Monsters in Literature: Shifting Roles in Present and Past Works - Essay Sample

Introduction

Literature uses various concepts to evoke the mind of the reader and present different ideas. The use of monster characters in the novel represents one of the most intriguing, shifting roles in literature in the present and past works. The monster characters help to define ourselves and changing our perspective on how we view the world. In writing, both fictional, as well as the myths of Greeks, Sumerians, and Chinese, depict monsters as creatures lurking in the shadows as they await to destroy the less fortunate. The monsters in whatever form represent the human fear of the unexplained, unknown, and unnatural world. This paper gives a detailed discussion of two works of art that describe monsters. The debate draws an argument from the representation of Dr. Haniaball Lecter, a fictional character in Thomas Harris's novel and Homer's Cyclops.

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The representation of characters in art defines how characters behave and how the characters appear to the audience. Doctor Hannibal Lecter represents a cultured, vastly traveled, and a man of exceptional taste. The monsters in most literary works present an extraordinary being with powers beyond human reasoning and capabilities. The character uses Cicero's memory techniques and quotes Marcus Aurelius in drawing classical architecture in immaculate details (Koehler). The figure represents a talented being and well-published medical doctors. Just like monsters in other works of art, Hanibal earns a reputation for brutality that qualifies him as the villain but a curious and noble task. The monster's depiction in action, however, represent a completely different from the perception of humans; most perceive the beast as an evil being. Dr. Hanibal, however, would never lie or deign to lie. The monster depicted in the artwork represents an odd and likable cannibal. The characters represent an aristocratic being. His portrayal of the world is laden with negative and vampiric qualities that associate with the aristocrats over the years(Koehler). The character lying beneath the aristocratic leaders represent a noble feeling that justifies the concept of the aristocracy. As the series progresses, the actor transforms into a genuine noble savage causing the Hanibal uprising.

The monsters represent some supernatural capabilities im their form, action, and mentality. Dr. Hanibal blends in perfectly in this representation of the monstrous characters. The character manifested powers that appeared beyond human understanding that revealed in his inhuman control over his body and mind and depiction of above-average sense of smell. The actor also kills without a visible pathology at the beginning (Koehler). The childhood of the character represents a dark and tragic concept that contributed to his serial killings activities. During his childhood, Dr. Hanibal began depicting supernatural characteristics such as extraordinary intellectual capacities and the capability of learning and understanding multiple languages during the early years of education. At a very tender age, the character could converse in different languages and took care of his sister more than anybody else. The depiction of Hanibal's monstrous form manifested in his extra finger, which the bullies always teased him for possessing. The character continued to exhibit the definition of a monster when he killed and ate a butcher's cheeks who had attacked his aunt (Koehler). This act of cannibalism defines most people's understanding of the monster. This concept of cannibalism continued in his revenge mission against the killers of his sister until the character fell in the wrong books of the law.

The character also depicted exceptional intelligence that helped him secure a place in a high profile boarding senior school where he majored in medicine and graduated with honors and emerged as the youngest graduate. His completion of the diploma also happened in the shortest time. Despite monsters' perception detailing the evil deeds, the character depicted feelings of humanity by giving his sisters bones a decent burial before pursuing her killers(Robertson). From the story, we may say that sometimes, the monsters find themselves in the position people find inhuman due to extreme oppression imposed by humans. Dr. Hanibal represents a victim of circumstances that changes drastically as a result of the ideas that surround him. However, harmful the monster appears, he helped the community in his achievement as a renowned psychiatrist and also in tracking down serial killers. The victims from his cannibalism represent people who deserved punishment for whatever they did to other people, and his help in tracking down the serial killers shows his interest to help and sustain humanity contrary to people's perception of the monsters. The author presents Hanibal as a double-edged character.

The cyclops represent a mono eyed monsters drawn from Greek mythology. The Greeks believe that there existed a family of Cyclops living a lawless lifestyle in faraway lands. Homer, however, depicts the Cyclops as a strange creature used to represent several uncivilized foreign societies. Cyclop represent a oned eyed giant in Homer's odysseys commonly found in Greek mythology. The Cyclops menaced and nearly ended Odysseus' heroism (Layne). The Cyclops representation in homer's work shows a monster in form, shape, and capabilities. Homer describes the Cyclops as good creatures but, at the same time, depicts characteristics of a human heart in various contrasting ideologies.

Homer represents the cyclones as talented characters that help Zeus in the manufacturing of the thunderbolts used by the greek god as throwing weapons and also used in artistic building in the classical history to represent conquest(Layne). The cyclones from the ancient understanding generally represent the children of sky and earth, which qualifies them as precedents of Olympian gods. Cyclops act as a representation of endurance and the concept of heroism in greek mythology. The Cyclops led a simple pastoral life in the uncertain locality where there existed no laws. The creature's description in homers the Illiad suggested a pastoralist life and dwellers of the caves.

Hesiod's description of the Cyclops shows violent creatures in the heart. The author represents them as chaotic creatures in the greek mythology that lead wildlife and erupts chaotic forces in society. The Cyclops also lead an insular and solitary life as a result of its alienation from other creatures. Homer represents them in his artistic composition, the Iliad as creatures that lack civilization(Layne). The author says, "no laws, no councils for debate have they; They live on the tops of mountains, in hollow caves; each man lays down the law To wife and children with no regard to the neighbor." The lack of civilization in the way they handled leadership, the ancient history presents the Cyclops as non-participants in the region. However, there existed one place where people worshipped the one-eyed giant due to its connection with Poseidon. The people in the position held the festivities to honor Poseidon every two years, and through the festivities, people made sacrifices to the Cyclops.

The presentation of the Cyclops as evil beings continue to manifest throughout the stretched journey abode after the Trojan battle where the humans encounter the cyclops. The hero from the trojan war stops on an island for supplies. Still, to their surprise, the island appears inhibited by Cyclops, and the moneyed creature took a conjure to travel Greeks ensnaring them in the fissure, he eats two of the travelers as appetizers, and as time elapses, he continues consuming more creatures(Layne). The situation kept turning messy as and Odysseus developed a cunning escape plan for the Greeks. He tempted the Cyclops with wine until he got them drunk, and they got an opportunity to escape from the captivity. The Cyclops also possessed spiritual powers and, from these powers, cursed the escaping Greeks and wished them bad luck in their ship. The Cyclops also predicted a long and tiresome journey and the loss of several Greeks as they traveled in the sea. This concept came to actualize, and Odysseus had to ask for help from his father, Poseidon, to avoid more losses.

Much as the Cyclops appear monstrous in the presentation by various artists, they possessed some bits of humanity in them, which enabled them to contribute significantly to the Greek leadership. The mono-eyed creatures helped the Olympic gods win the battle against Titans under the guidance of Zeus(Layne). The cyclones made thunderbolt weapons as a form of showing gratitude for the release from bondage by Uranus. The creature also made protective shields for the greek fighters turning them invisible. The invisibility concept depicts a supernaturalistic representation of cyclons.

The cyclopes also proved useful to human beings in providing a helping hand during the construction of magnificent walls. The significant barriers accredited to the cyclones architecture include the large Mycenaean fortification walls. The murals depicted characteristics of irregular blocks and the vast size of the blocks. The walls paint such craft and expertise, which enabled them to withstand a test of durability since they still exist to date(Layne). The Cyclops remained a significant art form in roman art, and people continue to reproduce it. The cyclones appear to represent a double-sided type of animal, and it proves extremely difficult to dismiss them as dangerous monsters considering their contribution to Greeks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the articles appear genuine in their representation of the characters since none of the materials represent the character in a biased description. The pieces represent good and evil sides of characters in question and leave the audience to provide their judgment on how they feel the representation of the characters in the real world. The concept of using monsters in literature remains a controversial topic which calls for serious research to disambiguate the sophisticated understanding of the monsters.

Works Cited

Koehler, Sezin. "Hannibal Lecter's Backstory Explained." Looper.Com, 2019. Retrieved from https://www.looper.com/166914/hannibal-lecters-backstory-explained

Layne, Jacob. "The Greek Myth Of Odysseus And The Cyclops." Greek Myths & Greek Mythology, 2019. Retrieved from https://www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/odysseus-and-cyclops-myth

Robertson, C B. "The Hidden Purpose Of Hannibal Lecter." Medium, 2019. Retrieved from https://medium.com/@christopherrobertson_18950/the-hidden-purpose-of-hannibal-lecter-9a9bd18f6553.