The Monster by Stephen Crane

Synopsis:  Stephen Crane penned The Monster in 1899.  

The short novel tells about the Trescott family and their black servant Henry Johnson.  When the Trescott house mysteriously catches on fire with the Trescott son Jim inside, Henry risks his life to save the boy.  In doing so, Henry’s face gets burned off, badly disfiguring him physically and maybe mentally while Jim emerges unscathed. Dr. Trescott, the head of the Trescott household, feels obligated to attempt to save Henry’s life to repay Henry for saving his son’s.

After seeing Henry, on his deathbed, without a face, many urge Dr. Trescott to let Henry die.  Dr. Trescott simply cannot do so. When Henry recovers enough, Dr. Trescott arranges for him to go live on a farm on the edge of town, as his face is so hideous that he scares all who lay eyes on him.  Henry eventually escapes from the farm and frightens many townspeople who call for Dr. Trescott’s arrest, for he is the creator of the monster.

The story closes with no real conclusion, only Dr. Trescott’s social and economic ruin.

This wiki discusses The Monster section by section and how Crane evolved Henry Johnson from a gregarious young man to a horrific monster.