Yesterday's poll saw Satan and the Dementors beaten into second and third place respectively by - the Gruffalo!!!!!
Proving that ultimate evil and oblivion are no match for a cuddly, if orthodontically challenged, imaginary beast. Today we move on to darker turf, as we ask you to vote for the most monstrous human in literature: nominations include maniacal monarchs, monstrous matriarchs, mad scientists and just plain bad dads ... Vote now, and remember, if you're reading this on your phone, you need to go to the web version (at the end of the post) to access the poll.
The White Queen
from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C S Lewis
The
White Queen uses her
cunning to entrap children by producing whatever they desire. She has
the power to turn people to ice, in a Medusa-fashion, and despicably has
Aslan, a Christ-like figure, tortured and killed, without any remorse.
All she cares about is absolute power over her world.
The Woman in Black
from The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
The best human monster in literature. She had her son taken away from her, she was wronged by the system, and by the people: she became a pariah. In revenge, she haunts the people of Crythin Gifford, killing the children of all who see her. With no need for brute force or horrifying looks, she is subtle and strikes randomly and without warning, so all are in constant fear.
Iago
from Othello by William Shakespeare
The embodiment of 'motiveless malignity', Iago wreaks
absolute havoc throughout the entire play, leaving a trail of corpses in his wake. Clever, manipulative and
cunning: pure evil (and racist). Scariest part of all: he barely lifts a
finger, opting instead to trick others into carrying out his twisted desires. And until the very end, not a soul suspects him.
Miss Havisham
from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Jilted on her wedding day, Miss Havisham uses her beautiful ward Estella as a way of revenging herself on the male sex. And yet Dickens still makes you sympathise with her, in spite of her cruelty to children.
Kurtz
from Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
A man who exists at the heart of darkness; a colonialist who
plunders ivory, murders natives, presents himself as a god and
ultimately thinks that the way to improve Africa is to ‘exterminate all
the brutes’. His ability to pollute minds, and his own
polluted mind, are the reasons he is the best literary monster. His only saving grace is that when he dies he has the
courage to sum up his life (and arguably all of humanity) with the
words, ‘the horror’.
Professor Umbridge
from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J K Rowling
She is the monster that everyone knows. Everyone has had a Professor Umbridge appear in their lives at some point.
Urizen
from the writings of William Blake
Although Urizen is technically a malevolent god rather than a human, Blake intended Urizen to be a reflection of the human form as a deity. Depicted as ‘a shadow of horror’, Urizen represents a corruption of human creativity, shackled by his own desire to be imprisoned and eternally miserable.
The Joker
from Batman by Bob Kane
Because he terrorises Batman and Gotham City.
Dr Jekyll
from Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Smug, sanctimonious scientist, short on self-knowledge. Jekyll imagines that by separating his good self from his bad self he can pursue his darkest desires without risking his respectable reputation. His attempt to indulge his own evil instincts and dodge the consequences eventually destroys him. Serves him right.
Victor Frankenstein
from Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Arrogant, egotistical scientist. Creates life but then abandons the being he's created because he doesn't like the way it looks. Nor does anyone else, so the instinctively benevolent creature ends up persecuted and brutalised by the harsh world's mistreatment. Does Frankenstein take responsibility for this? Does he heck. Thinks of himself as a god-like hero/martyr, while unleashing destruction on the innocent. No question who's the real monster here.
Gregor Samsa
from Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
Gregor is not your average monster. Turned overnight into an insect-like creature, he has bulk, but little physical power, as well as intelligence and a kind heart. He withstands his family's cruel and brutal treatment but finally dies of sadness and neglect.
Joffrey
from the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George RR Martin
Sadistic, twisted boy-king, with no redeeming features whatsoever. Makes Caligula look as if he wasn't even trying.
Jack Torrance
from The Shining by Stephen King
Not-so-reformed alcoholic writer whose delusions of grandeur make him an easy target for the evil entity that haunts the Overlook hotel. Terrible father, terrible husband, terrible writer. Plus, axe-wielding homicidal maniac.
The Giant
from Jack the Giant Killer
The most significant monster, in my opinion, is a human like no other. But instead of using his special powers for a force of good, he terrorises innocent children - one of whom gambles his worldly possessions to visit him, who simply comes to say hallo. He is a sad creature, who has all the worldly goods he desires, yet spends his life terrorising his visitors.
So who is the most monstrous human of them all? You decide ...
Many thanks to Dr Hudson, Miss Douglass, Robert Brewer, Orlando Strachan, Mr Hager, Sam Strachan, Ed Hueffer, Isaac Wighton and many, many others.
No comments:
Post a Comment