Patrick McCormick, in his article “Why Monsters Have Become Alien to Us” originally appearing in the Christianity magazine, U.S. Catholic (1996), argues that monsters, especially in modern movies, are simply a representation of humans and our disconnection to needy individuals in the real world. McCormick supports his argument by comparing classic monster tales with characters of a certain depth and humanity, such as Count Dracula and Frankenstein’s monster, that grabs at the compassionate hearts of audiences to contemporary films that often include a united human race defeating alien-like monsters without hesitation. The purpose of McCormick’s essay is to show how most people treat monsters, no matter how they were created or place themselves in this world, in order to answer the question of whether monsters reside within us. Given the article's location in a sophisticated magazine, McCormick aims this essay at an educated audience interested in the human need to destroy, rather than accept, monsters.

1. There are many reasons why monster stories have endured popularity over the years. One reason McCormick points out is the action and adrenaline associated with modern movies. He claims that these movies tend to be designed for theme park rides and video games since they are all about the fight or flight response that adrenaline. The contemporary …show more content…
In Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, McCormick believes that the real villains, or monsters, are Dr. Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll, and Claude Frollo. These characters are usually not considered monsters, but are in fact, the creators of monsters. McCormick explains that these characters do not “abide their own humanity” or “show any compassion for those whose disfigured humanity has made them outcasts.” Since these characters do not see their individual faults and are incapable of mercy, responsibility, and pity towards their creations, they are the real monsters of their