The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street Essay
Where Did the Monsters Come From? We all know that there is a monster due on Maple Street. But is it really a monster? Or is it just humankind’s heinous reflection? These are questions that we must ask ourselves as we partake in this classic episode of Rod Serling’s: The Twilight Zone. Having first aired in 1960, “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street” is set in a typical suburban neighborhood, where the residents begin to suspect one another of being aliens in response to a power outage. The paranoia amongst the residents begins to heighten as they slowly fall into mass hysteria. The episode explores themes of paranoia, prejudice, and mob mentality, and has been interpreted as a commentary on social and political issues during that time. In …show more content…
Fear is the main theme in this episode. As it was during the Post-World War II- Era as well. Though this kind of paranoia wasn’t the typical type that one feels when placed in a fearful scenario. This type of terror was deeply rooted in the American people during the Cold War era. The threat of nuclear demolition loomed over the heads of United States citizens, and it made for a terrifying 44 years in this country. This was all foreign to American citizens as we were one of the most powerful nations in the world at this time. This kind of danger was never impending as most felt it was during those years. This intense conflict with the Soviet Union caused Americans to act in ways that were not only off-putting, but also violent. Some people going as far as to threaten their own kin in the name of patriotism and fear of the unknown. Rod Serling’s vision here seems to highlight his belief that if we were to only accept people’s strange eccentricies instead of assuming the worst then the conflicts created due to this fear could’ve been avoided completely. In the episode they begin making accusations based off of a boy who claimed to hear aliens (and had only really read a story about them) and a man who built a radio in his basement. These kinds of baseless accusations were constantly fueled by propaganda on both sides of the political spectrum outside of Maple Street. Ordinary people morphed into callous beasts at the first red flag. That is why Serling wrote this episode the way he chose to. The street name “Maple Street” is a common one. There’s most likely a “Maple Street” in just about every city or town. That small detail added another level of realism to the episode. Because anyone could live on a “Maple Street”. The name is a metaphor for how this type of atrocity could happen to anyone, anywhere. For the Americans who believed it was
Summary Of The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street
194 Words | 1 PagesIn the teleplay, “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street” written by Rod Serling I noticed that the teleplay criticizes the people who live on Maple Street. Serling criticizes the character Charlie he was the one who shot Pete Van Horn and his house lights also went on after he shot Pete Van Horn. “(Charlie swings around, raises the gun, and suddenly pulls the trigger. The sound of the shot explodes in the stillness. The figure suddenly lets out a small cry, stumbles forward onto his knees, and then falls forward on his face.
Examples Of Monster Due On Maple Street
231 Words | 1 PagesMonsters due on maple street. Olivia Warren 7 2/10/23 A man murders his friend in this teleplay. The power goes out on maple street, a little boy named Tommy, told everyone about a “monster” so everyone got scared and no one trusted each other. Fear can cause many things including violence and overreacting.
Summary Of The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street
241 Words | 1 PagesIn the story “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street” written by Rod Serling is set in the 1950s. The story consists of the residents of Maple Street. The theme of “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street” is in arduous situations stay true to who you are and don’t let society change you. In the story the group of residents start out as a crowd then over time they accuse one another and lose trust, this leads to the residents acting as if they were a mob. Rod Serling writes, “For the record, prejudice can destroy, and a thoughtless, frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all of its own for the children…”
What Is The Moral Of The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street
727 Words | 3 PagesDuring this time citizens were weary and suspicious of everyone, they lost their trust and did everything in their power to find anything that would make them guilty of espionage. For example, one of the resident’s cars was not working and once they got out it turned on by itself. Situations such as these made it easy for the Maple Street residents to blame and point fingers at their own neighbors without any solid
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865 Words | 4 PagesWhat makes a monster? In media, monsters are often portrayed as terrifying beings that wreak havoc wherever they go. In fact, the definition of monster is “a strange or horrible and often frightening creature” (“Monster”). However, monsters are not always so easy to identify – they exist in virtually every community in society. If to be strange or horrible is to be a monster, then, in a slightly more abstract line of thinking, humans can also be monsters.
The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street By Rod Serling
341 Words | 2 PagesThe Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" by Rod Serling is a science fiction story that highlights the dangers of fear and paranoia. The story takes place in a seemingly perfect neighborhood, where the residents are friendly and the atmosphere is peaceful. However, strange events start to occur, causing the residents to become suspicious of one another. As tensions rise, the once harmonious community begins to fall apart as the residents turn on each other.
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928 Words | 4 PagesTo answer the question of “Who is the monster?” when talking about “War of the worlds” and “Monsters”, one must understand what a monster is. A monster is not simply a creature so ugly or monstrous it frightens people, it can also be defined as a person or thing who excites horror by wickedness or cruelty. This second definition establishes that we, humans, can be classed as a monster even if we do not fit the stereotypical description of what a monster looks like. This question is an important
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675 Words | 3 PagesMonsters will NEVER ever die: all cultures around the world have them and have had them since people first thought of them. Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Columbia College Chicago, Stephen T. Asma, in his essay, Monsters and the Moral Imagination, describes how we look at and are drawn to monsters. But not just monsters, murderers and psychopaths also. Monsters never age, ranging from the first civilization to now. In Asma's essay he asks, "Why do monsters exist?
Due On Maple Street Quotes
174 Words | 1 PagesWho Really Are the Monsters Due on Maple Street How can thoughts, suspicions, and prejudices turn mankind against itself. As all power ends, havoc breaks loose for residents. As rumors spread, and suspicion rises, neighbors begin to betray one another. In the screen play, “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street”, by Rod Serling, Serling claims that fear causes destruction of Maple Street though thoughts, prejudices, and attitudes.
The Monsters On Maple Street Analysis
501 Words | 3 PagesMonsters? Would you be able to live in a time where your life was always in danger? Fear and danger were a constant feeling in Rod Serling’s video and teleplay “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street” which was made in 1960 and “The Monsters on Maple Street” that was made in 2003. The 1960 version people were so easy to accuse others when fear and danger presented itself. In the 2003 version terrorism was on everyone’s mind
What Is The Theme Of The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street
745 Words | 3 PagesGavin West 2-10-23 3rd Period “The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street” Essay Imagine a neighborhood where the residents have known each other for years, but suddenly turn on each other. This scenario is portrayed in the 1959 teleplay "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street" in the popular television series, The Twilight Zone. The episode begins with a roar and a flash of light, which prompts the residents of Maple Street to start pointing fingers. As tensions rise, they begin accusing each other based on their idiosyncrasies, driven by their fears and prejudices.
Monster By Walter Dean Myers Sparknotes
849 Words | 4 PagesA white hand (O’BRIEN’s) takes the pencil and crosses out all the Monsters.” (Pg. 24) Another example is when Steve is writing in his notes a guy named Sunset says he is going to have the word Monster tattooed on his forehead by the time he is out. “The man they called Sunset asked me if he could read the screenplay, and I let him. He liked it.
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