The Importance of Monsters

Which would you rather have stop you from reaching into a fire:

1. the fear of pain

OR

2. the scars and permanent disfigurement- along with the traumatic memories of acute pain and treatment- from the last time you did it?

Monsters are an important part of growing up. Arguably necessary for life, a healthy respect and fear of monsters is an essential piece of the puzzle that enables the realization of your place on this planet while helping you learn how to navigate the big wide world safely.

Face it, kids are dumb. It’s not a knock it’s reality. What other creature will toddle to the edge of a cliff and walk right off? No other being will wander into a busy street with loud cars rushing by at breakneck speeds without a care in the world or place it's hand on a stove burner before evaluating and testing for danger. Without the watchful eye (and rapid response) of adults who have survived such dangers (probably because of their elders’ watchful eyes and wise natures) kids would die.

Kids are innocent and naïve and need adults to instill a healthy sense of fear in them in order to remain safe and alive.

Before television and radio, entertainment consisted of stories. Parents would tell their children stories to pass time, impart wisdom, and teach important life lessons. Storytelling was an invaluable educational resource that also instilled values, morals, and appropriate behaviors in a way that was "showing NOT telling"- as we all know how children are naturally resistive to doing what they're told.

Folk tales and fables, like those from Grimm and Aesop, served an important purpose far more effectively than nearly anything else in history (besides firsthand experience of course) to keep vulnerable youngsters safe and alive.

Grimm tale Hansel & Gretel and Aesop's fable Little Red Riding Hood warned children against taking candy from strangers. Aesop's Little Red Riding Hood frightened children away from getting lost in scary forests and talking to strangers.

The boogeyman came in the night to eat kids who stayed up late. Sure, staying up late is not detrimental to one’s life in and of itself. But when you have a sleep deprived kid in the vicinity of dangerous farm machinery the next day, well, you can see why a late night monster is not a bad thing.

Of course not all folk tale monsters were intended to save lives, yet still served to keep life moving forward in relative ease and stability. The vicious Yule Cat roamed the land on Christmas morning to eat anyone who wasn't wearing brand new clothes- saving the sanity of moms and dads suffering from poverty or financial hardship. Krampus punished children who were misbehaving- a must for ceaselessly hardworking 12th century families during Christmas. The Red String shows how you are connected to everyone you meet. The Ant and the Grasshopper teaches hard work pays off and gets kiddos thinking about preparing for the future. The Boy Who Cried Wolf showed how disastrous lies could be, while The Two Frogs taught kids to "look before they leap". In this day of smartphones, a harrowing tale like How Asu Haban Brake Wind could keep many from making monumental foibles that follow them for the rest of their lives.

A little bit of fear is necessary for growth, strength, and even creativity.

Until recently, there was a healthy fear of dangerous things imparted upon the little sponges that are the child's mind. Kids soak up knowledge from the adults in their lives- whether we think they are paying attention or not, they are always listening and watching. Recently, I’m afraid, kids have lost much of the healthy and fundamental fear that was a mainstay, which has led to society being in the shape it’s currently in. Let me explain.

Kids have a natural curiosity which leads them wherever it seems interesting. When you live in a boring meadow surrounded by woods, well, the woods become intriguing and the child will venture there, ever closer, ever deeper. Before long, the child is lost in the deep, dark woods. So, to combat this, the adults created scary stories about monsters in the woods. That kept the kiddos out. And most adults.

For centuries there were monsters for every scenario where a child might get damaged, hurt or dead.

There are countless monster stories of this sort found in every culture and part of the world. The problem is modern society has dumbed down these scary imaginings or erased them altogether.

“There’s no such thing as monsters” has been uttered in the latter part of last century so many times that people are no longer scared of anything. And that is a very scary thing indeed.

“There’s no such thing as monsters” is not even a true statement.

An emptiness was left when the folktale style monsters of late began losing credence and power- perfect conditions for human monsters to grow, gain power, and begin their very real reigns of terror.

There has to be balance in nature.

When the very real monster that is COVID 19 reared its ugly head and began it’s worldwide reign of terror, the human monsters virtually disappeared. They didn’t technically vanish- their tendencies were simply suppressed. Would this perhaps be because they suddenly had something bringing fear and uncertainty into their immediate realities?

A little bit of fear is necessary for growth, strength, and even creativity.

What stories from your childhood had a lasting impact on your life? Share in the comments!