Title: Pithecanthropus Rejectus
Author: Manly Wade Wellman
Date of First Publication: January 1938
Place of Publication: Astounding Stories
Type: Short Fiction
Characters: No Character
Themes: Post Human, Mad Scientist/Monster, Race/Politics, Sympathetic Monster
Critical Summary: “Pithecanthropus Rejectus” by Manly Wade Wellman is a short story told from the perspective of a great ape named Congo. A man, referred to in the story as Doctor, has given Congo human-like mind in order to further his research, and over time Congo’s intelligence and abilities have grown. Although Doctor’s wife attends to the ape with love and affection, just as she does with her human child, the doctor himself sees Congo only as a money-making project; he imagines that creatures like this one would make great slaves. Against his wife’s wishes, Doctor sells Congo, and the ape’s new owners take him on a performing tour. Doctor visits his creation some time later and, realizing that Congo has become a hit, announces his plan to follow that first success with new and improved versions. Congo tries to appeal to the doctor not to remove any other animals from their homes, but Doctor refuses to listen, and finally Congo attacks him, breaking his neck. Just after the ape writes down his story, he is killed. The legal system considers Congo to be an animal, so he cannot be tried for murder, but neither can those who kill Congo.
The doctor in Wellman’s story resembles Victor Frankenstein in his reckless ambition, his neglect of the needs of his creation, and his disregard for the consequences of his actions. Congo, like Victor’s Creature, is brought into a cruel world he did not choose; in this case, he is paraded in front of audiences for their entertainment, rather than provoking the horror of everyone he encounters. The stories commentary on the horrors of slavery and the othering—the dehumanization and “animalization”—of people in order to perpetuate slavery is evident. Both stories, Shelley’s and Wellman’s, of course, end tragically for both the creator and the creation.
Administrative Notes: Natallia Mak , CSUF; Alex Goodman, CSUF (editing)