The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss, contains a fictional mystical item called a thneed that can become whatever the owner of said thneed wants. Of course, the Once-ler who invented the thneed tried to convince everyone that a thneed is a need. Watch the wordplay come in and we can see that a thneed is a need but only a fake one. Some people believe they need a thneed but it is only in their imagination.
Moving on to more wordplay in this word: 'thneed' is actually an anagram for 'the end'. This becomes important to the plot of the story as we watch the Once-ler destroy a forest of truffula trees. The lorax tries in vain to warn the Once-ler of the end that is near, but thneeds are inevitable and once greed comes in, the Once-ler cannot stop.
So why bring it up? Why should we dwell on the sad parts of children's books and sorry endings? Merely to share a discovery and compliment the author. Dr. Seuss is definitely an amazing and unmatchable author with stories and rhymes made very enjoyable. Who knows if he meant to make both of these plays on words?
Either way, it is a sad ending indeed, matched in part by a story we find in The Book of Mormon, in the book called Ether. The story of Coriantumr has a similar ring to it, albeit more morbid than cutting down a forest. Coriantumr wanted the whole kingdom, full of millions of people, to rule over for himself. And so he fought, and fought, and fought. He chose the wrong, even when the prophet Ether prophesied of the end. He was cursed to be the last of his nation alive. The end was near, but greed drove Coriantumr to compel his people to a war that only ended when Coriantumr alone lived. Like the Once-ler, he was the only one left. Like the Once-ler he never gave up until the end ruined his temporal happiness.
Let us learn from the greed for power and money by these two examples and never be like them. Always listen to the warnings and remember the only thing that gives you true happiness, which is following the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
