Richard Chase's Irrationality

The irrational instinct a human feels when they shoot up a school, torture children, perform mass genocides, and do the absolute wrong can be looked upon as inhumane, but rational through the eyes of the wrongdoer. Irrational human behavior lies within every soul, and is the reason for many catastrophes and phenomenon acts that shape the world. It is the unlogical and the unexplainable human actions that yet make sense to the terrorist, murderer, dictator, or human committing the unlawful action. Richard Chase, “the vampire of Sacramento,” was a schizophrenic man, that drank that the blood of his victims and practiced cannibalism. With examination and analyzation, Richard Chase’s irrationality and human individuality can be rationalized and …show more content…
Edgar Allen Poe, a famous writer in the 1800s was known for many irrational elements in his writing. Poe was known for using a vivid amount of romanticism in his pieces, that depicted the mood and tone for the messages he was conveying. Poe and romanticism can be connected to Richard Chase through similarities in their ways of thought and action. Both Poe and Chase abused drugs or alcohol in their lifetimes. They used the substance to cover their pain and distract themselves from the real world around. When Poe’s cousin Virginia, who he loved greatly was sent to live with another relative, he began his worst drinking binge. Additionally, both Poe and Chase had to live through tough childhoods. Poe’s biological father walked out when he was only a year old, his mother passed from tuberculosis, and he had to grow up with a cheating step-dad who sent Poe away without any financial support. On the other hand, Chase was not understood and was sent to a mental hospital for his irrational behavior with animals and drinking their corps. His mother, especially, forced him to into a spiral when she took him off his medication for schizophrenia against doctor’s orders. Besides Poe’s real life, his writings can be related to Chase. In “The House of Usher,” written by Poe, Roderick lives in a dark condition and has not left his house in years. He can convey a “vampire” like lifestyle because of his …show more content…
Although Richard Chase’s actions are easily viewed as irrational, one could argue that his actions were in fact, rational for his schizophrenic beliefs. In addition, drinking blood is irrational, but Richard Chase and his actions are still valued in romanticism because they are a part of his individual thoughts and beliefs. Chase’s actions and life are also similar, in some ways, to Edgar Allan Poe and his works of writing. Although everybody is irrational at times, most people are able to hide these irrationalities with rational thoughts. Most people are able to hide their irrational thoughts with rational thoughts, but what can happen to those that can