Green Eggs And Ham Analysis

Same Ol’ Same Ol’ Versus the New
Traditions and change can go hand-in-hand. Tradition is the passing down of elements of a culture from generation to generation.4 Many may think it is better to carry on traditions, while others may believe the opposite. Change is making a radical difference. Both change and traditions can make a huge impact on one’s life. The question is, is it better to stick with traditions or to change them?
In the short story, Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, an unnamed character is constantly pressured by the second character named, Sam-I-Am, to try and taste green eggs and ham. The unnamed character continuously refuses to eat and try the food that appears to be new to him. He would rather stick with his normal traditions.

The anonymous character stated, “I would not, could not, in a box. I could not, would not, with a fox. I will not eat them with a mouse. I will not eat them in a house. I will not eat them here or there. I will not eat them anywhere. I do not eat green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-am.” The character made it very clear to Sam-I-Am that he did not want to try the food. The unnamed character in the book is similar to many people in the film, Powaqqatsi, directed by Geoffery Reggio because they both kept their traditions. One main theme in the film is traditions; many traditions within religions were shown in the film. An example of a religious tradition shown in the film was a little boy walking in the ocean naked. Walking in the ocean naked is a religious tradition that represents the cleansing of one’s self or becoming a new being; many religions utilize this tradition. Another example was men who abruptly stopped in the street to layout a blanket to pray. Prayer is a main tradition in all religions in the world, such as Christianity. Both the unnamed character in Green Eggs and Ham and the religious people in Powaqqatsi, stuck with their traditions no matter what had occurred around them. The film and the short story expressed how traditions are wonderful things.
At the end of Green Eggs and Ham, after Sam-I-Am kept asking the unnamed character to try green eggs and ham, he finally gave in and tried it.

The unnamed character said, “Sam! If you will let me be, I will try them. You will see. Say! I like green eggs and ham! I do! I like them, Sam-I-am!” He realized that he enjoy eating green eggs and ham. In a sense, Sam-I-Am was the West trying to force changes on the East (the unnamed character). Bringing changes from the West to the East can be known as industrialization. Industrialization is another main theme in Powaqqatsi. In Powaqqatsi, industrialization took place and new technology was formed. Industrialization is the process in which a society or country (or world) transforms itself from a primarily agricultural society into one based on the manufacturing of goods and services.1 Tall business buildings and factories were built and a train was increasingly moving, which indicated how industrialization began to occur. Radio stations and commercials were created, which referred to new technology, which made the traditions slowly disappear. New things and technology were constantly being created, which made the traditions slowly fade away. In Powaqqatsi and Green Eggs and Ham, people were introduced to new things and their traditions were highly

affected.
Even though the main character in Green and Eggs and Ham tried the new food he was introduced to, but that does not mean he stuck with that change.

The book did not indicate if the unnamed character continued to eat the food. The story ended with the character saying, “I do so like green eggs and ham! Thank you! Thank you, Sam-I-am!” The book does not clearly states that Sam-I-am convinced the unnamed character to never go back to his traditions. The unnamed character could have reverted to the new change he was introduced to. He could have also tried the change one time, but later reverted back to his own tradition. Reverting or non-reverting to proposed changes also occurred in Powaqqatsi. After the industrialization occurred, many people kept their traditions alive. Religious rituals/traditions, such as walking in the ocean naked and praying on a blanket continually took place. Although some people kept their traditions, other people’s traditions faded away and they adapted to the new changes which had occurred. One scene showed a group of people running in the same, all white, clothing while an old woman was walking in front of the group of people, wearing old, traditional clothes, while balancing a bag upon her head. That scene expressed how the new industrialized world was a mixture of new, but also old traditions. Not all changes were affected on all people in Powaqqatsi. In Green Eggs and Ham and Powaqqatsi, people were introduced to new things and the world changed

around them, but some people stuck with the same ol’ same ol’, while others reverted to the new world.
Comparing Powaqqatsi and Green Eggs and Ham to each other is a juxtaposition, though they are alike in many ways. Both pieces of literature dealt with tradition and change. At the beginning of both, traditions were stationary and nothing seemed to changed. As the stories moved along, a few changes were made and may have been kept for a while. Although at the end, the film and the book, showed people (or a person) reverting from a normal tradition, but that doesn’t mean that everyone stuck with the changes. Some people could have reverted back to their old traditions. The ending of both pieces of literature does not clearly state or show if the traditions were continued or if they were ended. The endings were not completely clear, but, in conclusion, sticking with the traditions are better because change is not right for everyone involved with the change.