Essay Questions

How does Victor Gischler explore the theme of corruption in the novel Gun Monkeys?

Corruption is the most important theme in the novel Gun Monkeys. The New York City criminal boss, Desantos, is a wealthy person who uses his position to defraud innocent people in the city. Desantos secretly works with criminal gangs to steal guns from police stations to be used in criminal activities. Later, the gangs share the proceeds of crime with Desantos. During his private investigations, Charlie discovers rampant corruption in the city. For instance, police officers often ask for bribes before rendering any service to citizens. In addition, politicians and business people engage in corruption to accumulate illegal wealth. Everyone mentioned in the novel is doing anything possible to be rich, including bribery and extortion. Charlie also reveals that the criminal justice system is corrupted, and individuals must spend a lot of money to get justice.

What is the symbolic meaning of the gun in the novel?

The gun is mentioned throughout the text to symbolize aggression, death, obliteration, and supremacy. Most characters in the novel are violent and hardcore criminals who cause havoc around the city. Before becoming a private investigator, Charlie was a drug dealer who killed people using his gun without a second thought. The criminal boss in the city also uses gangs to steal guns used in criminal activities within the city.

How does the author depict the sense of sight to readers?

Victor Gischler’s description of Marcie while waiting for the narrator paints a picture of a woman who has undergone physical abuse. The author writes, "Her hair was messed up. The top two buttons of her blouse had been torn off. Her bottom lip was swollen and purple." The reader does not need any explanation to see that Marcie is a victim of physical abuse. In this case, the imagery is significant because it depicts women as possible targets of physical violence.