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Anna Gassett

World Lit Since 1600

Benjamin Reed

15 September 2020

Symbolic Monstrosity

There lies a monster in the depths of the Caribbean Sea. She dances around the ocean

seducing the ocean life into her lair. Her luscious, long, blonde hair entices anything that comes

in contact with her, so she is referred to as “Lucinda, the Sea Savage.” Because Lucinda is so

alluring and seductive with her looks and dances, other sea life views her as the enemy. This

make-believe monster shares a lot in common with me and what I have struggled with in life. I

consider myself to be a stereotypical “attractive” woman. I have always seemed intimidating to

others not only because of my natural, external display, but also because I am a performer and

artist. The people I grew up around, especially at school, viewed me as an alien because I didn’t

play sports like the rest of the students. I didn’t have many people in my life who understood me.

These are the same daily struggles the Lucinda has. She doesn’t mean to push those around her

away; however, because she is an outcast, she is automatically viewed as a monster.

Monsters have been a taboo subject for thousands of years. In stories, monsters are

typically these massive, intimidating, hideous creatures that wreak havoc on society. However,

these are not the only types of monsters. Any person who functions as an outcast or “freak” in an

environment can be classified as monstrous. Many of these outcasts in the popular stories we

read are a reflection of the authors’ own struggles in life. The common objective of the monsters

we see in stories is the want and yearn for love and accepted. They just want to fit in and find
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others that understand them. Because monsters are feared, they become isolated and depressed,

causing them even more harm onto others and themselves. This leads to an endless cycle of fear

not only from society towards the monster, but also the monster towards society.