The characters in Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories just can't get no satisfaction. Yertle doesn't have enough power for his liking, Gertrude hates who she is, and the rabbit and the bear aren't happy without being better than everyone else. Yeah, there's a whole lot of denial going on about who these characters are and what they can expect in life. And what happens when there's too much dissatisfaction? Um, drama. And lots of it.
Questions and Answers
Q: Why does Yertle want to feel like he's better than everyone else?
A: Because he's the kind of guy who will never be happy with what he's got.
Q: Why doesn't Yertle ever stop stacking turtles?
A: He'll never be satisfied with the view he has because he's obsessed with power; there will always be more things to have power over and things that are more powerful than him, too.
Q: Why is Gertrude so upset about her tail?
A: Because she thinks her tail isn't good unless it's just like Lolla-Lee-Lou's…or better. Do you think she'll ever be satisfied if she isn't proud of what she's got?
Q: Why do the rabbit and the bear brag so much?
A: They're not satisfied with just being really great at smelling and hearing. They've got to be better than everyone else.