The Parson Character Analysis in A Monster Calls

One of the characters in the monster’s second tale. The parson is the head of a great parsonage, and preaches against the Apothecary for his use of the old ways to heal people. He also refuses to let the Apothecary cut down the yew tree in his graveyard, which the Apothecary needs to make medicine. But when his daughters fall ill, the parson begs the Apothecary to save them, telling him that he will give up the yew tree, and preach sermons in favor of the Apothecary. The Apothecary refuses, and the parson’s daughters die. The monster adds to this grief by destroying the parson’s home, saying that he was not a man of belief because he was willing to give up everything he believed him, and should have given the yew tree over when the Apothecary first asked. Conor connects this character to his father, who is well-meaning but who often fails to do the right thing until it is too late.

The Parson Quotes in A Monster Calls

The A Monster Calls quotes below are all either spoken by The Parson or refer to The Parson. 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:

Death, Denial, and Acceptance Theme Icon

).

The yew tree is the most important of all the healing trees, it said. It lives for thousands of years. Its berries, its bark, its leaves, its sap, its pulp, its wood, they all thrum and burn and twist with life. It can cure almost any ailment man suffers from, mixed and treated by the right apothecary.

Related Characters: The Monster (speaker), Conor O’Malley, Conor’s Mother, The Parson, The Apothecary

Related Symbols: The Yew Tree

Page Number and Citation: 105

Explanation and Analysis:

She walked right past him, her face twisted in tears, the moaning spilling out of her again. She went to the display cabinet, the only thing remaining upright in the room.

And she grabbed it by one side—

And pulled on it hard once—

Twice—

And a third time.

Sending it crashing to the floor with a final-sounding crunch.

Related Characters: Conor O’Malley, The Monster, Conor’s Grandmother, The Parson

Page Number and Citation: 118

Explanation and Analysis:

You were merely wishing for the end of pain, the monster said. Your own pain. An end to how it isolated you. It is the most human wish of all.

“I didn’t mean it,” Conor said.

You did, the monster said, but you also did not.

Conor sniffed and looked up to its face, which was as big as a wall in front of him. “How can both be true?”

Because humans are complicated beasts, the monster said. How can a queen be both a good witch and a bad witch? How can a prince be a murderer and a saviour?

Related Characters: Conor O’Malley (speaker), The Monster (speaker), Conor’s Mother, The Evil Queen, The Parson, The Young Prince, The Apothecary

Page Number and Citation: 191

Explanation and Analysis:

The Parson Quotes in A Monster Calls

The A Monster Calls quotes below are all either spoken by The Parson or refer to The Parson. 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:

).

The yew tree is the most important of all the healing trees, it said. It lives for thousands of years. Its berries, its bark, its leaves, its sap, its pulp, its wood, they all thrum and burn and twist with life. It can cure almost any ailment man suffers from, mixed and treated by the right apothecary.

Related Characters: The Monster (speaker), Conor O’Malley, Conor’s Mother, The Parson, The Apothecary

Related Symbols: The Yew Tree

Page Number and Citation: 105

Explanation and Analysis:

She walked right past him, her face twisted in tears, the moaning spilling out of her again. She went to the display cabinet, the only thing remaining upright in the room.

And she grabbed it by one side—

And pulled on it hard once—

Twice—

And a third time.

Sending it crashing to the floor with a final-sounding crunch.

Related Characters: Conor O’Malley, The Monster, Conor’s Grandmother, The Parson

Page Number and Citation: 118

Explanation and Analysis:

You were merely wishing for the end of pain, the monster said. Your own pain. An end to how it isolated you. It is the most human wish of all.

“I didn’t mean it,” Conor said.

You did, the monster said, but you also did not.

Conor sniffed and looked up to its face, which was as big as a wall in front of him. “How can both be true?”

Because humans are complicated beasts, the monster said. How can a queen be both a good witch and a bad witch? How can a prince be a murderer and a saviour?

Related Characters: Conor O’Malley (speaker), The Monster (speaker), Conor’s Mother, The Evil Queen, The Parson, The Young Prince, The Apothecary

Page Number and Citation: 191

Explanation and Analysis: