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The Monster is an 1898 novella by American author Stephen Crane (1871-1900). The story takes place in the small, fictional town of Whilomville, New York. An American-Africancoachmannamed Henry Johnson, who is employed by the town's physician, Dr. Trescott, becomes horribly disfigured after he saves Trescott's son froma fire. When Henry is branded a "e;monster"e; by the town's residents, Trescott vows to shelter and care for him, resulting in his family's exclusion from the community. The novella reflects upon the 19th-centurysocial divide and ethnic tensions in America.The fictional town of Whilomville, which is used in 14 other Crane stories, was based on Port Jervis, New York, where Crane lived with his family for a few years during his youth. It is thought that he took inspiration from several local men who were similarly disfigured, although modern critics have made numerous connections between the story and the 1892 lynchingin Port Jervis of an African-American man named Robert Lewis. A study of prejudice, fear, and isolation in a rather small town, the novella was first published in Harper's Magazine in August 1898. A year later, it was included in The Monster and Other Stories-the last collection of Crane's work to be published during his lifetime.Written in a more exact and less dramatic style than two of his previous major works (Maggie: A Girl of the Streets and The Red Badge of Courage), The Monsterdiffers from the other Whilomville stories in its scope and length. Itsthemes include the paradoxical study of monstrosity and deformity, as well as race and tolerance. While the novella and collection received mixed reviews from contemporary critics, The Monster is now considered one of Crane's best works.The Monster (excerpt)Little Jim was, for the time, engine Number 36, and he was making the run between Syracuse and Rochester. He wasfourteen minutes behind time, and the throttle was wide open. Inconsequence, when he swung around the curve at the flower-bed, awheel of his cart destroyed a peony. Number 36 slowed down at onceand looked guiltily at his father, who was mowing the lawn. Thedoctor had his back to this accident, and he continued to pace slowlyto and fro, pushing the mower.Jim dropped the tongue of the cart. He looked athis father and at the broken flower. Finally he went to the peony andtried to stand it on its pins, resuscitated, but the spine of it washurt, and it would only hang limply from his hand. Jim could do noreparation. He looked again towards his father.He went on to the lawn, very slowly, and kickingwretchedly at the turf. Presently his father came along with thewhirring machine, while the sweet, new grass blades spun from theknives. In a low voice, Jim said, "e;Pa!"e;The doctor was shaving this lawn as if it were apriest's chin. All during the season he had worked at it in thecoolness and peace of the evenings after supper. Even in the shadowof the cherry-trees the grass was strong and healthy. Jim raised hisvoice a trifle. "e;Pa!"e;The doctor paused, and with the howl of themachine no longer occupying the sense, one could hear the robins inthe cherry-trees arranging their affairs. Jim's hands were behind hisback, and sometimes his fingers clasped and unclasped. Again he said, "e;Pa!"e; The child's fresh and rosy lip was lowered...Stephen Crane (November 1, 1871 - June 5, 1900) was an American poet, novelist, and short story writer. Prolific throughout hisshort life, he wrote notable works in the Realist tradition as well as early examples of American Naturalism and Impressionism. He is recognized by modern critics as one of the most innovative writers of his generation.The ninth surviving child of Protestant Methodist parents, Crane began writing at the age of four and
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Monster and Other Stories
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