Monster Child

Michael Jackson started as a prodigious child and ended as a monster child. By coincidence, these two words in their respective etymologies share a common meaning: monster and prodigy.

Before it became a designation for a horrible character, the word “monster” described the product of a miracle, a supernatural being, prodigious, given by God to be regarded as a mysterious sign. However, it appears that the child prodigy who amazed the crowds was not only due to a divine plan.

The manufacturing of a child prodigy for general consumption is a project for adults. This project involves the removal of large chunks of the child’s childhood, which is not without peril.

It seems to me that, by definition, the child prodigy is an abused child.

Behind the miraculous spectacle of a child genius or a monster talent, there is always a more or less conscious and unhealthy exploitation at work. Sometimes this transpires without incurring any damage, I agree. For sure.

In Jackson’s case, he complained of having been terrorized and beaten by a violent father who insisted on perfection. If abuse were a sufficient condition for becoming a prodigy, there would be an abundance of candidates for musical genius. But it needs a genius to be a child prodigy and someone has to decide to put that child on the stage.

Can one become a Michael Jackson without being pushed or even forced? And even if it were possible, can it happen with impunity? What does it entail to be a great American star at the age of 10?

He succeeded not only in leaving the family fold; in his adult years, he scaled great heights in a unique solo career. That is probably not a given progression for every child prodigy.

But when he made hundreds of millions, he bought a ranch that he transformed into a …private theme park.

He became a pathetic Peter Pan. He got rid of the nose, which had occasioned his father’s sneering laughter. He coaxed children to come and play in his Neverland. He mounted a children’s show. Then, after all the allegations of pedophilia, millions of dollars in settlements, and a show trial that lasted six months in which he was playing the role of the monster, he finally tried to play the adult. He had three children, two boys and a girl.

It was no wonder that he could not deal with them. Children are not meant to raise children.

All of his three children bear the name “Michael.”