What Is A Monster

In the simplest of terms, a monster is something we view as inhuman or disfigured in some way. When we think of enchanted creatures, we rarely think of them as monsters so elves and centaurs would not be seen as monsters. But, if they were more disfigured so that they cause fear or if they take on an evil countenance or their actions become more vile by definition, they "might" become viewed more as monsters. There are some that we would give the benefit of the doubt while others we would immediately fear and see as monsters just by their appearance. That is the message of Beauty and the Beast where within the man who was transformed into a fearful beast there was still a man. He could be a monster with his often violent ways but then, most would not give him the benefit of a doubt until Belle finds him and even she has some difficulty.

Disfigurement can be difficult to overcome much like ugliness as things that repel us also frighten us. A serial killer might actually be handsome which aids them in their ways as their victims are more willing to trust them whereas someone who is ugly the would-be victim might be more wary. But someone who takes ugliness to another level and are disfigured would be the most difficult to befriend and the easiest to fear or target for cruelty. Ugliness and disfigurement do not make a monster in my opinion and yet, there is no doubt that most might disagree if they did not look beyond appearances to see there was more to that person or thing they liked. Going to a shelter you might find a cat who has been badly beaten and disfigured or ugly because they had mange that damaged them. But it is in looking beyond this that you might find the beauty of the inner self of this animal and feel sympathy for the hard life it has lived so that this is the animal that you adopt even if it's a kill shelter and you know by adopting this cat that one whole and beautiful might not be adopted resulting in euthanasia.

Looking beyond outer appearances can be difficult but those who are disfigured might be the most beautiful of us all... on the inside. But then, those who are beautiful might be the most vile twisted, and evil on the inside yet we sometimes find others willing to do anything for these people just because of their beauty. The question again becomes, what is a monster?

In fantasy, monsters are often what they appear to be even when there is a moral lesson to be learned. Frankenstein is a classic monster and his deeds were monstrous so we see him as a monster. But others want us to look at the scientist who created him as the true monster because the things he did make him responsible for all the things his creation did. The creature had no name other than being referred to as a monster although the monster refers to himself as the "Adam of your labors" so that we might say Adam was his name. But there are also people who want us to view the monster as a victim because it did not ask to be created but then, none of us ask to be created so this could be an everyman excuse if we allowed that view. All wrongs could be forgiven just by saying we did not ask to be created and thus, our parents are to blame for all that we do. In the end, the monster is responsible for what it did but then commits suicide by fire because it would never be accepted when after what it did one might say the reason it would not be accepted is it was a threat. It was what the monster did that reflects not the disfigured monster but what was on the inside where it might be viewed with sympathy because it would never be accepted but then, its actions are what ultimately made him a monster because he was a murderer.

When it comes to fantasy, we often do not see a moral dilemma as it's most often a "what you see is what you get" situation. There is no moral condition presented and perhaps this is for the best. As with Frankenstein's monster, feeling sympathy for a monster could mask a real monster more on the inside than just the outside resulting in death and suffering for those who might feel something for the creature. It might be more than what it is and how it's treated that creates a monster. But then, someone blessed by beauty and surrounded only by fortune and adoration might become the ultimate monster doing far worse things or even bringing destruction to countless lives. It doesn't even have to be "human" lives as a monster can destroy the lives of any living being or their multitudes.

The final answer for me is that it's ok to be wary of things that make us fearful because what's on the outside can indicate what's on the inside representing danger. This can be forgiven as a natural response. But it's truly on the inside where monsters lay and it's often that we trust beauty because we do not fear that ugliness and evil on the inside can harm or even kill us. Monsters might be said to represent "imperfection" or the evil that exists. And yet, imperfection can hide behind a beautiful face while beauty might be found behind an imperfect visage where you might be safer with a monster or it might ultimately be what destroys you... does this make any sense?

What's your opinion?