Y Ddraig Goch

June 22 2025 - Monsters

Prompt - What comes to your mind when someone mentions monsters? In other words, what is a monster to you?

***

Most of the monsters in literature and the movies are derived from the fear of the unknown, from the things that we, as a society, weren't able/ready/in a position to explain or except. They are often based on myths and folklore and evolved through whispers around campfires; stories told to keep children from doing what they shouldn't, or to strike fear into people. Dracula didn't really drink blood, but Vlad certainly hung people on spikes in a truly gruesome way to strike fear into his opposition. He was bloodthirsty and brutal, and the legend was born - add Gary Oldman to the mix and well... I wish someone would cross oceans of time for me.... My husband just crossed oceans lol.

It was also a time where education was only accessible to a few and science - as we know it - wasn't really a thing, and fables were able to become real. Those cages were to stop the dead rising, not to stop grave robbers... Those doctors that dug up bodies to practice surgery, could only be doing so to "play god" and piece body parts together like a patch work quilt.

Frankenstein, Dracula, Wolfman - the classic monsters that have set the standard of what monster should be. But they aren't that scary. They are exhilarating and adrenaline inducing, but we all know they are only fantasy. We can turn of the movie, leave the cinema or close the book and poof they disappear. Most of them have been turned into a wide variety of (dark) romantasy... Twilight, Trueblood, Interview with the vampire, Vampire diaries, teen wolf... it's never ending.

In my personal opinion, the real monsters are the ones that we can't see or spot. The ones that pretend and present like safe havens when they are anything but. The biggest and scariest monsters is man.

It's why I find psychological thrillers scary. They are based on the very worst of human nature. Things that could and sometimes have happened.

Unfortunately, like many, I have experienced what monsters' man can be. And if you are fortunate enough not to have experience the horrors of the real world, you only have to put on "Why Women Snap" or Americas most wanted to see the faces that monster actually take. They look like our next-door neighbours, and the person down the street. I would much rather deal with an alien or predator. I think I stand more of chance of survival against and xenomorph - I said what I said.

It's the whole bear v man debate - a bear will always be a bear. They are easy to predict. They are not going to trick you into a false sense of security, or expect something in turn, like you owe them. Nine times out of ten they aren't going to hunt you down - unless they are white of course. Whereas man, we are capable of so many cruel acts and not for those primal needs for food or safety. It's for fun. For power. That is far more monstruous.