No American children’s author has achieved the same amount of recognition as Theodore Seuss Geisel. He has achieved the status of American cultural icon due to his authoring of various children’s books that have become the canon of juvenile literacy. His status is that of a modern Hans Christian Andersen or a Grimm brother. He is a revered writer; however, his book The Seven Lady Godivas is a far stretch from his normal children’s reading.
Seuss is known for whimsical characters, fantastical locations, and convicted morality. The Seven Lady Godivas at first appears to diverge from that notion entirely. The story centers around seven nudist sisters who, according to the text, “were simply themselves and chose not to disguise it”. In the book after their father dies, the sisters vow not to marry until they have found a “horse truth” that will better man’s understanding of horses. These truths turn out to be classic adages, such as “don’t put the cart before the horse” and “you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink”. The Godiva sisters are nudists who search for enlightenment after the death of their father. While many say the inclusion of nudist protagonists is a vulgar metamorphosis for Seuss, this book still reads like one of his classic children’s stories.
Seuss used this nudity as a focal point to draw in the reader; but what keeps one reading is the characterization of seven distinct personalities and the crafty way he incorporates common phrases into a moral lesson, very similar to a fairy tale. For those who do not know, fairy tales were originally for adults; however, modern views have distorted them into children’s stories. Seuss fully establishes himself as one of the greatest American authors with this story. He takes a chance. He crafts a beautiful story of love, devotion, and a desire for social advancement.
The themes of this story appear much like they do in the fairy tales of old, before many were distorted. He characterizes the sisters as nude to show that society focuses too much on race and beauty. In the book, the sisters were smart enough to come up with modern adages still in use today. He shows that anyone can advance society including women and nudists. He also shows that people can sacrifice love for the benefit of society, just as the sisters do not marry until they find their “horse truth”.
All in all, this book is a must read for grown up Seuss fans and those wanting a story where love is not the end-all emotion. The Seven Lady Godivas should be more prominent in the Seuss canon for the simple fact that is challenges society to view these nude women as smart and sophisticated individuals.
American Cultural Icons 