Humanities - Monstrosity Essay - 1025 Words

Monsters have proven to be more than just the fiendish appearance or the evil within such creatures – their monstrosity symbolizes, more or less, the characteristics that define mankind and/or our innermost fears. Prior to this Exploration of the Humanities course, I have interpreted monsters for what they are: heartless and destructive creatures that generate fear. However, I never bothered what the true cause of such fear is – only associating the gruesome presence with a psychological reaction of horror. But taking this class allowed me to broaden my perspective on monsters and monstrosity: humans fear the â€Å"Other† because we as individuals have an â€Å"Other† within us (subconsciously) that we are not willing to show to those in our†¦show more content†¦Similarly, Grendel in Beowulf was also a creature that was horrific in nature – full of destruction. The contempt towards festivities and joyous music may have derived from the isol ation Grendel experiences. After all, he was described as one who is part of â€Å"Cain’s clan, whom the creator had outlawed and condemned as outcasts† (9). There was the same reaction of bitterness present in Grendel as in Frankenstein’s creature: both were castaways which led them to be emotionally-driven in anger. Because of his resentment, â€Å"the God-cursed brute was creating havoc: greedy and grim, he grabbed thirty men from their resting places and rushed to his lair†¦blundering back with the butchered corpses† (11). Grendel is nothing more than a misunderstood creature. Having hurt feelings, he too resembles a human being; any person who faces seclusion from his or her friends, family, or society as a whole would be full of frustration, sorrow, anger, and loneliness. This negative response towards emptiness brings out the inner monster in us. In contrast, there is a fear of becoming the â€Å"Other.† In Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the charismatic figure seems benevolent; however, his deceiving appearance turns out to be a creature that corrupts mankind – his attractiveness acts as a lure to display vice in people. Dracula targets virgins to become his lamias – so that innocent womenShow MoreRelatedHumanity, Monstrosity, Gothic Literature Death Essay1807 Words   |  8 PagesHumanity, Monstrosity, Gothic Literature Death by J. Williams The Gothic genre delves into the depths of humanity,  where the presence of the horrible and the macabre represent ‘the dark side’ of human nature.  Ã‚  Indeed, according to M. H. 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