Week 4 Literary Analysis: Wu Cheng’en - The Journey to the West Chapter 1 (A Close Reading)

The Monkey King is the representation of human condition and mind.

I think it is important to note that though this tale has historic roots (421), it has come a far way from being a historical document. It is more like fan fiction cake that is covered in thick icing of metaphor and symbolism . 

The Mountain of Mind and Heart (433) And Monkey King's interaction with the Woodcutter seems again to circle around values. The Monkey has no faith, religion, he only plays and looks out for what he wants. This seems to be the ever ending struggle. He gets one thing he wants and then moves to the next, his selfishness knows no bounds. Even as light hearted as he is. 

The woodcutter says to the Monkey King in response to the idea that he should also go to learn from the immortal  - "If I go with you, won't I be neglecting my livelihood? And who will take care of my mother? I must chop my firewood. You go on by yourself!" (433). In this interaction we can almost see a mirror being held up to Monkey King. He left on this journey, leaving his family of Monkey's that he is ruler of. And he neglects what has become his life's charge. Monkey becomes board of this, yet still wants to live forever. 

This interaction also shows a lesson of life. What matters to one may not matter to all. Monkey King wants to find never ending life, the woodcutter longs to take care of his family and earn an honest living. This can be ratable even now. Many people long for a life that is plain and they want every day to look the same with no variation. The life for the routine. Others want a life of change. Always learning something new, moving, trying new jobs, wanting to earn more. Everyday is bigger and better than the last. But these life styles are not uniform. Nor should they be. Because every individual life makes society functional as we know it. 

 Monkey King is much like a child's mind. His 400 years in seclusion offered little mind growth and once he begins his quest he starts to learn to navigate his world. one of his statements shows his innocents, "People here are truly honest." When finding that the mountain and cave he was told of really were where expected. He knew of childish games of monkeys but not of human nature. Let alone the nature of the Gods. He does not know what is truly right an wrong. He steals clothes (430), and feels no remorse for robing someone else. He is very self centered like a toddler. Monkey King States that his "... life's without ill temper." bot how can this be true when he mourned for his mortality? Is that not an ill temper?  

When the Monkey King sees humans he wonders why the humans seek profit and fame rather than immortality (430). I chose this because I feel that the text is an example as to why the humans would seek fame, as it is a kind of immortality. The name of the author has survived the ages. Thus preserving his thoughts, feelings, and ideas, and what are we really but those things? Our flesh will rot but the things that make us who we are will last. 

What is obvious to me about the text, is that The Monkey King and the whole tale is an allegory for the human mind. The monkey moves quickly from one emotion to the next and often changes his mind rapidly and at whim to what will benefit him. This is human nature (or some would say) if left unchecked. He also struggles with the idea of mortality just as we all do. He also grapples with taking care of generations we will never see "Seeking wealth and power to give sons of sons," (421). 

 I was a bit bored by the long poem of the monkey feast for the king. Though I did enjoy the incorporation of the royal colors of red and yellow (429). I also liked that the King asked for help when he needed it from the woodsman (433). this showed that he could be humble and was able to open his mind to new information. 

Lawall, Sarah N., and Maynard Mack. The Norton anthology of world literature. beginnings to A.D. 100. Norton, 2002.