, the white borders are completely gone and Max’s room has made a full transformation. Max has finally left reality, in search of a land to rule and call his own. As the story goes on, Max continues to exercise power through his imagination. He has completely left the realm of reality in search of a place to control. Once Max’s room first changes, due to his imagination, his own personal boat arrives to take him away. The rest of his room becomes a wild jungle, where the wild things live. These large creatures, known as the wild things, inhabit Max’s room and soon become the perfect subjects for Max to take control of. First, Max has little interaction with the wild things, but soon, he takes full control. Max yells at the wild things, ordering them to do what he pleases. This shows that Max is displacing the anger he feels at his mother for yelling at him, onto the wild things. Max then begins “the wild rumpus,” an act in which all of the wild things and Max partake in. All of the creatures and Max are simply playing around in an unmannered form, causing trouble. This trouble continues due to the lack of adult guidance and the abundance of free imagination. While the rumpus is taking place, again the illustrations change to fit the scenes. Since Max has become the leader, and