On The Title Of “Monster”
I feel like there’s a lack of understanding still as to what a “Monster’ is, and i kinda think we should talk about it and clear some things up about the situation as i see a lot of misinformation being spread around about it.
I think people assume “Monster” is basically a species in this world, as that is sometimes what monsters calls themselves and that normally all these creatures are grouped up together.
But i believe “Monster” is actually supposed to be a class of people. It’s just a title reserved to whoever fits the bill.
Cause the thing is, the show makes it very clear that who is called a “Monster” does not rely solely on race, it depends on a few different factors to be put into this kinda group.
appearance, actions, wealth, and allegiance.
Appearance : This is more straightforward, if you seem to display any abnormal or frighting features to the mewmans, you will typically be seen as a threat, and therefore, a monster.
Actions: This ties a bit into the allegiance section, but when monsters display anything worth seeing as a threat to their way of life, they will immediately be outed as a monster. Star actually explains this by talking about tom and the scary stuff he’s capable of.
Wealth is a very telling sign, that when a monster has enough money and power, they will be treated with more respect and that they’re “Different” then other monsters. Ludo is actually someone worth noting because he’s a prince and was under the butterflies thumb, but for some reason, he’s a monster? But then you look at the state of his family and realize, the state of his family and where ludo chooses to align, is why he’s separated from the rest of the royals who resembled monsters. His family is poor and treated with less respect (They weren’t even invited to go to an ally ball despite supposibly still being allies), and that’s even stated more when Estrella, in her chapter, talks about how they’ve gone downhill and need scratchoffs these days to do anything. They’re royals but barely so, so no one cares about them because they have no money or power anymore.
Allegiance, something that’s made very clear in the show and book is “you’re either with us, or against us.” If you are with the Butterflies, you are their allies, their friends, you are better then a “Monster” those who oppose your needs or the expansion of your kingdom. This is Especially Displayed by Solaria in her chapter, as she wants the complete genocide of any creature she deems a “Monster”, but gives the ponyheads and Lucitors a pass for being on her side.
It’s like this, “Monster” can’t be a species if it relies on factors like who you are allinged with and how much money you have. Because that has nothing to do with your species or the creature you are.
In other forms of media monster is considered a species, but that’s not what it is in this show.
Frogman, Conjoinicorn, Kappa, Septarian, THESE are some of the species or the different races who live on mewni, but the mewmans will box them all together under one label if they don’t fit their criteria.
The most telling sign is Tom and the Demons.
Demons are not separate from monsters.
This is completely told to us in the book of spells as Conjoinicorns, who are classified as monsters according to solaria. But are a type of DEMON according to Eclipsa.
So this entire thing proves that demons can be considered “Monsters” based on certain aspects. In this case, Conjoincorns, being on the opposing sides of the war, is what probably makes them different then demons like the Lucitors.
(This also tells us there are different types of demon, but i think the underworld itself makes that clear based on the demons we see down there)
Tom makes a speech in Is Another Mystery, and the intention of this speech in regards to tom and where he stands is despite his wealth, he’s no different then other races who are considered “Monsters”.
Tom looks like a monster, acts like a monster, even eats like a monster.
And when other “Monsters” point out that tom is rich, he makes a point of that. Yeah, he is, and that’s a deciding factor into why mewmans don’t treat him like they would other monsters.
But Erase that, and what makes tom all that different then someone like them to anyone on mewni?
Yeah, his family is allinged with the mewmans, but if they weren’t wealthy the mewmans wouldn’t have even considered allinging with them in the first place, as there are plenty of other powerful beings they didn’t even try to make alliances with in the war. They only went for the wealthy royals nearby to them, and there are many other kingdoms in mewni they didn’t touch either because they were too poor or hated them.
But The Lucitors, as said by skywynne, even were threats to the Butterfly kingdom awhile back, pulling them down into the underworld. So they were not a fan of the butterflies at all until solaria made a plead for them, but chose not to make a plead for anyone else?
I keep hearing people try to say “Tom’s not a monster because of this and that and mewmans don’t treat him-”, THAT’S THE POINT. Tom should be a “Monster”, and it’s unfair to treat these other creatures different then him simply due to them not being very rich or powerful.
There is meant to be a real connection here between tom and the monsters, that despite what mewni says, they aren’t so different after all. And it just tells you how garbage mewni’s class system really is.
Tom might not be able to entirely relate to everything the monsters have been going through for years. But the show does (Even it’s it’s very lackluster) make a point that tom would be treated like trash if mewmans had no idea who he was, when you remove the barrier that separates him from other monsters, set up by the mewmans, he’s just another monster to mewni.
The Lucitors aren’t monsters because they’re useful to the Butterflies, they need them. But with their savage lifestyle and monsters tendencies, the buttterflies seem like hypocrites for thinking they are somehow BETTER then other “monsters “ like them out there just because they’re rich and useful.
Tom calling himself a “Monster”, and referring to himself as a apart of this category is strange to the others because the term is linked to people like them, to outcasts and those who are considered “Abominations”.
People were confused about why the others reacted to being surprised at tom being a monster because it should be obvious. But that reaction makes more sense when the title is for a class of people and is not solely based on looks or race.
Tom is basically “Demoting” himself.
“Monsters” are essentially a name for the creatures and races the mewmans consider “Lesser” then them, or dangerous. It’s a category, and a very selective one at that.
Tom embraces being a”Monster” by the end of the episode. Which is a step in the right direction for him as it allows him to connect with people who before now, he hadn’t made an effort to connect with. Only to find he’s a lot like them and make a stand for how garbage the system is.
“Monsters” are essentially a name for the creatures and races the mewmans consider “Lesser” then them, or dangerous. It’s a category, and a very selective one at that.
As we go forward into next season, i believe this stuff needs to be reinstated. because while the allegory in this show is not perfect, these kinda misconceptions seem to really confuse everyone and avoid the intentions of what is stated in the show and by the book.
