The Real Monsters
The poem 'The Real Monsters' by Bethany Hutchison is a stark critique of human behavior and societal norms. It challenges the reader to reflect on the actions and attitudes that define humanity as monstrous. The poem begins by questioning the labeling of animals as monsters, suggesting that humans, with their capacity for violence and manipulation, are the true monsters. It highlights various societal issues, such as violence, manipulation, and inaction in the face of wrongdoing. The poem also critiques the political climate, specifically referencing Donald Trump and the policies associated with his presidency, which the poet views as contributing to societal decay. The mention of school violence and bullying underscores the failure to protect vulnerable populations, like children. The poem uses a conversational tone, asking rhetorical questions to provoke thought and self-reflection. It employs repetition to emphasize the central theme that humans, through their actions and inactions, embody the very monstrosity they fear.
| Word | In English | Plain (English) | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| monsters | creatures that are scary | scary creatures or people who do bad things | mon-sters |
| manipulate | control or influence | to cleverly control or influence someone or something | ma-nip-u-late |
| rebel | fight against | to fight against authority or control | re-bel |
| mentally | in the mind | involving the mind | men-tal-ly |
| citizenship | being a member of a country | being a legal member of a country | cit-i-zen-ship |
| response | answer | an answer or reaction | re-sponse |
| hypocrisy | saying one thing and doing another | pretending to have beliefs you don't follow | hy-poc-ri-sy |
| critique | analyze and judge | a detailed judgment or analysis | cri-tique |
| deceive | trick | to trick someone | de-ceive |
| exhausted | very tired | very tired | ex-haust-ed |
| horrible | very bad | very bad or unpleasant | hor-ri-ble |
| vulnerable | easily hurt | easily hurt or harmed | vul-ner-a-ble |
| policies | plans or rules | rules or plans | pol-i-cies |
| decay | break down | to break down or decline | de-cay |
| rhetorical | asked for effect | asked to make a point, not to get an answer | rhe-tor-i-cal |
Bethany Hutchison is a contemporary poet known for her poignant and socially conscious poetry. Her work often addresses themes of societal injustice and self-reflection.