Merrybelle Whostle
Merrybelle Whostle was one of Whoville’s most devoted Christmas enthusiasts—and one of its most unforgiving. On the morning the Grinch stole Christmas, she awoke expecting the usual mountain of presents beneath her beautifully decorated tree, only to discover an empty room. Her ornaments, stockings, gifts, and even the tree itself had vanished. Furious, Merrybelle immediately realized who was responsible: the Grinch. While the rest of Whoville eventually found a way to celebrate despite the theft, Merrybelle remained bitter, convinced that the Grinch had deliberately tried to destroy the holiday for every Who.
Her anger only deepened when the truth eventually came out that Cindy Lou Who had played a part in befriending the Grinch and helping change his heart. While most Whos considered Cindy’s actions compassionate and wonderful, Merrybelle saw them very differently. To her, Cindy had sided with the very creature who had robbed their homes and nearly ruined Christmas. Merrybelle never accepted the idea that the Grinch deserved forgiveness, nor did she forgive Cindy for becoming his friend. From then on, Merrybelle became something of a Christmas antagonist in her own right—a proud, stubborn Who who considered herself a defender of the holiday and wanted nothing to do with Cindy Lou Who or her “grinchy friend.”