The alien is a device used in literature to signify elements foreign, ignored, repressed, or marginalized in a given society. The alien can also offer an outside perspective, illuminating the complexities and/or exposing the hypocrisies and irrationalities in a set social norms.

In literature, Shakespeare's Shylock in The Merchant of Venice and Mary Shelley's monster in Frankenstein are classic examples of the alien. Numerous other examples abound in subsequent literature and film. Shakespeare redirects here. ... Shylock After the Trial by John Gilbert (late 19th century) Shylock is a central character in Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice who famously demanded a pound of flesh from the title character. ... Title page of the first quarto (1600) The Merchant of Venice is one of William Shakespeares best-known plays, written sometime between 1596 and 1598. ... Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin Shelley (30 August 1797 – 1 February 1851) was an English romantic/gothic novelist and the author of Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. ... This article is about the 1818 novel. ...

In American television, the character of Spock on Star Trek presented a celebrated example of the alien. For other uses, see Spock (disambiguation). ... The current Star Trek franchise logo Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment series and media franchise. ...

See Also

The Otherthey are gay The Other or constitutive other (also referred to as othering) is a key concept in continental philosophy, opposed to the Same. ...