One theme evidently present in the teleplay The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street by Rod Sterling is fear and suspicion are destructive. An example of this is on page #77 when the residents of Maple Street accuse Les Goodman's family of being aliens after his car starts up by itself and his porch light turns on then off again. Les Goodman says, Look, you all know me. We've lived here for five years. Right in this house. We're no different from any of the rest of you! We're no different at all really. This scene shows how fear and suspicion are destructive because the friendships between the Goodmans and the other residents of Maple Street are destroyed. The residents were scared when they saw Mr. Goodman's car start up by itself and their fear caused them to accuse Les disregarding the fact they've known his family for five years. This situation destroyed their friendships in the process. Another example of something being destroyed due to fear and suspicion is on page #82 when a figure approaches the group and Charlie shoots it thinking its the monster but in reality its Pete Van Horn. This scene supports the theme because Charlie acted out of fear and shot an innocent man destroying two lives. After the residents saw the figure, it was Tommy screaming that it was the monster which caused Charlie to act irrationally due to his mind being clouded from fear. This destroyed his life because now he is responsible for another man's death and his friends witnessed it. Pete Van Horn's life is destroyed because he is no longer living. A final quote that showcases fear and suspicion is destructive is on page #86 when the aliens admit humans, “Pick the most dangerous enemy they can find... and it's themselves,” as well as, “We'll go from one to another and let them destroy themselves.” This proves that fear and suspicion are destructive because it showcases the pattern of humans destroying each other due to lack of trust, fear, suspicion, and inner prejudices. The aliens merely had to turn on a couple lights in the darkness before people's fear and suspicion got the best of them, resulting in everyone dying. Additionally, the title suggests this could happen anywhere. To summarize, the theme fear and suspicion are destructive is prominent in Rod Sterling's teleplay The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street.
Evidence 1. The residents of Maple Street accuse Les Goodman of being an alien after his car starts up by itself and his porch light turns on and off.
The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street Theme: Fear and suspicion are destructive.
Evidence 2. A figure approaches the group and Charlie shoots it thinking its the monster; however it turns out to be Pete Van Horn.
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Evidence 3. The aliens admit humans, Pick the most dangerous enemy they can find.. and it's themselves, as well as, We'll go from one to another and let them destroy themselves.
The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street Theme: Fear and Suspicion are Destructive
One major theme in The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street by Rod Sterling is fear and suspicion are destructive. One example of this found in the story is on page #77, when the residents of maple street begin to accuse Les Goodman of being an alien because his car started up by itself and his porch light turned on then off. This scene supports the theme because the friendship between the Goodmans and the other residents on maple street is destroyed. The residents were scared when they saw Les' car start and their fear caused them to accuse Les' family and disregard the fact they've known his family for five years. Destroying their friendship in the process. Another scene that supports the theme is on page #82, when a figure appears down the street and Charlie shoots it thinking its the monster but it turns out to be Peter Van Horn. This shows fear and suspicion destroy because charlie acted out of fear and shot an innocent man. Tommy screamed that it was the monster which caused charlie to act irrationally out of fear and destroy his own life