The evolution of literature is accompanied by the changing attitudes towards specific themes, which are commonly discussed by various authors, and the monstrous is no exception to the rule. The idea of portraying characters, which negatively affect the development of protagonists, adds to the readers’ interest. Therefore, the selection of the theme of monsters in literary works, which are the art form allowing to conduct a thorough analysis, is conditional upon their importance for reflecting on human vice.
The examination of literature for revealing the importance of the chosen theme seems to be exciting from the perspective of the shifting perceptions of the authors under the influence of the societal thought of the time. Hence, it is impossible to perform this task by considering a single piece, and the exploration should be done based on the art field rather than one work. In the suggested research, the expectations are to find the correlation between the depiction of monsters and the monstrous in novels and societal affairs and demonstrate the importance of “objectively evil” phenomena in this respect (Reese). In turn, the critique of the theme will enhance the understanding of negative traits as they are perceived by humanity at different times.
To summarize, the theme of monsters in novels written in various eras is an excellent way to reveal the link between the ugly side of life as it is presented by these artifacts and critical events. Its ever-changing nature allows conducting an analysis of the above connection and concluding people’s opinions depending on external circumstances. Thus, the monstrous can be viewed as a lens for examining society and its adversity.
Work Cited
Reese, Frederick. “Terrifying Monsters in Literature.” Stacker, 2019.