Frederick Nietzsche: “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
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Ken Hurley
I do not know his first name. He was known to me as Mr. Monster. The abysmal shadow who lived under my bed was only heard at night. His legend was exacerbated by stories told to me of the things Mr. Monster would do if my behavior did not change. My imagination would run wild with fear of Mr. Monster. I was four years alive.
In the mystical realm of childhood fears, there may dwell a creature of imagined terror, a sinister entity that lurks within the unsuspecting innocence of a child's mind. You may know him by a different name. Boogeyman, perhaps?
The eerie horror of Mr. Monster embodies the essence of darkness. His form is a shifting mass of ebony tendrils that writhe and twist with malevolence. His eyes are twin orbs of obsidian, gleaming with a desire to inflict evil that pierces through the veil of my dimly lit bedroom night.
Mr. Monster is a nightmarish terror in the shape of a human. His sleek, sinuous body slithers noiselessly through the shadows. His movements are silent as the whisper of a ghostly breeze. The air would grow cold and heavy in his presence, sending shivers cascading down my spine if I dared to glance at his dreadful visage.
Mr. Monster's skin is a tenebrous rubicund of inky blackness, adorned with grotesque checkerboard patterns that seem to contort and pulse of their own accord. His fingers are sharp talons as deadly as a rattler's fang. Mr. Monster's breath is a noxious miasma, suffocating and foul, casting a sickly pall over my small room. His hair is a stiff orangey gray that grew all across his pale leathery body.
I was frightened.
Yet, it is not the physical form of Mr. Monster that inspires the most dread, but the insidious nature of his presence. His abomination fed upon my fears, drawing strength from unseen terrors that plagued my effort at happy dreams. Mr. Monster delighted in weaving nightmares, twisting my innocent thoughts into phantasmagoric horrors that frolicked at the edge of reality.
Mr. Monster is a master of deception, able to cloak himself in the shadows of my mind. He offered dark promises of eternal torment, sowing seeds of doubt and despair in the fertile soil of my naive and gullible innocence.
But despite his fearsome power, Mr. Monster was not invincible. One only needs to become brave enough to face the darkness that lurks beneath the bed, armed with the light of courage and the sword of a preferred imagination. It is in the realm of dreams that the true battle with Mr. Monster is fought, where the power of belief can banish even the most malevolent of monsters.
Mr. Monster remains a cautionary tale heard in hushed voices by those who dare not glance beneath their bed after the lights go out. His presence serves as a reminder of the fragility of youth and the ever-present shadow that lurks at the edge of perception, waiting to pounce on the unwary, the unprepared, and the uninformed.
But for those who dare to face their fears head-on, to stare into the abyss and refuse to flinch, Mr. Monster is nothing more than a figment of the imagination. A mere specter of darkness that fades with the light of dawn. Even the most fearsome of monsters can be vanquished with simple acts of courage, kindness, and a steadfast heart.
According to Nietzsche, when we rail against either a literal or metaphorical monster, we risk becoming like the monster, embodying callous cruelty, violent viciousness … and likely, loving it.
Nietzsche's ideological viewpoint provides a sense of cosmic skepticism, where everything is uncertain and everything should be questioned. Even the concept of good and evil is subjective. During Nietzsche's time, established moral theories were routinely questioned by the philosopher, and many consider his doctrine as an important counterpoint to the practices and moral values once taken for granted.
Throughout history, humans have often struggled with the dichotomy of good and evil, finding themselves pitted against the ideals and people they despise. The idea that individuals, societies, and nations can become the embodiment of that which they abhor is a sentiment that pervades humanity. Does humanity have a propensity to become the monsters we despise? Is it possible for an individual to become the thing they detest? Yes.
Adolf Eichmann was responsible for the deaths of millions during the Holocaust. Eichmann's misguided, ill-informed perception told him to implement the genocidal “Final Solution to the Jewish Question.” His goal was to rid the world of what he thought to be a “monstrous” blight in society, while he manifested within himself a vile evil he used to eradicate his perceived “monsters.” His thirst for power, his implementation of discriminatory policies, his quest for a “Master Race,” led to unspeakable atrocities which underscore the way an individual can become the embodiment of the “monstrous” figures they revile. Eichmann's inhumanity raises questions about the nature of evil and the human capacity for cruelty, and suggests that under certain circumstances, too many humans have the potential to become the monster they hate. Eichmann's despicable actions demonstrate how individuals can become complicit in evil deeds when they dehumanize others and prioritize loyalty to a destructive ideology over the essence of morality. Or, was Eichmann "Born This Way” as Lady Gaga sings.
Consider Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, where Victor Frankenstein, driven by his desperation to achieve greatness, creates a monster that ultimately displays his darkest fears and desires. Frankenstein rejects his creature, leading the monster to seek vengeance and perpetrate acts of violence. The tragic story of Frankenstein and his monster speaks to the dangers of unchecked ambition and the dehumanization of others. Frankenstein's rejection of his creation mirrors society's ability to ostracize and create an “us vs. them” mentality, ultimately perpetuating cycles of alienation and conflict. The novel is a poignant reminder of how individual actions rooted in fear and hatred can have far-reaching consequences, suggesting there is a thin line between humane humanity and mob monstrosity.
Similarly, in William Golding's Lord of the Flies, the young boys, initially motivated by a desire for order and civilization, descend into savagery, ultimately becoming the beasts they feared.
Then there's Robert Louis Stevenson's, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Dr. Jekyll uses savvy science to change his physical and mental appearance to the point where he is masked as an entirely different monstrous being, known as Mr. Hyde. The phrase "Jekyll and Hyde" is now used in the vernacular to refer to people with an outwardly good but sometimes shockingly monstrous inward personality.
A similar concept may be seen as nations grapple with the idea of becoming that which they despise. The United States prides itself on being a beacon of freedom and democracy. However, throughout its history, the United States has engaged in actions that contradict these values, such as the Trail of Tears, the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, and the use of torture in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. In the name of national security and the fight against terrorism, the U.S. government authorized the use of “enhanced interrogation techniques” that violated basic human rights and international law, and created more monstrous terror.
There are plenty of world leaders like Joseph Stalin, Kim Jong-un, Adolf Hitler, Pol Pot, Vladimir Putin, and to a lesser extent, 45 and Netanyahu, who have wielded power through tactics of intimidation, censorship, and violence, mirroring the tyranny they claim to oppose. These authoritarian rulers prey on fear and insecurity to justify their oppressive actions, creating a culture of silence and compliance that stifles opposition and dissent. The parallels between these despotic regimes and the monsters they claim to fight against highlight the insidious nature of power and the ease by which individuals and governments can descend into tyranny. There may only be a small difference between liberation and oppression, which underscores the importance of virtuous vigilance and reliable resistance in the face of dictatorial authoritarianism. Which reminds me of what Lord Acton said, "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Politicians often campaign against corruption, authoritarianism, and oppression, only to succumb to these vices once in power. Leaders who rise to power on promises of change and reform too often become ensnared in the trappings of authority, leading to the autocracy and injustice they once rallied against. It is a chilling reminder that those who abhor tyranny can themselves become tyrants when provided with the means and opportunity.
It is evident that the concept of becoming the monsters we hate resonates deeply within humanity, manifesting at the individual, societal, and national levels. Have you ever been shunned, ostracized, or felt marginalized? Have you ever made anyone feel the same? Do we spank a child to teach there will be no hitting in this house? Do we kill via capital punishment to teach killing humans is bad? Do we bomb countries to teach bombing is unforgivable? Are these steps toward becoming Mr. Monster?
Acknowledging this tendency is crucial in guarding against the harmful allure of power, fear, and prejudice. As society strives for humane progress, it is imperative to confront the possibility of becoming the monsters we hate. Failure to do so may lead us straight to the prison of our own spiteful, vengeful, retaliatory malevolence.
I recognize that one person's concept of a monster may be another person's concept of a friend. However, tonight, before you fall asleep, please check under your bed. If Mr. Monster is hiding there, say hello and give him a hug. He needs it.
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