In the short story, “Evil Robot Monkey,” author Mary Robinette Kowal uses human characteristics exhibited by Sly, a chimpanzee, to depict the theme of questioning what truly makes us human. Many people have speculated on what makes us human. Some methods it has typically been classified through are intelligence, creativity, control over emotions, creation of art. The concern is caused by Sly demonstrating all of these traits, which pushes us to question what being a human truly is, generating the fear that Sly, although regarded by some to be a primitive being, may be human.
Although Sly is presented as a chimpanzee, he is eerily analogous to a human, harboring high intelligence and creativity. In the story, Sly turns “the potter’s wheel with his prehensile feet as he shaped the vase. Pinching the clay between his fingers he
…show more content…
Typically, these qualities characterize what constitutes humanity, yet they are clearly demonstrated by a chimpanzee. Additionally, Sly experiences anger similar to humans, further proving he bears human traits: “Sly’s lips drew back in a grimace built of anger and fear. Rage threatened to blind him, but he held on, clutching the wheel.” The author wants the reader to identify with Sly because he experiences struggles that many of us can sympathize with. Kowal understands that there are times we all want to get angry concerning injustice, and depicts this human aspect within