Quindlen (nd) talks about the fears that people face in life, some of which are real whereas are people’s own creations. She brings this out through the symbolic monster that every child sees under the bed at night. It is apparent that this monster shows up only when the lights are out and the parents are no longer in the room. Though the parents understand that there is practically no monster that is usually under the bed, Quindlen refuses to act the conventional way adopted by the other parents; leaning under the bed and checking for the monster just to confirm to the innocent child that there is no monster. She debates whether to respond to the child that there is no monster or to let him deal with his ghosts.
Quindlen (nd) explains why she has such a feeling. In as much as children get frightened of these non-existent monsters and overgrow the fears with time, yet the monsters in life never go away. They are always around to haunt people. The unfortunate fact is that these monsters are more real and they strike at the most unexpected time. These monsters include but are not limited to the burglars who make away with people’s properties, uncaring lovers who break people’s hearts and disappear for good, failing marriages and relationships, troubles at work, and many more. These are shadows that lurk in peoples lives; shedding cold shivers down people’s spines wherever they are thought of.
With this understanding, Quindlen (nd) argues that there is practically no need to make her son believe that there are no monsters in life. The fact of the matter is that they are there and it is upon the son to learn how to deal with them.
Reference
Quindlen, A. (nd). Monsters. (Attached).
