Monster or Mutant?

        When thinking of the term “monster,” many of us may think of a creature that disgusts, terrifies, and sometimes even fascinates.  Maybe it looks like something we’ve never seen before, or is capable of doing things that defy our understanding of physical nature.  In X-Men and X-2, we see these traits in characters like Jean, who looks "normal" but has telekinetic abilities, and Mystique, who is a shapeshifter with blue skin and yellow eyes.  If the definition of monster is only skin-deep, then all of the mutants in these movies are monsters.

            This is a simple conclusion that leads to very little conversation.  As an audience, we are granted the ability to choose who the monsters truly are.  If we define monsters as those that perform monstrous acts, then the members of the “monster” category change.  Non-mutant characters within the movies see mutants as monsters because of their inhuman abilities.  However, the audience is permitted into the mutant world, where we see their motivations, emotions, and everything that makes them human.

As a young Polish Jew, Magneto was made to feel like a monster even before his mutant abilities were known to exist in X-Men.  It is not explained in either film what happened to him after the Nazis discovered his abilities and the audience is left to ponder.  It is likely that Magneto underwent experimentation, given its known extensive usage by Nazis.  Due to his experiences, Magneto grows into a radical cynic that despises non-mutants.  In X-2, we see that this goes so far as to attempting to kill all non-mutants.  For non-mutants, he is a monster.

Although the reason for Magneto’s beliefs are understandable, they are not justifiable.  He generalizes Nazi attitude towards mutants to all of mankind, believing that all are hateful, aggressive monsters.  Opposite of this standpoint is Professor and his cohorts, who desire coexistence and see mutants and non-mutants as equals.  In X-Men, they protect non-mutants from transformation and ultimately death.  In X-2, they protect mutants, and then non-mutants, from total annihilation.  For mutants and non-mutants alike, they are heroes.

It is evident that society has the ability to transform people that are simply unique into monsters, such as Magneto.  However, people also have the ability to choose whether or not they become monsters.  Professor, Wolverine, Jean, and others act for peace despite being “othered” by society.  In X-2, we see this decision unfold when Pyro joins Magneto.  Although none of these characters had control over what society viewed them as, they could choose how they responded.  Stryker, the villain in X-2, is also a monster created by society.  Like many non-mutants, he believes that mutants are dangerous, and so they must be controlled or destroyed.  He allows himself to fall victim to this belief system despite his own son being a mutant.  Through this case, it is clear that it is the nature of the mind, not appearance or abilities, that defines the monster.