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Sasha Evans
English 1102/ K. Redding
Composition 1
9 June 2016
The Fear Within Us All
Andrew J. Hoffman wrote the book Monsters to make students and instructors question
their knowledge of monsters. Throughout the book, we are asked many questions that challenge
our brains. We are constantly being tested with questions; for example, why do we as humans
create monsters? The essays allow us to gain a deeper knowledge of how monsters came about
and how they relate to human culture. Stephen Kings essay Why We Crave Horror Movies
and Stephen T. Asmas Monsters and the Moral Imagination help answer the questions we
have formed throughout reading this book. Both authors are arguing for a similar purpose. They
are both suggesting that we use monsters and horror as a way to express our emotion of fear.
Stephen King is a popular writer in the horror department. He has written many horror
stories, many of which have been made into movies. Throughout the essay, Why We Crave
Horror Movies, King makes arguments as to why we enjoy horror films. He believes that horror
films are a way to release the ease off of our inner monster that we are hiding away. These films
have a use; to make us express our evil emotions. King starts off the essay arguing that we are
mentally ill (16). He is suggesting that people who enjoy horror films are just messed up in the
head (16). People that fear something will still go and see a horror film based around whatever it
is that they are afraid of. We are putting ourselves in the position to be scared. When we walk
into a theatre, we are prepared to be frightened. Why do we pay money to go home terrified of

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something hiding under the bed or someone hiding in the closet? Its part of daring the
nightmare (King 16). According to King, some reasons are simple and obvious (16). Its to
show strength; by watching a horror film, a person is proving that he or she can handle it. Even if
the film is completely terrifying, there is a sense of accomplishment after making it through a
horror movie. King compares horror films to riding a roller coaster. We ride roller coasters even
though they are terrifying. Some people get the same enjoyment by scaring themselves while
watching a horror movie. King argues that we go and see scary movies to feel more normal (16).
Seeing a repulsive monster gnawing on human flesh is not normal. King states, No matter how
far we may be removed from the beauty of a Robert Redford or a Diana Ross, we are still light
years away from true ugliness (16). Horror films bring out our dark, twisted side, If we are all
insane, then sanity becomes a matter of degree (King 17). People enjoy watching acts occur in
movies, but if anyone was to attempt to do the same in real life, its a different story. These films
appeal to the worst part of us, which is why we are compelled to watch them. King believes that
if we get these bad emotions out through watching horror films, we can remain sane.
Stephen T. Asma, a professor of philosophy at Columbia College Chicago, wrote the
essay Monsters and the Moral Imagination. Just like King, he is arguing that these monsters
serve a purpose. These monsters are testing our level of morality. Some bad people do not have
morals, making them do monstrous things. The things we see in horror films frighten us; most of
which are not possible, but some have occurred. Thats when it gets frightening. The monsters in
our minds are not even real, we create these images of monsters in our heads. They play with our
imagination and emotions, Monsters can stand as symbols of human vulnerability and crisis,
and as such they play imaginative foils for thinking about our own responses to menace (Asma

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62). Then again, we have real monsters in todays society, such as serial-killers. Yes, they are out
there. Asma argues that part of our fascination with serial-killer monsters is that we are
vulnerable to sadistic violence (62). No one ever enjoys feeling vulnerable. Some one in todays
world may not ever face against a zombie, but that does not mean you will never encounter some
type of monster in your lifetime. Asma points out that people may cross paths with rapists,
robbers, and even assaulters (63). Those monsters are unpredictable and we still like to be
prepared for an encounter. People face monsters like these frequently, yet some say that monsters
are becoming a thing of the past. Asma disagrees, Its a permanent player in the moral
imagination because human vulnerability is permanent (63). We will never forget about
imaginary and/or real monsters and their effect on our emotions.
These two essays help us to understand why monsters are so important. They explain the
emotion of fear. They scare us into being prepared for the worst. We have to let fear pour out at
some point, whether we are watching a horror film or preparing for the zombie apocalypse. This
entire book is all about discovering where monsters came from, what they are, why we are
attracted to them, and why we all have our own inner monster. They are valuable to our
knowledge because we have a better understanding of why we fear what we are afraid of.
Monsters have been around for a long time and they arent going anywhere.

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Works Cited
King, Stephen. Why We Crave Horror Movies. Monsters. Bedford/St. Martins.
Asma, Stephen T. Monsters and the Moral Imagination. Monsters. Bedford/St. Martinss.