My Pafology

My Pafology is symbolic of racial stereotypes. Monk originally writes the novel as a reaction to the publishing industry's gatekeepers and their expectations. He purposefully embraces tropes and stigmas throughout the book, because he is creating a parody of the stories publishers want and expect from Black authors. However, Random House buys the book overnight, thus exposing the industry's and the culture's dangerous stereotypes about the Black community and about Black artists.

Stagg R. Leigh

Stagg R. Leigh's character is symbolic of identity. When My Pafology begins to gain attention, Monk feels compelled to inhabit his pseudonymous author. The more he plays this role, the more estranged he becomes from himself. Stagg's character is therefore a representation of who Monk does not want to be but fears he is becoming.

Monk's Novels

Monk's past novels are symbolic of ego and pride. Monk is protective of...