In stories, monsters that present a moral dilemma to
the heroes offer a significantly more complicated challenge. To overcome them,
the hero must decide if the redeeming features of the monster outweigh the
terror and carnage they caused. Or at least, try to discover what has
made the monster.
Too often I think authors overlook how many monsters the
heroes create themselves. Out of prejudice, fear, territorial expansion, and so
on. Is it the fault of the wolf that attacks the child wandering too close to
her den of pups, or is the fault of the parent for letting go of the child’s
hand? The wolf loses in every scenario. So does the parent, but their grief feels
vindicated with the beast’s death. Now, they have justified purpose in eradicating
every wolf in the wild and gain laud and honor for doing so.
However, there are some monsters that are of their own
creation. Those made from greed, ambition, jealousy, hatred borne of perceived
or real wounds from society. Those desperate to blame anyone other than
themselves for their faults. They destroy so that the world can feel their pain
and indignation.
Then there are the monsters with no choice other than
to be what they are. Perhaps they were created to be hero-fodder or a tool to serve a
dark master, but otherwise they would choose not to harm or disturb anyone. Their lives are suffering from the moment they emerge until they are defeated. For
them the only victory is a swiftly sought end. An escape into the eternal, blissful abyss.
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