Monkey: A Folk Novel of China

“Yama, King of Death, is secretly waiting to destroy me. Is there no way by which, instead of being born again on earth, I might live forever among the people of the sky?” 

Monkey expresses a very human fear of death—which is even more remarkable as many of the men he meets early in his life have no understanding of their own mortality. Monkey’s prescience indicates his unusual intelligence, which is both his greatest strength and greatest weakness as he learns how to navigate the world. 

“I am afraid philosophy is no better than a prop in the wall.”

When Monkey first seeks religion, he has a lengthy discussion with his teacher as to which specific area he should study. They go back and forth many times, with the master suggesting a topic, Monkey asking if that topic will grant him long life, and the master responding as above, with a vague analogy that Monkey insists he does not understand. Monkey’s desire for a straightforward answer is at odds with the religious man’s tendency to speak indirectly.

“Nothing in the world is difficult […] it is only our own thoughts that make things seem so.” 

Subodhi says this to Monkey in response to Monkey thinking that cloud-soaring sounds difficult. Subodhi’s statement resonates with Monkey, and his actions and statements after learning cloud-soaring reflect that resonance. Though occasionally he gets upset and complains, Monkey’s typical response to any challenge is to laugh in its face and say that it’s nothing to worry about.