27 pages • 54 minutes read
Ted HughesThe Iron Giant
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1968A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary
Background
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Tools
BetaCharacter Analysis
The Iron Man
The Iron Man is the unlikely protagonist of the story and a dynamic character whose position within society shifts over time as more facets of his personality are revealed. The Iron Man is initially presented as a mysterious entity with no known origin, maker, or purpose. He stands atop the cliff amid an atmosphere of foreboding and intrigue as his red glowing eyes scan the sea below. The Iron Man seems to be drawn to the sea, but because his intentions are not known, both the author and the reader are left to guess why he continuously returns there. The Iron Man is presented in direct contrast with the natural environment but is himself part of it and at least partially alive; these connections illustrate The Relationship Between the Natural and the Mechanical.
The Iron Man’s parts all work in unison and can communicate with one another, which allows him to put himself back together if he breaks. He is apparently indestructible and consumes only metals, which his body responds to depending on their quality. Old, rusty metals make the Iron Man unhealthy, while rarer, more precious metals give his body a healthy glow and sheen. The Iron Man also shows human emotions like fear and anger, such as when he is buried, as well as human thought processes like curiosity and trickery. The Iron Man’s curiosity is what makes him seem terrifying because as he stares and scans the world around him, one is unsure what he is thinking or planning. The Iron Man uses trickery to defeat the space lizard, showing that he is highly intelligent. At the same time, the Iron Man has a more innocent side to him: “There were delicious crumbs of chrome on it. He followed that with a double-decker bedstead and the brass knobs made his eyes crackle with joy. Never before had the Iron Man eaten such delicacies” (33). Like humans, the Iron Man responds to his environment, and his emotional state is most identifiable through the changes in his eyes; when he is happy they are blue, and when he is enraged they may be white or red.
The Iron Man’s initial experience with humans is fear and hatred, and they react to these emotions by attempting to bury him and spare themselves from his existence. The way that the Iron Man rises above this prejudice to save the planet demonstrates Overcoming the Obstacle of Judgment. The Iron Man is willing to potentially sacrifice himself to save the planet and is deemed “champion of the earth” because only he is capable of solving the conflict (46).
The Star Spirit
The star spirit, or “space-bat-angel-dragon” (50), is a creature that flies out of a distant star and lands on Earth. It is a much larger and opposing force to the Iron Man and tests the entire planet’s unity and strength when it demands to be fed. When the humans first notice that a star in their sky is getting larger, they are instantly filled with fear, and rightfully so. The star spirit was drawn to Earth by the conflicts and chaos that occurred on its surface but does not know exactly why it felt compelled to come toward it. Like their reaction to the Iron Man, the people of Earth immediately decide to attack and attempt to defeat the star spirit with might, demonstrating The Obstacle of Judgment and how this obstacle can prevent effective solutions.
While the first half of the story was primarily a science fiction tale, there is an instant mixing of fantasy and science fiction that occurs when the star spirit is introduced. The star spirit is arrogant at first, believing that nothing on Earth could defeat it, but the Iron Man uses both his physical makeup and his intellect to trick the star spirit into submission. When it is revealed that the star spirit can create music, the Iron Man orders it to fill the world with this music forever. Doing so maintains peace for the people of Earth, and something that once threatened to destroy them becomes what saves them.
Hogarth
Hogarth is the only human who is named in the story and the first person to encounter the Iron Man. He is presented as a simple farmer’s boy who spends his free time fishing and catching foxes, but more depth to his character is revealed when Hogarth is the only person to feel guilty over how the Iron Man is being treated. He is too late to prevent the burial, but when the Iron Man resurfaces, Hogarth is quick to present an alternative solution to save the Iron Man from being destroyed. He leads the Iron Man to a junkyard, where he can both enjoy eating metal and help humans by removing their waste. Hogarth befriends the Iron Man and develops a trusting relationship with him, which is why the Iron Man is willing to help when Hogarth comes to him in Earth’s time of need. Hogarth is braver and wiser than most of his adult counterparts because he is the only one willing to see past the Iron Man’s fearsome exterior. He represents The Human Capacity to Be Both Cruel and Kind as well as the willingness of one person to see things differently, connecting to the theme of Overcoming the Obstacle of Judgment.
