The Final Statement

My final statement shall be to revise the short story, 'The Monkey's Paw'. I feel that the elements that are in the monkey's paw reflect all the reason's I really enjoy horror as a genre. Horror was one of my favorite genres this semester, and I wish we could have spent more time on the subject. I enjoy fantasy, it gets me out of the world and into another. But horror brings you back, screaming. I feel that they are good juxtapositions of one another. Horror reflects the worst things about reality, while fantasy can reflect the best, most exciting things. Of course, there are always exceptions to this rule, where the utopian fantasy of the future is far from the truth. Horror just happens to be the one that I enjoy reading more than any that I know of.
The short story 'The Monkey's Paw' reminds people of their own human nature. The ultimate truth is the truth of our own existence, and our own humanity. I always feel a great deal of empathy when I read this story. The feelings the story evokes pull me back to it and I seem to read it rather often. I read something in a book once which said, 'old stories are like old friends, you have to visit them once and awhile', and I definitely think this is the case. I could relate to the excitement the family felt at the prospect of some magic granting them extra riches they wouldn't otherwise have. The money wasn't incredibly substantial, either, as the family didn't entirely believe in the magic's existence. That was what made it even worse, I think, that the money they ultimately traded their son's life for was next to nothing compared to the life of the son. That comparison is rather haunting, and makes me think about my own priorities in life. What do I value most, and why? Constant questioning is always good for the mind, especially when it comes to how one values objects and people. If one's selfish desires interfere with one's ability to see clearly what makes them happy, only trouble will ensue. This is one of the first lessons 'The Monkey's Paw' teaches us.
After the parent's learn of their poor son's demise, and receive their petty amount, it's as if the story itself recoils in turmoil. There is a sudden stillness between the once loving and warm parents, neither one having the ability to think of anything else but their lost beloved son. Finally, the mother tormented with guilt, sorrow and longing can't think of any other solution but to turn once again to the very thing that caused the problem. As an outside looking in, it is rather easy to determine that nothing good will come of using the monkey's paw again. However, the mother in her state of mind sees it as the last that she might see her son once more. The only thing she can envision is her son's memory, and unfortunately, the husband out of both pity, terror and uncertainty acts upon his love's wishes. This eventually leads to the dead boy coming to the door, both parents realizing the horror that they have unleashed and wishing it away. This is one of the most interesting parts of the story, I think. It's the idea that even at life's worst, things can get even grimmer.
 That said, the course was extremely helpful and interesting. I can't wait to have more time to read even more off of the reading list!

On The Best of H.P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and Macabre

 

I've read quite a few Lovecraft stories. My favorite have to be 'The Rats in the Walls', 'Dunwich Horror', 'The Mountains of Madness', 'The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath', and 'The White Apes'. All of these have themes that I enjoy. 'The Rats in the Walls' deals with similar themes as  'The White Apes', which is to discover a horror found in one's very own lineage. In the case of the former, the recipient of an old mansion his family used to live in leads him to discover its horrors within. The townsfolk are horrified of the house and won't go near it, on account of hundreds, if not thousands of rats springing forth from the house itself to march upon the town, eating everything including small animals as well as children and livestock. In 'The White Apes', a man whose lineage grants him a horrible appearance and even an even worse family history of hysteria and obsession, is the main character. While researching some of his great-great grandfather's work, he discovers what his father's father discovered which made him go insane. He himself loses it and proceeds to kill anyone related to him or knowing of his recent discovery. 

Not all of Lovecraft's stories are outright horrifying, however. Some are even beautiful. In 'The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath', the main character Randolph Carter travels across incredible landscapes in order to find the sunset city. Even in 'The Mountains of Madness', the landscape described is absolutely breathtaking, to the point of it being otherworldly. 

I want to keep reading his stories, though they tend to be pretty meaty. Many of his stories are rather thick in terms of plot and description. Needless to say, however, I'll be reading more of these.

 

On Shaun of the Dead

I watched Shaun of the Dead this week in place of Night of the Living Dead. I used to see this movie on television in bits and pieces but never watched the movie all the way through. I'd heard mixed reviews on the movie, but I have to say I really enjoyed it. I thought it was a great integration of comedy, romance, drama and horror. I felt that the main character, Shaun, was pretty easy to relate to as well as funny. At first I thought it would be entirely comedy but the end actually gets pretty dark and gritty. The ending 'after' the end is pretty hilarious too. The actors work very well together as well. All in all, I think the this a good zombie movie.

On The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead

 In addition to Zone One, I read Max Brooks' Zombie Survival Guide. This was a pretty fun read. By the end of it I was completely convinced that zombies were real and was completely ready to go out and get all the gear I would need for a zombie apocalypse! That said, I think that's the sign of a good book. I had started reading the book a few years ago but never got around to finishing it, so I decided to go ahead this time around. I think some of the most interesting parts of the book, which kept me reading, were the examples of when and where 'zombie attacks' occurred. The author is incredibly convincing that these moments in history really happened, and manages to sweep you up in paranoia too if you're not careful, though I think that's what gives this book its charm. I found that the beginning was my favorite part, and toward the middle, but I will admit that after awhile things seemed to get repetitive. I felt that the scenarios Max Brook's would describe were repeating themselves, and his survival methods were rather redundant. Eventually instead of an interesting book I really felt like I was reading a manual. This aspect of it could also support the authors intention, however. However it was intended, whether to convince people that the dead walk among the living or to just have a good time with a new fad, I really enjoyed the book.

On The Monkey's Paw

In addition to reading Frankenstein, I read the short story 'The Monkey's Paw'. It peaked my curiosity because I've heard about the story from other collections of horror stories, some of which seemed to reference this one. I read the story and it gave me chills! I definitely thought it was worth the read. I ended up reading it a second time because of its short length. I thought it was incredibly chilling toward the end, when the mother wants so badly for her son to be revived. I thought one of the most scary aspects of the story was that the mother was going insane for the want of her son, and for that reason influenced her husband to call upon the monkey's paw to make yet another wish come true. I also thought it was interesting that the husband complied to his wife's pleas, but I think that happened for a number of reasons. Deep down he of course was feeling his own yearning for his son's return, and also had a vague hope that things would turn out right. It was only when his mind became clear hours later and there was knocking at the door that he came to wish his son back to death. I definitely found myself both sympathizing and empathizing for the old man and his wife. I think that most people, if not everyone, has put a great value into something only to have it taken away from them or lost. This goes for relationships, wealth, as well as death, which is the greatest loss of all because there is no possibility of it ever returning. I believe this is what motivated the mother to call upon the dark magic of the monkey's paw when she knew that it did not do any good. There was still the slightest bit of hope that her son would be returned to her. In the end, however, she learned that there was no hope and that things, while horrible, could be much, much worse.

On Labyrinth

I watched Labyrinth as an adult and not as a kid. I think that plays a huge part of how it is interpreted. For instance, I've never really had a big attachment to the old puppets used in these sorts of movies. My friends have always loved them and that is pretty much the reason the movie was recommended to me by them, so I figured I'd give it a try for this class. David Bowie was being himself, and I've got to say he was probably my favorite part. I can't say that I understand why the movie is such a big deal to people, but I did enjoy watching it for the first time. I thought the creatures in the movie were neat despite not having a large attachment to puppets. I definitely feel like they give the movie a very unique quality which reflects the feeling of the adventure. I like that there are dark undertones to the movie, but I find the making of the movie to be even more interesting. Jim Henson's son would describe the movie's release as his father's most difficult point in his career, and he never got to see his movie gain the cult following it now has. I think it's a neat movie though I'm not one of its biggest fans.

On The Girl Next Door

I chose to read The Girl Next Door this week because I've been curious about it. I had heard here and there by people who had read it that this is a horror story that sticks with you and never leaves. I completely agree with them now that I have read this, and I will never read it again. I didn't have any idea that most of what this book, as well as the movie, is based on events that happened to a young girl.
The most horrifying aspect to this book that makes it so distinctively disturbing is the fact that it makes you relate to the monsters that did this. The main character is assumed to be above the horrors that are placed upon the girl, and as the reader you relate him to yourself, as the story is told in the first person. This is, however, proven wrong toward the middle of the book, as it is explained that the boy's motivations are extremely self-serving, and not those of kindness. As the torturing of the girl continues, the boy realizes that he wants no part of it and attempts to help the girl escape, which in the end leads to her end. I believe it was inevitable that the torturing would escalate, but I never would have imagined that it would the way that it did. It's for that reason that I will never pick this book up again. The author very subtly makes the reader relate to both the torturers and the tortured, in an effort to horrify you through the sheer truth of human nature, and this completely works. It reminded me of reading Lord of the Flies, where one begins to question their perceptions of what evils one of really capable of. That said, it was a very thought provoking story, but the fact that most of it isn't just 'story' is what makes this book truly scary.