Modern Monsters Monsters have always been culturally relevant since the beginning of human existence. This may be in a literal, political sense, or a figurative, mythical sense. Either way, the term “monster” is one that comes up all across the world in many different contexts. According to the Oxford English dictionary a monster can be defined as “a person of repulsively unnatural character, or exhibiting such extreme cruelty or wickedness as to appear inhuman; a monstrous example of evil, a vice, etc” (OED). Despite conflicting examples, Jim Jones, Adolf Hitler, and Joseph Stalin all possessed ruthless, unstable, or aggressive characteristics which allowed them all to apply to the above definition of “monster.” Unlike mythical creatures,
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Most inhumane individuals are mentally unstable and their actions have proved to be destructive. However in mythology, the creatures are imaginative and are only harmful in figurative ways. Mythological monsters are also usually inhuman, physically unappealing, and unnaturally large. Some examples include the Loch Ness monster, Bigfoot, Cyclopes, and Griffins. However, legitimate human monsters have predominately normal appearances. Jim Jones, a religious cult leader, is known for his creation and destruction of the Peoples Temple. At the start, Jones claimed that he simply wanted to construct a society and church that promoted equality and hospitality: he believed that Christianity had become “complacent and hypocritical” (Moore). As an attempt to abolish oppression within Christianity, he started the Peoples Temple—his own church—in Indiana, 1965. As he hoped, the church was a huge success and in 12 years Jones had gained thousands of members. Already, Jones has revealed his potential to become an influential, persuasive leader but at this point had only used his abilities to benefit his followers. In 1977 the Peoples Temple moved to Guyana, which lead to the establishment of Jonestown (Moore). However, two years …show more content…
He’s known for his brutal, ruthless authority and rule over the country (“Stalin, Joseph”). He also “expanded the influence of The Soviet Union” by “refusing to withdraw forces from Germany and Eastern Europe” (“Stalin, Joseph”). Stalin’s desire for Communism ultimately lead to the formation of the Cold War with the United States as well. Likewise, Stalin’s rule was seen as a “Great Terror.” He targeted “criminals, kulaks (foreign spies)” and “certain national groups such as ethnic Poles, Germans, Koreans, Greeks, and Latvians” (Kuromiya 713). Official data from the Soviet Union shows that from 1937 to 1938 over 1.3 million people were accused of political crimes. More than 600,000 of those accused were executed by gunpoint (Kuromiya 713). These statistics prove that the political actions during Stalin’s rule caused him to unveil “wickedness as to appear inhuman” (OED). Stalin abused his political authority to unreasonably kill groups of people and certain nationalities that he didn’t approve of; he can be easily characterized as a monster based off of his ruthless reign. Unlike Jim Jones, Stalin held a powerful political position, which made his actions seem more humane and justified. But despite the mask he wore, Stalin along with Hitler and Jones were all responsible for mass murder and sadistic treatment of many people. They all exhibited monstrous
Most inhumane individuals are mentally unstable and their actions have proved to be destructive. However in mythology, the creatures are imaginative and are only harmful in figurative ways. Mythological monsters are also usually inhuman, physically unappealing, and unnaturally large. Some examples include the Loch Ness monster, Bigfoot, Cyclopes, and Griffins. However, legitimate human monsters have predominately normal appearances. Jim Jones, a religious cult leader, is known for his creation and destruction of the Peoples Temple. At the start, Jones claimed that he simply wanted to construct a society and church that promoted equality and hospitality: he believed that Christianity had become “complacent and hypocritical” (Moore). As an attempt to abolish oppression within Christianity, he started the Peoples Temple—his own church—in Indiana, 1965. As he hoped, the church was a huge success and in 12 years Jones had gained thousands of members. Already, Jones has revealed his potential to become an influential, persuasive leader but at this point had only used his abilities to benefit his followers. In 1977 the Peoples Temple moved to Guyana, which lead to the establishment of Jonestown (Moore). However, two years …show more content…
He’s known for his brutal, ruthless authority and rule over the country (“Stalin, Joseph”). He also “expanded the influence of The Soviet Union” by “refusing to withdraw forces from Germany and Eastern Europe” (“Stalin, Joseph”). Stalin’s desire for Communism ultimately lead to the formation of the Cold War with the United States as well. Likewise, Stalin’s rule was seen as a “Great Terror.” He targeted “criminals, kulaks (foreign spies)” and “certain national groups such as ethnic Poles, Germans, Koreans, Greeks, and Latvians” (Kuromiya 713). Official data from the Soviet Union shows that from 1937 to 1938 over 1.3 million people were accused of political crimes. More than 600,000 of those accused were executed by gunpoint (Kuromiya 713). These statistics prove that the political actions during Stalin’s rule caused him to unveil “wickedness as to appear inhuman” (OED). Stalin abused his political authority to unreasonably kill groups of people and certain nationalities that he didn’t approve of; he can be easily characterized as a monster based off of his ruthless reign. Unlike Jim Jones, Stalin held a powerful political position, which made his actions seem more humane and justified. But despite the mask he wore, Stalin along with Hitler and Jones were all responsible for mass murder and sadistic treatment of many people. They all exhibited monstrous