2001: A Space Odyssey

by

Arthur C. Clarke

The Monolith Symbol Icon

The monolith, or monoliths, symbolize humanity’s evolutionary journey. Arriving at key moments in human history, the monoliths offer humanity a guiding hand, first saving the man-apes from extinction by teaching them the use of tools, then creating the Star-Child to save humanity from nuclear destruction. (In the novel’s present, scientists name the monolith on the moon TMA-1.) In this way, the monoliths emulate the natural evolution process, with a twist—sent out en masse across the universe, they selectively cultivate intelligent life, or rather, "Mind," akin to how humans on Earth cultivate plants, dogs, or cattle. This simultaneously affirms and challenges notions of human exceptionalism: we are far from the smartest or most powerful beings in the universe, but we have also passed the monolith’s test, so to speak. Still, humanity remains in its trial period, with the weaver wondering whether humans will be permitted to “form part of his still-growing tapestry.” Given humanity’s trajectory in the novel, such hesitation is not unwarranted; every time humanity has been given new knowledge or power, it has resulted in violence, tribalism, and greed, and it’s not clear that the Star-Child is off to a better start. More broadly, then, the monoliths function as externalizations of human potential, raising the question of whether humanity will transcend its history of misusing its gifts, or simply continue to perpetuate the cycle of self-destructive tendencies. The monoliths, in short, are mirrors of the human condition.

The Monolith Quotes in 2001: A Space Odyssey

The 2001: A Space Odyssey quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Monolith. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Collaboration vs. Individualism Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1  Quotes

As he looked out upon the hostile world of the Pleistocene, there was already something in his gaze beyond the capacity of any ape. In those dark, deep-set eyes was a dawning awareness—the first intimations of an intelligence that could not possibly fulfill itself for ages yet, and might soon be extinguished forever.

Related Characters: Moon-Watcher
Related Symbols: The Monolith
Page Number: 4
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 3 Quotes

Moon-Watcher felt the first faint twinges of a new and potent emotion. It was a vague and diffuse sense of envy–of dissatisfaction with his life. He had no idea of its cause, still less its cure; but discontent had come into his soul, and he had taken one step toward humanity.

Related Characters: Moon-Watcher
Related Symbols: The Monolith
Page Number: 19
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5 Quotes

For a few seconds Moon-Watcher stood uncertainly above his new victim, trying to grasp the strange and wonderful fact that the dead leopard could kill again. Now he was master of the world, and he was not quite sure what to do next. But he would think of something.

Related Characters: Moon-Watcher , One-Ear
Related Symbols: The Monolith
Page Number: 33
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 12 Quotes

Three million years! The infinitely crowded panorama of written history, with its empires, and its kings, its triumphs and its tragedies, covered barely one thousandth of this appalling span of time. Not only Man himself, but most of the animals now alive on Earth, did not even exist when this black enigma was so carefully buried here, in the most brilliant and most spectacular of all the craters on the moon.

Related Characters: Heywood Floyd
Related Symbols: The Monolith
Page Number: 87-88
Explanation and Analysis:

Pandora’s box, thought Floyd, with a sudden sense of foreboding—waiting to be opened by inquisitive Man. And what will he find inside?

Related Characters: Heywood Floyd
Related Symbols: The Monolith
Page Number: 94
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 37 Quotes

And because, in all the galaxy, they had found nothing more precious than Mind, they encouraged its dawning everywhere. They became farmers in the fields of stars; they sowed, and sometimes they reaped. And sometimes, dispassionately, they had to weed.

Related Symbols: The Monolith
Page Number: 244
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 41 Quotes

Where in God’s name am I? Bowman asked himself; and even as he posed the question, he felt certain that he could never know the answer. It seemed that space had been turned inside out: this was not a place for Man.

Related Characters: David Bowman (The Star-Child) (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Monolith
Page Number: 263
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 44 Quotes

So–it was all a fake, though a fantastically careful one. And it was clearly not intended to deceive but rather—he hoped—to reassure. That was a very comforting thought; nevertheless he would not remove his suit until he had completed his voyage of exploration.

Related Characters: David Bowman (The Star-Child)
Related Symbols: The Hotel Suite , The Monolith
Page Number: 287
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 46 Quotes

For in the eons since their last meeting, much had been learned by the weaver; and the material on which he practiced his art was not of an infinitely finer texture. But whether it should be permitted to form part of his still-growing tapestry, only the future could tell.

Related Characters: David Bowman (The Star-Child) , The Weaver
Related Symbols: The Monolith
Page Number: 292-293
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 47 Quotes

Then he waited, marshalling his thoughts and brooding over his still untested powers. For though he was master of the world, he was not quite sure what to do next. But he would think of something.

Related Characters: David Bowman (The Star-Child)
Related Symbols: The Monolith
Page Number: 297
Explanation and Analysis:
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The Monolith Symbol Timeline in 2001: A Space Odyssey

The timeline below shows where the symbol The Monolith appears in 2001: A Space Odyssey. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2 
Tools and Human Evolution Theme Icon
The Perils of Knowledge Theme Icon
...upon stone.” In the morning, Moon-Watcher finds a rectangular slab of crystalline material—dubbed the “ New Rock ”—on the way to the river. He inspects it, but discovering it to be inedible,... (full context)
Chapter 3
Collaboration vs. Individualism Theme Icon
The Perils of Knowledge Theme Icon
...own life, his first “step toward humanity.” This process continues for several weeks, with the monolith gradually reshaping Moon-Watcher’s mind, teaching him new instincts necessary for survival. One day, watching a... (full context)
Chapter 4 
Collaboration vs. Individualism Theme Icon
Tools and Human Evolution Theme Icon
The Perils of Knowledge Theme Icon
Equipped with new tools and skills shown to them by the monolith, Moon-Watcher and his tribe have been given the chance to become masters of their world.... (full context)
Chapter 5
Tools and Human Evolution Theme Icon
The Perils of Knowledge Theme Icon
The monolith vanishes, and Moon-Watcher soon forgets its existence, unaware of what it did to him and... (full context)
Chapter 9
Collaboration vs. Individualism Theme Icon
Space Travel Theme Icon
The Perils of Knowledge Theme Icon
...lounge. There, Dimitri asks for details on the epidemic, as well as the meaning of TMA-1. Floyd pretends not to know, but Dimitri is not fooled, expressing his hope that they... (full context)
Chapter 10
Collaboration vs. Individualism Theme Icon
The Perils of Knowledge Theme Icon
...story is causing distress. Floyd acknowledges this, but cautions patience. They need to know what TMA-1 actually is before they break the news blackout.  (full context)
Chapter 11
Collaboration vs. Individualism Theme Icon
Space Travel Theme Icon
...the circumstances. Dr. Michaels recounts the events leading up to the discovery and excavation of TMA-1, or Tycho Magnetic Anomaly-One, a mysterious black rectangular slab unlike anything seen before on Earth.... (full context)
Chapter 12
Tools and Human Evolution Theme Icon
The Perils of Knowledge Theme Icon
...crater, Floyd reflects on the insignificance of human history compared to the three-million-year existence of TMA-1. As Dr. Michaels had explained, the creatures who put it on the moon were clearly... (full context)
Collaboration vs. Individualism Theme Icon
Tools and Human Evolution Theme Icon
The Perils of Knowledge Theme Icon
...a tiny camp in the distance. Coming to the lip of the crater, Floyd sees TMA-1, nearly invisible despite all the light from Earth. Now only 20 feet from the object,... (full context)
Chapter 13
Collaboration vs. Individualism Theme Icon
Space Travel Theme Icon
...which both amuses and pleases Floyd. The sun comes up, and Floyd marvels that the monolith is seeing its first sunrise. He considers whether it was designed to absorb solar energy,... (full context)
Chapter 30
Collaboration vs. Individualism Theme Icon
The Perils of Knowledge Theme Icon
...handling of his situation. He then reveals the true purpose of the mission, showing Bowman TMA-1 and detailing the radiation blast it produced upon being discovered, pointing to Saturn. He also... (full context)
Chapter 31
Tools and Human Evolution Theme Icon
The Perils of Knowledge Theme Icon
...a new, if albeit more hands-on, routine. During his free time, he learns more about TMA-1, captivated by its unusually perfect geometric proportions. He also processes Mission Control’s various apologies and... (full context)
Chapter 32
Tools and Human Evolution Theme Icon
The Perils of Knowledge Theme Icon
...mystery lying in wait for him, and the nature of the aliens responsible for creating TMA-1. Few believe the extraterrestrials originated from the inhospitable Saturnian system, and yet the possibility of... (full context)
Chapter 36
Space Travel Theme Icon
The Perils of Knowledge Theme Icon
...giant, black, windowless building, nearly a mile high. Upon closer inspection, Bowman realizes it’s another monolith: TMA-1’s “big brother.”  (full context)
Chapter 37
The Perils of Knowledge Theme Icon
The second monolith is called the “Star Gate.” Created from a former moon—the debris of which now circles... (full context)
Tools and Human Evolution Theme Icon
As Earth grew older, civilizations and empires rose and fell across the galaxy. Gradually, the monolith’s creators left their fleshly forms for metal bodies, becoming spaceships. However, this was only one... (full context)
Chapter 38
Tools and Human Evolution Theme Icon
...Mission Control, Bowman describes the poor air conditions in the ship. He reports that the monolith—named TMA-2 by Mission Control—has not responded to any of his signals and is moving further... (full context)
Chapter 39
Collaboration vs. Individualism Theme Icon
...make it back, he will not survive long enough to be rescued. Getting closer to TMA-2, Bowman realizes how truly massive the monolith is, being nearly 2,000 feet high. Still reporting... (full context)
Chapter 41
Collaboration vs. Individualism Theme Icon
Falling through the monolith, Bowman wishes he had learned more about theories of trans-dimensional ducts. Though the star-filled walls... (full context)
Chapter 44
Tools and Human Evolution Theme Icon
Space Travel Theme Icon
...turns on the television, finding all the programs to be two years old. He realizes TMA-1 must have been watching Earth’s radio waves. Flipping through the channels, Bowman discovers his own... (full context)
Chapter 46
Tools and Human Evolution Theme Icon
The Perils of Knowledge Theme Icon
...to leave, though it knows it will never truly leave this place of rebirth. A monolith floats in front of the child, and the purpose of its geometric ratio of 1:4:9... (full context)