Lisette Palacio
Professor Christ
SOCIOL 320
28, Feburary 21
The Grinch Applied Analysis
The lead character was depicted in this film as the center of deviant actions. However,
sociologists claim that it is the way we negatively judge the subject, the word deviant that many
see as something bad. To further elaborate, sociologists would say we should accept that all of us
have broken some kind of rule in one way or another from time to time. It is even so that an
individual can simply appear different and be pointed to as deviant in a specific manner. This
depicts the lead character, the Grinch, as deviant because of his physical characteristics, he is
assumed to be a beast. There are two other characters, Max, his puppy, and Cindy Lou, that
appear to have an influence on the Grinch’s actions.
It is seen at the beginning of the film that the Grinch, in fact, eats garbage and starts to
smear it all over himself. It is later understood that Whoville’s trash is being sent to his lair. He
sees all the presents from previous Christmases in his trash and is irritated by how people view
the holiday. When he learns about all the fun that is going on in town, he tries to mask himself by
smashing the cars and swapping gifts from the former owners to create mischief in the town.
Un-sympathetic to the lead character, the Grinch, this action is depicted regardless of the crime
and the way he depicts himself. According to our class lecture Durkiem states “No society is
absent from crime and deviant behavior”. The Grinch, in sociology terms, had a stigma or
blemish, in school he was teased of his furry green body that did not correspond with the others
in Whoville. When the Grinch decides to leave Whoville he curses the day and the gift-giving
because his classmates called it garbage and judged the way he looked. The structure around him
caused him to feel much hate about himself and those in whoville causing him to act in deviant
manners.
When Cindy Lou spoke the word Grinch, everyone seemed to stop and address her
actions immediately sharing to never speak of the grinch. Cindy Lou speaks out against the
norms of the town she wants to invite the Grinch over to the celebration and to accept the award
of the cheer minster. When Cindy Lou arrives at the lair and lets the Grinch see the invitation
and what he would be awarded as she leaves the Grinch explains he’s far too busy naming off all
the things he had to do. Further in the movie the Grinch accepts the award from the mayor.
Maywho is another deviant character for we found out he was the main teaser and as a gift for
