Monster

I killed a snake today 

I was seated behind a building waiting for lunch time at an event today, when all of a sudden I heard a scream from a woman from the other side of the building. Before I could react I heard a shout “ can someone please call the guy behind to come and kill this snake before it bites the children”, I figured I was the only guy around and so I quickly stood up and rushed to the other side and I found a few ladies and some children, the atmosphere was already tense, the women and children were agitated, I arrived and asked one question “where is the snake?” the woman in front pointed towards a small shed and by the side was this huge black snake, the women were pulling the children away so that the worst doesn’t happen. I didn't think twice when I saw it I grabbed a huge stick and killed the snake. A few seconds later the snake was lying in front of me lifeless and I could hear the cheers and praises from the ladies behind

“hero, "

"he saved us"

"the snake could have bitten our Children” “wow he is so brave, he was so quick”

I was supposed to bask in the adulation of the ladies but as I stood there looking at the smashed face of the snake I had just murdered I felt a terrible sense of shame, for I might have been a hero to the ladies but I was also the monster that had just killed a snake (it wasn't the first time killing a snake but this time, it was different, maybe the thoughts that followed was because I was already in a low mood).

I froze for a moment and I tried to collect my thoughts. I dint think twice to harm the snake, and the feeling was strange yet familiar, “Oh1!” it was the same feeling I had the first time I made a bully bleed. I tried to console myself as I went back to sit saying “if I had let the snake live, it would have probably harmed someone and what I would feel then would probably be worse than what I feel now, same applies to the bully”, but no matter how much I try to justify it, the fact still remains that I have the capability to get a huge stick and relentlessly kill another creature without thinking twice, I have the ability to cause harm to a bully to the extent where the bully is there in a pool of blood while am standing over Him, (the Hero who has defeated the oppressor of the weak) yet I felt it,.. there is a monster in me capable of havoc.

The Shadow; “The monstrous part that can wreak Havoc” 

 Unfortunately, we live in a world that is riddled with violence and cruelty, and part of preparing oneself for such a world is to learn to assimilate the shadow, and a difference can be seen between those who have assimilated it and those who haven’t. Those who haven’t are easily taken advantage of, they may be described as weak or naïve but those who have, are dangerous, why? they have a side that can cause chaos at will, they don’t necessarily have to, because their mere presence radiates implicit potential for havoc. Similar to a trained martial artists who doesn’t have to fight to resolve an argument because everyone around him knows better. And so assimilation of the shadow is necessary because it gives a sense of self-respect. Because if you are harmless, you are not virtuous, you are just harmless. Those who are harmless avoid fights, not because of some high moral principle but simply because they can't do anything else other than get beaten up. But if you are a monster and don’t act monstrously then you are virtuous. As the saying goes “true power is the containment of strength in the face of uttermost provocation”, that is true virtue, having the capability to wreak Havoc yet choosing the high road. 

To be or not to be Cruel

 "If you are not capable of cruelty, you are absolutely a victim of anyone who is, It is impossible to respect yourself until you grow teeth and if you grow teeth and realize that you are dangerous then you will demand that you treat yourself with more respect and people treat you also with respect. being able to be cruel and then not being cruel is better than not being able to be cruel " (WordToTheWise, 2022) .

This concept is the fundamental principle of many martial arts, being able to fight but not having to, builds confidence that avoids a fight altogether.

Responsibility

 Taking on responsibilities in life gives us purpose. To bare the responsibilities of adulthood one must be prepared to face head on the troubles of this world, the violence, the hate, the bullying, the cruelty, the holigans, the maniacs etc.  Imagine you take on the responsibility of a family and a maniac invades your house and you lack the capability to be violent because you are a “harmless gentle soul”. Or maybe that is extreme, a snake enters your child's room, are you going to be the coward that can’t protect his family or are you going to be the hero who saves them? Well, you cannot be a hero if you are not dangerous now, can you?

Viewer Discretion: the Picture below is of a dead snake, sensitive viewers be advised .

You cannot look at this picture and Think anything other than "a monster has committed such a dispicable act".

Does a Hero Have to be a Monster??

References

1. WordToTheWise. (2022, December 7). “You Should Be A Monster” | Jordan Peterson Motivation [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gYpCIbZjUQ