Theme Of Evil Robot Monkey

In the short story, Evil Robot Monkey the world's subtle fragility comes to light as a theme. Sly, a monkey destined to be better than his kind, has a robotic chip enhancing his abilities to that of a human. The short story takes place in a pen where Sly is held in captivity. Assuming that his handler and an anonymous organization imposed this life on him, that is the first thing that sets him apart. Even though Sly can speak English and do many human things, the organization is cautious of him, treating him like an animal because, in theory, he is. Vern, his handler, is the only human ever to be in close interaction with him as others are afraid, or rather Sly is afraid of them. Vern is the first lifeline sent out to the chimpanzee, a genius

In a symbolic and realistic way, the clay vases Sly creates are a fragile product of anger that can easily be destroyed by his own ego. While making pottery Sly is interrupted by a child banging on his pen: “Sly jumped and then screamed as the vase collapsed under its own weight. He spun and hurled it at the picture window like feces” (Kowal 1). Understanding the characteristics of clay, it will crack under the slightest disturbance. Just as Sly was disturbed, the vase was destroyed under its own weight. This physical product of his frustration collapses, helping the reader to see a parallel between the soft and fragile vase and the soft and fragile monkey. But the author more clearly emphasizes that the existence of Sly taps on the glass of outsiders' fears. Too fragile to change, they try to hold power over Sly when he acts out making them feel inferior. Vern explains an outsider Delilah’s opinion, trying to establish a connection between them1 when he says, “But Delilah thinks you should be disciplined…She wants me to take the clay away since you used it for an anger display”(Kowal 2). No other human being had ever established a lifeline to him, and no one had ever trusted Sly to remain calm, no one except Vern. Delilah is assumed to be a higher power within the organization and she expresses that she wants Sly to be disciplined

Frustrated by this always, it leaves a path of growth for him to follow. It is noted because Sly has great intelligence he knows the reaction he will get with outbursts and he wants to get clever revenge: ''Knowing these people would take it as a grin, but he meant it as a threat … Still grinning, he wrote SSA. Outside the letters would be reversed” (Kowal 2). Presenting Sly and clever characteristics, it is obvious he is not the average intelligence of a monkey. He was so upset he wanted the people to feel threatened for their actions. Not being able to move on and ignore them, his ego and mindset is just so vulnerable to real hurt and pain. In a childish manner, this event is a diminishing and low point of Sly’s ego and actions. On the flip side, further on he is able to grow from this. With the help of genuine interaction with Vern, he trusts him. When it is revealed his clay will be taken, he refrains from hurting Vern or acting recklessly and can comprehend that “For a moment, rage crawled on his spine, but Vern did not meet his eyes and kept staring at the window. Sly turned. The vase he had thrown lay on the floor in a pile of clay. Clay''(Kowal 3). He now knows the feeling of rage and anger but he respects Vern too much to act out. Seeing the vase that was too fragile to hold up turned into a pile of clay from his anger, he