Blog 5 - Stereotypes: The Monsters We Defy

Stereotypes:  The Monsters We Defy

            To label a person a monster is to state there is a lack of human characteristics whether these characteristics are physical, behavioral, or ethical.  In Claude MacKay’s poem “If We Must Die” he espouses the need to fight bravely in the face of adversity.  He speaks of the “monsters” that need to be bravely defied in order to force monsters to honor them in their death (MacKay 7).  This poem would be a good pairing with Walter Dean Myer’s young adult novel, Monster, because of Myer’s message about monsters who dehumanize with stereotypes.  In Monster, Myers’ characters use the word monster to define others through their deeds or their race.  Sandra Petrocelli, Steve’s prosecutor, informs the audience of the courtroom, and the reader of the novel, of the definition of a monster:  “There are monsters in our communities – people who are willing to steal and kill, people who disregard the rights of others” (Myers 21).  In both “If We Must Die” and Monster, Claude MacKay and Walter Dean Myers convey the message that those who stereotype both dehumanize and disregard the rights of others, which makes them the monsters.

MacKay opens his poem with a criticism of those who mock and dehumanize others just as Steve criticizes the guards who mock and dehumanize the prisoners. The poem opens with:  “If we must die, let it not be like hogs / Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, / While round us bark the mad and angry dogs, Making their mock at our accursed lot” (MacKay 1 - 4).  Just as the victims in MacKay’s poem are compared to hogs that are penned, the prisoners in Monster are physically penned and penned by stereotypes.  Also, the guards of Monster can be compared to MacKay’s dogs who mock the lot of the prisoners.  For example, Guard 1 states, “Six days – maybe seven.  It’s a motion case.  They go through the motions; then they lock them up” (14).  Then the same guard looks at Steve and says, “Ain’t that right, bright eyes?” (14).  Also, the guards demeaning words extend to women, in particular a juror.  As Steve observes, a guard says, “’The little blonde’…Her old man probably had something for her to do before she left the house.’  They laughed.  It must have been funny” (94 – 95).  Beyond the guards appalling racism and sexism, Myers takes a step further to ensure that the reader understands that the guards dehumanize others.  A guard states, “Hey, we got a pool going.  I bet you guys get life without the possibility of parole.  The guys on the next block think you’re going to get 25 to life.  You guys want in on it?” (265-266).  Then, the guard says, “You guys treat me nice, and I’ll put in a word for you up at Greenhaven.  Maybe I can get you a boyfriend that’s really built” (266).  Thus, Myers and MacKay criticize those in power who can be monsters with words and actions.

Another significant point that Myers makes in Monster is that while Steve recognizes the faults of others, Steve refuses to accept responsibility for his faults.  Steve’s failure to accept responsibility is evident when he writes, “What did I do?  What did I do?  Anybody can walk into a drugstore and look around.  Is that what I’m on trial for?  I didn’t do nothing!” (115). Steve’s belief that his role as a lookout makes him less guilty than other prisoners is also evident when he observes that “being in here with these guys makes it hard to think about yourself as different.  We look about the same, and even though I’m younger than they are, it’s hard not to notice that we are all pretty young” (62).  When another prisoner asks why Steve should “walk” for his crime, Steve replies, “’Cause I’m a human being.  I want a life too!  What’s wrong with that?” (76).  Despite his participation in a crime, Steve desires to viewed as a human being.  Yet, as Myer’s points out with brutal honesty through the words of Prisoner 2, Steve’s decision to “act like garbage” leads other to “treat you like garbage” (76). 

Thus Myers and MacKay send a message that the best way to defy stereotypes is with an honorable image.  Prior to Steve’s arrest, Steve’s father envisions honorable scenes of Steve’s future where Steve would play football and go to college (Myers 111).  Mr. Harmon even states, “I never thought of seeing you – you know – seeing you in a place like this.  It just never came to me that you’d ever be in any kind of trouble” (112).  Steve undermines his ability to question those who dehumanize and disregard him because of his race because he sought out King, who is the stereotypical monster who lacks honor and disregards the rights of others. Similarly, MacKay stresses the need to be honored and to “nobly die” (5).  In terms of assignment, I would instruct my students to write a poem in which they write about what they see in the mirror versus the stereotype that others see.  This poem would include some call to action or solution to defy the image that others see.