The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street by Rod Serling is a story that contains many deep themes about the state of humanity, one of the most prominent being that humans are their own worst enemy. One example of this theme is on pages 76-77, when, after a young boy named Tommy claims that aliens turned off all the power on their street, the residents immediately take it as fact and accuse their neighbor Les Goodman of being the alien after his car starts on its own and there are claims he expectantly looks at the stars in the middle of the night, even though it is clear that neither point is sound. This in turn makes Les so angry and defensive that he starts threatening his neighbors and escalating the situation further. This demonstrates how quick humans will turn on each other and find a scapegoat just to make sure that they don't fall into the realm of suspicion themselves; even if it just makes the situation worse, showing that humans are their own worst enemy. Another time that this theme is demonstrated is on pages 84-85, which happens after Charlie, who thinks that the shadowy figure walking towards them is the monster, shoots the shape down, just to find out it was only their neighbor Pete Van Horn. This is the residents last straw as thereafter, the street devolves into madness, where it is implied that the residents kill each other out of pure fear and insanity. Showing how people's fear of the unknown and paranoid outlook on the world can turn them from sophisticated, analytical beings to hysterical, judgmental creatures, or, as the story's would put it, monsters. Again demonstrating how humans are their own worst enemy. Finally, at the end of the story, on page 86, more evidence is given to support this theme when it is revealed that aliens were pulling the strings the entire time, though, to quote them, all one need do is -stop a few of their machines and radios and telephones and lawn mowers... throw them into darkness for a few hours and then you just sit back and watch the pattern, (Serling). Showing how gullible and hostile humans can be. Though even more explicit evidence appears a few lines later when the aliens say that humans in a dangerous situation will -pick the most dangerous enemy they can find... and it's themselves, (Serling). Conveying how people in a crisis will lose their humanity and point fingers at whoever they pick as their worst threat, which, according to the aliens, is always themselves. Both examples of how humans are their own worst enemy In conclusion, the residents paranoid, suspicious attitude in a crisis, tendency to escalate a situation, and quickness to turn on each other, along with the testimony of the aliens show that a major theme in The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street by Rod Serling is that humans are their own worst enemy.
Evidence 1: The residence immediately are suspicion on their neighbor Les Goodman because his car starts on its own, even though it is obvious that he had nothing to do with it. (Page 76-77)
The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street Theme: Humans are their own worst enemy.
Why is your car working? You must be the Alien!
I did nothing wrong!
It must be you!
Evidence 2:After Pete Van Horn is killed, the town devolves into chaos, were everyone is accused and it is implied that they start to kill each other. (Page 84-85)
Get them!
FIGHT!
Your the alien!
You killed Pete Van Horn!
STOP!
ALIEN!
Get him!
It him!
Imposter!
Evidence 3: When the aliens are revealed to have masterminded the whole affair, they describe how quickly humans will descend into insanity and explain how humans worst enemy is themselves. (Page 86)
HUMANS PICK THE MOST DANGEROUS ENEMY THEY CAN FIND... THEMSELVES.