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David Kherdian's Monkey: A Journey To The West

Decent Essays

David Kherdian’s novel Monkey: A Journey to the West, begins with the creation story of Monkey. On the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit, a magic stone is fertilized by the seeds of Heaven and Earth and is impregnated by divine inspiration. Following the embryonic stages of development, a stone egg is revealed. The stone egg instantly undergoes a physical transformation. “Once the egg was exposed to the elements, the wind soon transformed it into a stone monkey, complete in every way in all aspects of its being”(Kherdian 1). The stone monkey soon comes to life, explores his surroundings, and makes friends with other monkeys and other mammals. Monkey and his friends fool around in the forest and spot a curtain of water flowing from a waterfall. …show more content…

On the way, he comes across the Patriarch Subodhi and his disciples. Although Monkey gives the Patriarch a hard time, he eventually recites a poem for Monkey avoiding for the Three Calamities. The Patriarch recites a secret formula that will enable Monkey to undergo seventy-two bodily transformations, while granting him with other talents, like the ability to soar through clouds at high speeds. While in Heaven, Monkey demands to be called Great Sage of Heaven. In order to gain immortality, he steals and eats from the Immortal Peach Garden and drinks elixir. Consequently, Monkey’s punishment is to be put to death in the alchemical crucible. As a result, the fire makes him stronger and indestructible. For example, Monkey uses his powers to rob, deceive, and battle monstrous …show more content…

They first come across Pigsy in the Cloud Ladder Cave, where Monkey tries to engage in battle. After discovering that Monkey too is a disciple, Pigsy explains how he became a convert of the Bodhisattva Kuan-Yin. He also says he was told to wait for the pilgrim, in order to assist him. Meanwhile everyone comes to a halt as they look at the roaring River of Flowing Sands and spot a river monster. Monkey seeks help from the Bodhisattva and her disciple Hui-an after trying to engage in battle. The Bodhisattva says, “Take this gourd and travel with monkey to the River of Flowing Sands. There you must shout, ‘Sandy!’ He is sure to come out, and when he does, take him to the Master so that he may submit and become a disciple” (140). Ultimately, the flock comes together, to set off for their quest to the Thunder Monastery

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