A Monster Calls Identity Essay

Life operates in an endless cycle, starting with birth, ending with death, and encompassing everything in between. Oftentimes people like to think they have control over their lives, that no matter what happens the ability to choose? is always there; and while that idea seems true enough on paper, the reality is that the only consistent part of life is the beginning and end of one; the events in between are wildly unpredictable. Bad things happen to people who don’t deserve it; Sometimes people get away with doing horrible things. At one moment a person could be rewarded for doing good and the next they’re chastised. Life offers both beauty and horror, but it is not something that people can control. A person cannot choose how their life will play out, the only thing they can choose is their reaction to

There are many examples in the book that show the Monster‘s identity as life; both are unpredictable, bring both misery and joy, and are most visible during the beginnining and end of a person’s existence.

In Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls, one of the first things the reader notices about the monster is the fact that it, like life, is widely unpredictable which can be seen during its interactions with the main character, Conor. Whenever the Monster and Conor talk, Conor is almost consistently dismissive of the Monster and what it has to say, however, where Conor’s reactions are consistent, the Monster’s are not. Sometimes, the Monster is confused by Conor’s aloof behavior, such as when Conor first meets the monster and shrugs, saying, ““I’ve seen worse”…. Then the monster paused again. “You aren’t afraid are you?” (9). Other times, the monster reacts calmly,' 'Open up, the monster said…I want to talk to you…Yeah sure, Conor said, keeping his voice low because that’s what monsters always want. To Talk….The monster smiled. It was a ghastly sight.