Many stories that we read or see onscreen serve valuable purposes of helping us to recognize the states that we have been or currently are in. If we are unfamiliar with the myths, legends, stories and narratives, we then are unable to accurately read the scenarios we find ourselves participating in. The classic stories are not just for entertainment value, but stand the test of time because of how well they identify our human nature. Many times, these stories are mined, re-fashioned, and polished for different audiences; however, they are able to keep up with ever-changing societies and technologies. They are not dusty artifacts from history, but are agelessly instructive.
A difficulty that comes with refashioning a tale is when the story is made to end at a point of delight and hope. There seems to be a resolution at hand, but usually there is no way for us to duplicate that resolution and happy ending. Some sort of magic descends, or a fateful blow is struck, and reverses every action that led up to that moment. The despair of "too late" becomes the optimism of "No, wait, because we're all saved and everything will be fine and happy from now on." The magical or miraculous ending suggests that all of the old patterns are broken with one grand gesture and that there is no necessary confrontation with ourselves and thoughtful collaboration with others. If so, then that means we will be imprisoned in a constant isolated state of pining for magic or miracles.
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| "…the beast was nowhere to be found; at last she ran to the place in the garden that she had dreamed about, and there sure enough, the poor beast was, lying senseless on his back." |
Much of the purpose of this blog is to encourage us along our creative pilgrimages, to consider our progress and the difficulties that we encounter. As we make our way, there are many burdens, and some of them lie inside us. As Annie Lennox sings, there are "so many monsters." To become better aware of monstrous impulses and self-defeating behavior, I will use a popular fairy tale to shine some light on a monster that can drain of us our energy, despite a sudden activation of energy we might feel when it scares us. The tale is Beauty and the Beast, and the monster in this story is the archetype of the "Enfant Terrible." This is a difficult creature to confront, because it is not patient, timid, nor safe. Yet examining how it behaves is helpful. Learning to use its energies and protective impulses is valuable.
While many people go into therapy because they have a demanding child, above or below the age of eighteen, or they have been forced into therapy because they themselves are the destructive child that is acting out, I believe that we all have one of these beasties inside of us, because we all start out as an infant. Over time, we mature and learn socially acceptable ways to get what we need or want. Yet, sometimes we are in tremendous pain and without resources, so we revert back to acting out in frustration, to the dismay of ourselves and those who witness it. The shame we feel from being exposed at our worst can feed the beast and make it harder to see anything about ourselves apart from his judgment and rule.
Although the "infant" may truly be terrible, it is a child, nevertheless, and so our instinct is to protect it and take care of it and give it what it wants. However, we also have another beautiful, creative child that can respond to the Beast, and partner with its strength to help us in our endeavors. This post, Part One, has been the introduction of the terrible child. Part Two will be an examination of him, so that we may recognize his presence. Part Three will explore ways of confronting it. Part Four will focus on the Beautiful child, how it strives to be happy, but is also limited, being a child as well. Part 5 reveals how they both are within us, and live through us, whether or not we mean them to, and how they can thrive with recognizable and mature identities.
All illustrations by Walter Crane 1845-1916
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