Stephen Crane's 'Man Inside The Monster'

Man Inside The Monster

Present day, the word segregation has its way of setting the world afire. People of all backgrounds rise up in outrage to defend the natural rights of others however, there was a time when no one dared lift a finger for such a cause. Although the vast majority of people can attest to the inhumanity of discrimination, humans consistently pass judgements on others based on what they look like, this is how first impressions are formed. Stephen Crane’s The Monster was written during a trying time for American society and Crane uses the novel to confront the social issues of the era which included segregation. Although segregation now has a negative connotation, the systematic discrimination against people based on what

While Henry Johnson had finally earned all the awe and praise he’d once received solely based on his appearance, he was now dead to the people of the town and would only be referenced as something evil and less than human. Henry Johnson’s transition from man to monster is almost instant as the narrator immediately takes away his identity upon his reappearance in the story after being scorched in the fire. Before any other character is able to interact with Henry Johnson and form their own opinion of his new appearance, Henry Johnson is depicted as a dark figure, creature, and monster rather than a man. Although the narrator initiates the negative perception of Henry Johnson, the citizens of the town magnify the fatality of his injuries. Alek Williams, who is a good friend of Henry Johnson’s had to defend his friend by saying “No. Taint no devil. It’s Hennery Johnson” (Crane 27). This excerpt represents Henry Johnson’s fall from divinity but, the importance of this quote is that the people so afraid of this devil are the same ones that marveled over his good looks and never talked tried to get to know him either then or