Mayzie's flightiness (pun majorly intended) is just the tip of the moral and ethical iceberg in Horton Hatches the Egg. How about the whole hunting, kidnapping, forced migration, and sold to the circus for slavery thing? Or, say, the morals of the circus audiences and Horton's fair-weather-friends? And we can't forget about Horton's stand-up-guy morality. What does he mean by "faithful," and how does it apply to today's world? Whew, that's a lot of questions. When you and your kids are done with this one, they'll be ready for Aristotle.
Questions and Answers
Q: What does "faithful" mean?
A: Don't ask me, ask George Michael
Q: Why do the hunters sell Horton?
A: They say it themselves: "for money!" (126) A lot of people think it's wrong. A lot of people also think it's wrong to dress in meat. You decide.
Q: Why do Horton's friends make fun of him?
A: They're probably not really his friends in the end. They sound more like bullies to me.