Cat In The Hat Hero Quotes

It is human nature we seek a figure who guides, protects and teaches us. Such mentor, immensely influences who we become as people and with luck create a bond that can endure all adversities. Using color variation and character perspective, Cat in the Hat and Alice in Wonderland demonstrate that the mentor-hero relationship influences the quest and ultimately determines the relative aggrandizement of the hero.

Due to Alice’s positive perspective of her mentor, she is able to grow from her journey through Wonderland and ultimately find herself by facing the obstacles she once ran away from. In the beginning of the film, we are presented to a very insecure Alice, “unsure of herself, unsure of her future, unsure of anything in that moment” who

states “I can’t even kill a gnat “(Alice DVD). When she enters Wonderland, her insecurity grows and often claims “you’ve got the wrong Alice” (Alice DVD).

Alice’s shift begins as the hero puts herself in danger in order to save her mentor which unconsciously leads her to finding herself. Due to value she has for the Mad Hatter, she goes to the Red Queen’s castle in order to free him, adventure in which she comes to realize she is braver than she once thought. She gains more confidence after Absolem credits her bravery by saying “but you're much more her now. In fact, you're almost Alice.” (Alice DVD). In her battle against the Jabberwocky, it is by the Mad Hatters words to which Alice has the confidence to face the monster. Her mentor’s words trigger a memory of her father who states how “the only way to achieve the impossible is to believe it is possible”, aiding her to believe her impossible triumph can become a reality. The Mad Hatter’s support establishes their strong bond as even when half of Wonderland questions she is “the right Alice”, he remains confident in the hero, not only strengthening their relationship but a courage she will use even when she returns to London. Her epitome arrives as Alice finally accepts she is the “right Alice” and will begin to make her “own path” (Alice

DVD). As the Mad Hatter not only accepts but encourages Alice, she decides it is time she runs her own life. After her victory against the Jabberwocky, Alice is offered the possibility of staying in Wonderland, which she neglects after stating there are “questions I have to answer, things I have to do”. The knowledge and courage Alice finds in her journey was brought upon her strong relationship with her mentor.
Sally and her brother share a weak connection to their mentor, which results in a failure to grow or gain from their journey. Due to the Cat creating a negative perspective for the children, Sally and her brother neglect any aggrandizement they could have gained from the visit of the Cat. The Cat’s selfish personality prevents him from creating a strong relationship with the children. He often acts without the consent of the family and likes to be the center of attention. The Cat demands such attention to himself by often saying “look at me! Look at me! Look at me now!” (Geisel print). Sally and her brother’s fish also influences their ability to trust the Cat as he constantly asks him to leave, “ no! no! Make the Cat go away!” (Geisel print) . The Cat creates mayhem in the kid’s house, forcing them to grow negative feelings towards their mentor rather than establishing a bond. Sally’s brother states “ I do not like the way they play! If mother would see this, oh what would she say!” after the Cat introduces Thing 1 and 2, increasing the already present tension they have towards their mentor. As the Cat brings disorder, the children begin to worry their mentor will bring them trouble rather than fun. This worry grows to the point the children take action into making their mentor leave, “ Now you do as I say. Pack up those things, and you take them away!” (Geisel print). The mentor in Cat in the Hat brings the kids disorder with his games, creating a sense of despair rather than forming the expected mentor-hero relationship.
Color variation triggers a sense of development by establishing the changes in the characters relationship to their mentor.

“Colors can convey and have an effect on emotions in a very subtle way but also in an uncontrolled or significant manner” (Wells, web), a tool which both Dr. Seuss and Tim Burton seeked in order to capture their audience . Cat in the Hat illustrates a non-variating palate of red, white, black and blue, which alludes to no evolution of Sally and her brother. In the book, red merely highlights important objects to the book rather than creating positive or negative feelings of the characters. “Red is often power or aggression” (Olesen web) or in this case “to call attention” (Morton web) to certain objects, hence the Cat. As the rest of the palate remains constant throughout the entire book, the audience perceives no development. The great variety of colors in Alice in Wonderland helps the reader identify the type of relationship Alice has with the other characters, whether positive or negative. A clear separation between good and evil, or as in this case, red and white, helps the audience gain a sense of security or danger. Tim burton uses red “to evoke an emotional response while creating an atmosphere” (Olesen web).The color variation also present the journey Alice goes through and the ideals changed . The constant use of blue by the end of the film (the ocean, her coat, the blue butterfly) help the reader sense a new atmosphere filled with “peace,

tranquility, stability, confidence, security” ( Rohrer web).
With the aid of character perspective and color variation, the film Alice in Wonderland and Cat in the Hat demonstrate the relationship a hero develops with their mentor determines the lesson the hero is able to obtain at the end of their journey. Whether positive or negative, mentors continue to shape the hero as they form a major source of support or negativity.