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Monster's University
Read screenplay here
The main protagonist in Monsters University is Mike Wazowski, whose story the movie is about. James P. Sullivan (aka Sulley) is another major character; he is initially introduced as an antagonist, yet is later developed to become a major protagonist. There are several important minor characters, such as the headmaster Hardscrabble and the members of Oozma Kappa. Mike is very driven to succeed and reach his goal of becoming a Scarer for Monsters Inc., which has clearly been his dream since the first moment the movie begins. He outshines the other monsters in his scaring class with his knowledge of different scare tactics and willingness to put in the work necessary to reach his full potential. Initially, the Scarer that gives little Mike his Monsters University hat at Monsters Inc., is the inspiration for Mike to become a Scarer through the program offered at Monsters University. However, once the famed pupil, James P. Sullivan, insults Mike by saying “I mean, for scare students who actually, you know, have a chance” in reference to Mike’s status as a scare student in order to gain access to a fraternity party. This insinuation that Mike’s appearance is the only factor that will determine his success in the scaring program motivates him to prove to others that a monster can learn to be scary, despite his appearance. This sort of rivalry between Mike and Sulley drives Mike even harder than the audience saw before, and the audience sees Mike’s hard efforts are paying off when he receives and A+ on an assignment that Sulley receives a C- on. [SLO 1]
SLO 1
SLO 3
SLO 4
Do the ends justify the means?
In Monster’s University, there are several instances of this quandary presented. Examples include: Mike accepting Sulley to be the last member of their team for the Scare Games, despite his extreme dislike for Sulley; Mike attempting to change the members of Oozma Kappa to better suit his needs, despite occasionally insulting them or hurting their feelings; and Sulley tampering with the Scare Machine at the end of the Scare Games to ensure Mike and the team would beat Roar Omega Roar.
When Mike accepts Sulley to be the last member of their team for the Scare Games, it is due to a desperate need to continue on in the Scare Program, as was his dream for as long as the audience is aware. It is clear that Mike has little to no respect for Sulley, as Sulley relied solely on his namesake and inherited “scariness” instead of putting in the time and effort to succeed as Mike was forced to do. After several scenes, the two finally begin to sort out their differences, accept their situation, and try to make the best of it together, especially since neither Mike nor Sulley are excited about the group they are forced to compete with, Oozma Kappa.
Since Mike desperately wants to graduate and complete the Scare Program to become a Scarer at Monsters Inc., he focuses more on that need and molding the members of Oozma Kappa to fit his ideal image of a Scarer than trying to find the strengths that each member brings to the group. It isn’t until after the second event in the Scare Games that the group begins to recognize each other’s strengths rather than focus on each other’s negative attributes.
DON: Mike, we appreciate everything you’ve done…but he’s right.
No matter how much we train, we’ll never look like them.
We’re built for other things.
[…Mike watches them go, helpless. Chet approaches holding a
mug with the photo on it]
CHET: (slurp) Sorry Squirt, some monsters just aren’t cut out for
the big leagues. (laugh) (Scanlon 93)
The beginning of the solution to this problem occurs when Mike organizes a break in to Monsters Inc., to emphasize the ability of monsters to play on their differences and turn them into unique strengths.
MIKE: there’s no ONE type of scarer. The best scarers use their
differences to their advantage. (96)
Finally, at the end of the Scare Games, each individual competitor, one from each team, is given a scenario and is “graded” on his or her ability to adapt and efficiently fill the scare can with scream energy. Sulley convinces Mike to go last, which he presents as a positive thing, but after the Games are over, the audience, and Mike, discover that Sulley’s true intentions were to tamper with the scare-tactic measuring device used to ensure that Mike won. Since Mike won, Mike and Sulley were allowed back into the Scare Program, and Mike’s confidence in his own ability was increased. However, he is crushed to find out that Sulley had changed the settings for his round. This conflict is resolved by the two being expelled from Monsters University, but the two make the best of the situation, and eventually become a Scare Team at Monsters Inc.
This conflict of the ends justifying the means is seen all throughout literature. One example can be found in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, when George kills his best friend Lennie after he is accused of raping a woman. Lennie has a difficult time telling the difference between right and wrong, as seen throughout the novel, and is constantly looking to be happy with his best friend George. In the end, George ultimately offers Lennie the means necessary to reach that happiness, by freeing him from the hate and prejudice against him that he receives from nearly every person he encounters, and also the almost certain slow and painful death the townsfolk would’ve ensured Lennie received as payment for raping a woman.
The release of Monster’s University was perfectly timed, as it correlated almost perfectly with the generation that first enjoyed Monster's Inc., as most of the Monster’s Inc. generation was either about to attend college or was just starting college. The movie touched on several typical quandaries that students face when beginning college, such as the “should I study or should I party” situation presented when Mike and Randall are discussing the fraternity and sorority party:
RANDY: Come on Mike – it’s a fraternity and sorority party. We
have to go!
[Mike flips to December and marks the date for the scaring final]
MIKE: We flunk that scaring final, we are done. I’m not taking
any chances. (23)
In this scene, the audience sees the two extremes that students who are experiencing college for the first time are trying to decide between: those that want to go out and have fun, and those who don’t ever go out and have fun. College is about finding that balance between academic and social, a study that many studies, and students, will attest to. The producers of Monster’s University focused heavily on issues that many of today’s college students would find relatable: the excitement of beginning college and getting a fresh start; the want to go out and socialize, coupled with the possible guilt about not using that time to study and get ahead instead; the fear of failing finals; the intense cramming that many students are forced to do come finals week; the extreme dependence on coffee and caffeine. While some of the specific situations may apply only to our generation, the college experience presented in Monster’s University as a whole can be easily related to by anyone who has gone to college.