A Monster Calls

The yew tree, the monster’s preferred form, symbolizes the dual nature of death and healing in the novel. Found throughout England, yew trees earned the nickname “graveyard trees” because they are often found on burial grounds, much like the yew tree was planted on the parsonage grounds in the monster’s second tale. Yew trees are also ancient trees that, as the monster explains, can “live for thousands of years” (105). They are extremely deadly, because their berries are highly toxic and can be fatal if consumed. The berries left on Conor’s bedroom floor after the monster’s second visit serve as a warning that the monster is not to be underestimated or disrespected, and the berries emphasize its connection to death.

The monster also claims that “The yew tree is the most important of all the healing trees” (105). As seen in the story of the Apothecary and the Parson, the yew tree can be used for all manners of healing. The final medicine attempted by the doctors is not fictional: Yew trees are used in the treatment of various cancers, and the drugs have a surprisingly high rate of success. Placing the yew tree at the center of a novel that is about terminal illness— and, very likely, a type of cancer— is a very deliberate move on the author’s part, but the implications do not stop at physical healing.