Jealousy
How the Grinch Stole Christmas begins by describing how thoroughly the Grinch hates the holiday. The narrator explains that nobody truly knows why the Grinch feels so strongly about Christmas, and posits that it is because his heart is two sizes too small. As the narrator describes what, exactly, the Grinch detests so much about Christmas, however, it becomes clear that he is envious of the communal celebration that Christmas invites in Who-ville: the celebratory noises, the joyful feasting, and especially the collective singing all remind the Grinch that he is alone and detached from feelings of love and belonging. It is these feelings that he recovers at the end of the story when he returns to Who-ville with his sleigh.
Community
The story draws a stark contrast between the citizens of Who-ville and the Grinch: the Grinch lives alone in a cave, and spends his time thinking about all the things he hates about Christmas and the Whos. The Whos, by contrast, live in a kind and idyllic community where Christmas is cause for coming together, celebrating, and showing care for one another. The story suggests that this sense of community is precisely what the Grinch himself longs for, though he does not recognize it until he has already schemed to stop Christmas from coming. The Whos, notably, welcome him back to Who-ville with open arms, demonstrating the value they place on community and togetherness.
Materialism
The Grinch is convinced that if he can steal all the presents and decorations from the Whos' homes, he can stop Christmas from coming altogether. This perspective assumes that Christmas itself is fundamentally about materialism and possessions. The Grinch is, of course, misguided in his interpretation of Christmas, and when he hears the Whos singing on Christmas morning he realizes that Christmas is not about things but about family, friends, and community more generally. The story suggests that people who are caught up in the materialism of Christmas are not embracing the real meaning of the holiday.
