Monsters have been around since the beginning of time. They survive as vivid memories in people’s minds and in newspaper headlines describing sightings. Monsters have left a powerful impression on humans. Whether monster’s existence is all in our heads, of if they really are lurking in dark corners and under the sea, they will always be in our lives. Their names are scribbled throughout literature, recorded in history books, and are part of many cultures. This is for the simple fact that we as humans need explanations.
All the cultures of the world want and need some understanding of why things happen. It starts when we are young; all we want to know is “why?” When something goes missing people often panic. They think they have been robbed. Then they start to wonder who robbed them. Some cultures believe it’s Harpy, who swoops down and snatches things in the blink of an eye. Making things up such as the monster Harpy helps people to understand.
Something flickers past, a strange noise comes out of the woods, and a blustery wind arises. As humans we want an explanation and this is why so many stories of so many monsters still live on today. It is also why they exist in the first place. Zombies, Harpies, and sea monsters like Leviathan all exist to explain the unexplainable.
Car keys missing? It’s Zeus’ favorite pest, the Harpy. Footsteps in the graveyard last night? That would be zombies. They never sleep. Husband’s ship never sailed home? Leviathan ate him and the crew. Explanations make people feel better when something is out of the ordinary. It helps them to get to sleep when they are restless. People need reassurance that things aren’t random so that they have some control. By making up monsters, people gain control of their fears.
Monsters are created in our imagination because we need them. Without monsters we wouldn’t be able to understand or explain things that happen. Let alone reassure ourselves. That’s what monsters are for. They are there to settle us down and give us a reason for things we see, hear, and feel that terrify us. No one would be able to rest if something had no explanation. Monsters are vital and they need to stay in our lives. This is why they are written down and remembered in every culture and country around the world. Monsters are a mind’s best friend.
you read Joseph Campbell, especially The Hero with a Thousand Faces he writes about some of the themes you touch on -the psychology behind mythology and legends. You may enjoy it.
"when you hold a pen, you are at war" Attributed to Voltaire