Monster (2004): Morality, Law, Political Agendas, and the Struggle to Uphold One's Code

Monster, the psychological masterpiece by Naoki Urasawa, is more than just a story about a doctor and a killer—it’s a profound exploration of morality, the fragility of law, the corrosive influence of political agendas, and the immense burden of staying true to one’s principles in the face of overwhelming darkness.

At its heart is Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a man who embodies the question: How far would you go to hold onto your moral code when everything around you pushes you to break it? It’s this tension that drives Monster, turning a tale of suspense into a reflection on human nature, societal constructs, and the weight of personal choices.

Morality: The Cost of Doing What’s Right

Dr. Tenma’s moral dilemma begins with a choice that defines his life. When faced with the decision to save the mayor or a young boy named Johan, Tenma chooses to save the boy, prioritizing the sanctity of life over political expediency. This act of integrity, however, unleashes a monster into the world—Johan Liebert, a sociopath who weaponizes his charm and intelligence to manipulate others and spread chaos.

Philosopher S?ren Kierkegaard’s Fear and Trembling offers insight into Tenma’s moral struggle. Kierkegaard’s concept of the "teleological suspension of the ethical" examines the tension between universal moral laws and individual choices. Tenma’s decision to save Johan reflects his unwavering belief in the Hippocratic Oath, even when it leads to devastating consequences.

As the series unfolds, Tenma’s commitment to his principles is tested repeatedly. Can one stay true to their moral code when it feels like the world is punishing them for it? Tenma’s journey is a testament to the difficulty—and necessity—of holding onto one’s humanity in a world filled with inhumanity.

Law: A Flawed Guardian of Justice

Monster is deeply critical of the law as an institution. The series repeatedly shows how legal systems are manipulated by those in power or rendered impotent by bureaucracy and corruption. Johan, with his ability to exploit human weakness, operates outside the bounds of the law, exposing its inability to address deeper societal failings.

This critique aligns with the writings of Michel Foucault, particularly in Discipline and Punish. Foucault argued that legal systems often serve to reinforce existing power structures rather than deliver true justice. In Monster, the law is shown as reactive and often blind to the root causes of crime, focusing on punishment rather than prevention or understanding.

Tenma’s status as a fugitive underscores this flaw. Though he is innocent, the system’s rigidity forces him to operate outside its bounds to pursue Johan and uncover the truth. This duality—of a man committed to justice yet hunted by those meant to uphold it—highlights the inherent contradictions in our legal frameworks.

Political Agendas: The Manipulation of Truth

Politics looms large in Monster, shaping the lives of its characters and the world they inhabit. Johan’s backstory is inextricably tied to Cold War-era experiments on indoctrination and control, reflecting how political agendas often treat individuals as expendable tools for broader objectives.

Hannah Arendt’s The Origins of Totalitarianism provides a chilling context for Johan’s upbringing. Arendt explored how totalitarian regimes dehumanize individuals to maintain power, erasing personal identity in favor of collective ideology. Johan’s transformation into a “monster” is a direct result of these dehumanizing forces, showing how political systems can create the very evils they claim to combat.

The series also critiques how political expediency often overrides morality. From Tenma’s initial conflict with hospital administrators to the shadowy organizations pulling strings behind the scenes, Monster reveals how political agendas prioritize power and control over truth and justice.

The Struggle to Stay Whole: Upholding a Code in a Broken World

Tenma’s steadfast adherence to his principles is the emotional core of Monster. As he chases Johan across Europe, he’s forced to confront unimaginable darkness—both in the world and within himself. Yet, despite the temptation to abandon his code, Tenma refuses to kill Johan, even when doing so seems like the only way to end the nightmare.

This moral steadfastness recalls Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning. Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, argued that maintaining one’s values in the face of suffering is essential to preserving humanity. For Tenma, his refusal to become a killer is his way of asserting control over his identity. By staying true to his ideals, he resists the nihilism that Johan represents.

The contrast between Tenma and Johan is stark. Where Johan embraces chaos and the erasure of identity, Tenma fights to preserve life and meaning, even at great personal cost. This dynamic raises a profound question: Is it possible to confront evil without becoming it?

The Fragility of Morality in an Unjust World

Monster doesn’t offer easy answers. Instead, it forces us to grapple with the fragility of morality in a world that often rewards pragmatism over principle. Through Tenma’s journey, the series explores the cost of staying true to one’s values when the world punishes integrity and rewards deceit.

In Johan, we see the terrifying consequences of a world that abandons morality altogether. He represents the ultimate rejection of meaning, a figure who thrives on despair and destruction. In contrast, Tenma’s refusal to break his code is an act of defiance against this nihilism, a reminder that morality isn’t about perfection but perseverance.

What Does It Mean to Be Good?

Monster challenged me to think deeply about what it means to live a good life. Is morality about following universal rules, or is it something more personal and situational? And in a world where law and politics often fail to deliver justice, how do we navigate the gray zones between right and wrong?

Tenma’s journey is one of hope amid despair, a reminder that even in the darkest circumstances, holding onto one’s principles can be an act of profound courage. But it’s also a cautionary tale about the consequences of abandoning those principles, as seen in Johan’s chilling descent into inhumanity.

A Story About Us

Ultimately, Monster is more than a story about a doctor and a killer—it’s a story about us. It forces us to confront our own beliefs about morality, justice, and the systems we rely on to maintain order. And it asks us, in the face of a broken world: Will we hold onto our values, or will we let the darkness consume us?