Kuan-Yin is the only major female character in Monkey. What is her significance in the text? Why might Wu Ch’êng-ên have made the choice for her to be the only major female character?

Of all the central characters in the text, Monkey receives the most in-depth backstory. Why is Monkey so important—even more than Tripitaka?

What similarities and differences does Monkey share with traditional folk stories of Western cultures?