What does the monolith symbolize in Arthur Clarke’s novel, 2001: A Space Odyssey? How do the effects of the monolith symbolize both the good and the bad ramifications/repercussions of what we commonly refer to as human “progress”? By the end of the book, Dr. David Bowman has become a “Star Child,” whatever that means. Is Bowman’s transition (or more broadly, the conclusion of the novel) meant to be read as a hopeful or a dire conclusion to the book?