In many monster stories, there is not a single embodiment of evil, but rather the story reveals the capacity within each character for wickedness and virtue regardless of one’s ability to conform to societal norms. These stories challenge a reader to question his or her own definition of what constitutes a monster and to consider whether or not he or she could be labeled as such given previous behaviors. Through this process, “St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves” and Lilo and Stitch delineate intolerance and mistreatment of individuals who struggle to conform in a society. The definition of a monster that will be used in this paper is a character who claims a disposition in which he or she intends to cause another harm (emotionally or physically) under unfair or unjust motivations.
The definition of a “monster” is a threatening force. In Walter Dean Myers’ Monster, Steve Harmon the defendant in the trial is being charged for felony murder. The monster in him is the struggle between his innocence and guilt. Steve’s judgement of his actions is similar to a pendulum swinging. One side is his innocence translated to his testimony while the other side is his guilt which is seen in his diary.
In Monster’s Inc. there are many different personality theories that can explore why the monster acted the way they did. One of the main questions from the movie is why the monsters are afraid of the children. Behaviorism can explain this through the character of Mike Wazowski. The beginning of the movie shows that the monsters purpose is to gain scream from the children because this provides power for the monster’s city. The company is called Monster’s Inc. and this is where Mike works.
(MIP-3) In addition, this dissociation extends to the society one lives in. (SIP-A) As a result of their cultivated, materialistic lives, characters in Bradbury’s novel are isolated from their own society. (STEWE-1)
As a young girl, Cathy Ames begins her sociopathic path of destructive relationships that continues until her death. John Steinbeck introduces Cathy to the novel with a few sentences about why people are monsters: believe there are monsters born in the world to human parents. Some you can see, misshapen and horrible, with huge heads or tiny bodies. . . .
Emotional and physical isolation in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein are the most pertinent and prevailing themes throughout the novel. These themes are so important because everything the monster, Victor, and Robert Walton do or feel directly relates to their poignant seclusion. The effects of this terrible burden have progressively damaging results upon the three.
The monster was a troublemaker. Nobody liked him and he was always damaging everybody’s property. He shook the ground every time he walked. The people were terrified of him. They trembled when they saw him coming towards them.
It is quite telling that the most severe punishment in our society other than the death penalty or torture is solitary confinement. Although, isolation is in itself a form of torture, it can drive someone to the brink of insanity. Although published nearly 200 years ago, Mary Shelley clearly understood the potential detrimental effects of isolation, as demonstrated in her famous novel, Frankenstein, where both main characters, Victor Frankenstein and his creation, suffer from and cause isolation for the other. Mary Shelley directs the reader to believe that isolation is the true evil, not the monster, Victor or any emotion inside of them. At the beginning of the novel, Victor is isolated from other people, causing to forget his scientific
Mary Shelley, in her book, Frankenstein, has a reoccurring theme of isolation, in which she isolates the main character, Victor Frankenstein, from the rest of society in order to create a creature. Likewise, the creature that is created is also isolated from the rest of society as he is rejected from his creator as to his appearance. The theme is present throughout the novel as it reinforces Victor’s downfall from a normal boy to a grown man intrigued with creating life as he slowly becomes a madman that everyone soon fears. Isolation causes a loss of humanity as it affects the mind and body. Isolation from society does not teach social interaction, causes regret about oneself, provides one with negative feelings, and causes regretful actions.
The monster explains that he has worked hard to try to break the communication barrier with humans. He attains social skills that are similar to those of his human counterparts and is able to adequately communicate when speaking to a blind man, however, when the monster communicates with people that are not blind, they can only see his flaws in his appearance and are afraid of this monster. The monster is unable to conform to society and is prevented from being accepted by his peers. Conversely, Eliza is able to conform to society and is accepted by most of her peers: “I shall always be a flower girl to Professor Higgins, because he always
Although he comes with friendly intentions, the Monster is treated violently and with contempt, essentially being forced into his alienation to survive and becoming the “monster” he is already thought of as a result. The Monster’s actions are a response to the treatment he has received from others, everyday villagers and Victor alike. With little known about his origins and no way to explain himself, there is no hope for the Monster to assimilate himself. This is present in other characters of the novel as well, for example, Richard Walton, who has self-alienated in order to gain distinction and knowledge. The Monsters origins and appearance develop these themes of alienation throughout the novel, themes that are further developed by other characters and play an important role in delivering the message of
“...In The Invisible Man, Wells gave us a story steeped in earthly local color, a story all the more vivid and credible for just that reason”(Wagar xiii). A story of science fiction that follows the life of an albino, Griffin. Wells goes in depth with the consequences of isolation and how that affects relationships with other people. The Invisible Man, utilizes point of view, situation, and elements of literary fiction to help the reader envision the life of a man who does not fit into society.
Isolation and abandonment can cause many different reactions from people. In the words of William A. Sadler Jr., a sociology professor, “We often do not know how to cope. It can make us confused, distraught, depressed, frightened, and even outraged” (Sadler 105). In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, several of these effects are presented in Victor Frankenstein and his creation. They both suffer from being isolated from their creator, society, and family units.
Envision being stranded at sea for two hundred and twenty seven days. Would you survive? This is precisely what the main character faces in Life of Pi by Yann Martel. The book tells the story of Piscine Motor Patel and his obstacles as he is stranded on a lifeboat with a 450 pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker- they had been on a Japanese cargo ship called the Tsimtsum until it sank in a “monstrous metallic burp” in the middle of the Pacific ocean (121). Piscine, otherwise known as Pi, goes against all odds as he fights for his survival.
Regardless of who we strive to be, or who we dare not to be, those who we respect and look up to will be the ones who leave an impression on our lives. To the Monster’s credit, it continued to pursue a life of good deeds until the people it idolized turn on it. Because of the influence made on it by its parental figures the Monster behaves like an outsider, and as an outsider it gains new role models and is governed by new emotions such as anger and hate. The monster should not be blamed for its malicious nature, rather, the people who taught it hate and the Doctor who created it without a true intent of being its
