Mothman Monster - Essay Example

English Literature: ic and Modern Mothman Monster Introduction Monsters have been used all over the history of mankind to present certain themes about what is happening around them. Often they are used to induce a certain behavior or compel individuals within a society from engaging in certain acts. Gilmore (8) defines a monster as a new shape resulting from human imagination in visual form or only in words defining the components or properties of different kind of living things or natural objects. Ideally, monsters are not natural mortals but just exist in the realm of human imagination where an organic entity is formed capable of being used in art and literature. In this discussion, the Mothman monster is analyzed within the context of culture. The Mothman is described as a birdman with two huge wings folded against its back with two red reflective eyes and is about six and half or seven feet tall. Though its sighting dates back as long as 1966, increasing cases of its sighting were being reported from November of 2001. The sightings were mainly in Point Pleasant, West Virginia former game preserve site that had been converted into a TNT dump with several bunkers during the World War II. The sightings were well tracked and documented by John Keel, an established investigator and author as captured in his book, ‘The Mothman Prophecies’. Point Pleasant birdman was re-named Mothman by a Batman TV series fan and gained popularity. What is interesting about Mothman is that, it was associated with calamities where most of its sightings preceded major catastrophes in the US particularly around Point Pleasant and Ohio (Coleman 39 – 42; 46 - 47). This essay therefore analyzes the monster and culture associated with it and provides an understanding on its fit in culture and use in fiction literature to connect with certain events and happenings in human life. Culture of the monster The culture of the monster is horror as those that gave their experience about their encounters with Mothman described how terrifying the experience was. The location where the birdman used to be sighted was around a wildlife reserve and while travelers and those taking strolls around the place would expect animals, this creature was frightening because of its size, form, harsh sound and behavior of following those in cars and sudden disappearance. History and origin of the monster Mothman experience started sometimes in November 1966 in the US in West Virgiania and Ohio when residents reported several encounters with a large winged creature that was later to be named ‘Mothman.’ Witness accounts pointed that the creature was big, with 10 feet wings, glowing red eyes and made shrill sound like a big mouse when flying. At first, two young married couples, Steve and Mary Mallette and David and Linda Scarberry all from Point Pleasant said that ‘on the night of November 15, 1996, travelling past the TNT area, they saw two red lights … luminous eyes, belonging to a figure shaped like a man, but bigger, maybe six and a half or seven feet tall, with big wings folded against its back. They fled, but the Mothman pursued them, easily keeping up with their car at it topped 100 mph on the highway leading to Point Pleasant.’ (Newton 108). From this time on, several incidences were reported despite day searches revealing nothing unusual in the area. A film made in 2002 from the book written by John Keel based on witness accounts and investigations depicted the Mothman as having the supernatural abilities and its appearance was a way of warning people about an impending calamity. In fact, from ‘The Mothman Prophecies’ book several calamities like Silver Bridge collapse in Ohio in 1967 killing 46; Mexico City’s earthquake in 1985 and September 11, 2001 attack have been associated with Mothman sighting (Newton 108-110). Whether this is true or not depends upon an individual. Skeptics argue that witnesses didn’t see the Mothman, it’s just fear from within since the place is next to wildlife preserve. Witnesses may have seen large birds that are known which most likely include sandhill crane, turkey vulture, and other large owls. What is more worrying is the trend of occurrences as most of the incidences occurred mostly in October to November in most of the years. Its true form remains unknown and only related to the large birds mentioned. Mark Hall a Crypto zoologist argued that Mothman could be a member of the unknown giant owl species called ‘Bighoot’. How the monster fits into the scheme used in the course. Use of the Mothman to create a horror creature fits into the scheme because the way it’s described would actually constitute a horrifying creature. Coleman (43) describes the creature from witnesses’ accounts as being tall, multi-colored and large bird hovering over trees and chasing after the cars. The form of this creature was not well clear to those that saw it and stories about the experience with the creature just worked to fuel the fear and instill among that used to pass through and stay around Point Pleasant. Mothman could actually fit into monsters around as stories have been told about imaginary creatures around us and happen during certain times. Coleman (49) notes that Mothman seemed alien to our world but momentary trapped in it through our imaginations. The fact that more than one witness gave more or less the same description means that seldom would Mothman be a creation amongst us. Mothman could be a monster within us. When stories or witness accounts are given about the horrifying encounters with Mothman, most people would form imaginary figures based on the descriptions given. When one is passing through Point Pleasant, the reality of this monster is likely to be on ones’ conscious mind and the fact that it occurred mostly at night, an imagination would make one think that they have actually seen it while possibly they have just seen the large birds described by Mark Hall. Associating bad happenings with Mothman only makes our imagination about the creature to remain fresh in our minds making it fit more into this scheme. Therefore, though Mothman fits into the scheme used in the course in various ways, it fits more as monsters within ourselves since witness accounts and description from various books shows that individuals especially those living in Point Pleasant and Ohio have internalized the Mothman to an extent of associating certain unfortunate phenomenon with it. The case of Mothman was more internalized in society given that in 2001 during 9/11 attack various internet sources pointed that Mothman had been sighted in some places prior to the attack (Newton 110). Coleman (49) Mothman could have been ‘someone’s nightmare that had been objectified into physical existence.’ Mark Hall’s assertion that Mothman could be one of the big owls only vindicates our known fears as owls are associated with bird omen in most of the societies. Description about Mothman’s large size, strength, glowing red eyes and chasing of cars or flying past people at night instilled fear of an animal that can attack and cause harm to individuals. The fact that it sighted was followed by misfortunes around the area created fear among resident that something bad will happen following its occurrence. Since people don’t know what will happen, fear of unknown is created as one doesn’t know the culprit and the magnitude of disaster in waiting. Pop culture references associated with Mothman monster include; one, David Grabias documentary ‘Search for the Mothman’ in 2002 (Coleman 49). The documentary interviewed all individuals who had confessed having encountered Mothman as a way of trying to establish the truth behind the Mothman. Books like ‘The Mothman Prophecies’ and ‘Strange Creatures from Time and Space’ both by John Keel who was an investigator and author for the cases of Mothman experiences narrates what happen and tries to demystify the myth about it. ‘The Mothman Prophecies’ is a horror Movie developed from Keel’s book. In conclusion, it is apparent that Mothman could be real or imagined but stories about its encounter and descriptions about it instilled enough among residents to believe that it actually existed. When monsters are associated with certain events that actually occur, they are vindicated and become trapped in our minds and imaginations. In literature and pop culture their use is appropriate as it helps to put the required message across and achieve desired results. Especially where horror is needed their use over human beings has always yielded better results. Work Cited Coleman, Loren. Mothman and Other Curious Encounters. New York: Paraview Press. 2002. Web Gilmore, D., David. Monsters: Evil Beings, Mythical Beasts, and All Manner of Imaginary Terrors. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. 2003. Web Newton, Michael. Hidden Animals: A Field Guide to Batsquatch, Chupacabra, and Other Elusive Creatures. California: ABC-CLIO,LLC. 2009. Web Read More