 Written in a more exact and less dramatic style than two of his previous major works ( Maggie : A Girl of the Streets and The Red Badge of Courage ) , The Monster differs from the other Whilomville stories in its scope and length . Its themes include the paradoxical study of monstrosity and deformity , as well as race and tolerance . Both the novella and collection received mixed reviews from critics , although The Monster is now considered one of Crane 's best works . 
