A lot of people only look forward to Christmas because of the fact that they get presents during this time of year. This is a very shallow mindset. Christmas shouldn’t be about presents. It should be about togetherness and community, and making memories with the ones you love. By stealing all of the Who’s presents, the Grinch isn’t actually stealing Christmas. However, the movie depicts the absence of the presents as being the reason Christmas is ruined. But isn’t Christmas supposed to be about the love and the cheer between those you celebrate with, not the superficial items? The Grinch’s hate for Christmas, in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is a valid reasoning on how truly hollow the Who’s were about Christmas.

The Grinch’s actions actually represent a deeper meaning behind why people celebrate Christmas. It shows how modern day Christmas is more about materialism instead of the emotional. I feel like the Grinch believes that Christmas should be more about love and quality time instead of presents. By taking everyone’s presents, he shows them how much they rely on the presents in order to celebrate Christmas. The Who’s reaction shows that they have actually forgotten about the real meaning of Christmas. It is very obvious that the Who’s are devastated by the fact that their presents have been stolen, which just exposes how empty their aspect of the holiday is. Therefore, the Grinch’s anger over the shallow concept of Christmas is way more than just a personal judgement, but it is actually valid criticism of the Who’s and how they choose to celebrate the holiday. 

Another factor to consider when questioning the grinch’s motives is his background and childhood. He was never around people like him, but instead was taken in by two Who’s who did not know how to properly care for him, even though they loved him. He was ridiculed for not naturally fitting into Whoville and even more ridiculed when he made attempts to fit in. Even the only person to not dislike him in his childhood was not willing to actually be his friend in fear of ridicule. The grinch was, from a very early age, ostracized from society. After being ridiculed and socially isolated he developed his sense of bitterness especially towards christmas as he associated it with the joy and cheerful time he was excluded from. His heart being two sizes too small is a representation of the emotional connection and social skills he lacked to develop due to his exclusion. 

Christmas is a time to get together with friends and family, and to be cheerful and grateful for all the good in your life, so now think about how it might feel to not have any reason to be cheerful while everyone around you is having the best time. Imagine all of the people who make your life terrible getting whatever materialistic things they want and taking for granted the only things you so desperately yearn for: the friends, the family, and the acceptance. Consider that if that was you, your heart might also be two sizes too small.