In all books and other media, Horton is characterized as a kind, sweet-natured, and naïve elephant who manages to overcome hardships.

As Horton spends months at this, he suffers rainstorms, snowstorms, and the mockery of the other animals, while Mayzie relaxes abroad.

: Horton is bathing in a pond when he hears a speck of dust emit cries for help and places it on a red clover for safety.

When he talks to the Whos, the Sour Kangaroo and her son brand Horton as insane to the entire animal kingdom.

After a day of searching, Horton locates Whoville, but Mother Kangaroo arrives with an army of monkeys, to imprison him and destroy the clover.

Horton, in anger, and in pain from the shells in his trunk, sneezes, blowing the bug so far away he can never get back to the Beezlenut tree.