3rd of January
Young woman found brutally murdered
5th of January
NYPD confirms similarities in recent killings
8th of January
FBI called in on New York and Connecticut killings
12th of January
"He's a monster. The death penalty is too good for him," says mother of recent victim
25th of January
NY Monster disappeared for good?
12th of Marts
The Monster back in action
15th of Marts
New York Monster: the facts
19th of Marts
77 days of life: Little Lucie killed by NY Monster
29th of Marts
"Miss Harper, can I ask you a question?" Amber never asks to be allowed to ask.
"Related to the subject?" I inquire.
"Well, no, but I just thought... Never mind." And she definitely never loses her courage.
"Go ahead, Amber. What is it?"
"Well, it's just... What do you think about the Monster?"
"The Monster." The murderer who's been spreading fear across the nation since New Year's, who has killed 35 people by now, who kills old ladies and tiny babies with no discrepancy, who sometimes kills as if on a spree and sometimes takes time off, allowing us hope, and then comes back even more cruel and vicious. The Monster who has us all living in fear of its next mood swing. "I think," I start out, knowing it is my job to keep my students from the panic that is sweeping our city and state. "That it is unfortunate that the first thing we do when someone starts killing people is coming up with names for them." I pause to look around at my students. I see excitement, a bit of fear, and a hope that we'll discuss the thing one wants to talk about. Not talking about something only ever makes it worse, so I give them what they want, what they need. "A monster is typically viewed as a mythological creature, something unnatural, and quite often supernatural. Can anyone see where the danger in this name lies?" I challenge. Give them something to do, some way to talk about it, to deal with it.
"By naming him like that we are giving him powers he doesn't possess." No raised hand, but a confident smile. I nod and smile.
"Exactly Mark. We know there is power in words, and perhaps even more so in names and labels. Here are two examples for you."
I turn around to the whiteboard. Give them something to do, some sort of purpose, after all 'It's the worst torture in the world, waiting, when you know there's nothing you can do.' I steady my hand and write.
"I name thee Carrionite."
"Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself."
"What do these quotes tell us?" Steven raises his hand. I nod to him.
"Well, in Harry Potter, it's, well, it means that... that you shouldn't be afraid to say 'Voldemort' or 'Tom Riddle'. But we have no name for the murderer?"
"That's right. So should we call this murderer the Monster, should we call him something else, or should we not refer to him at all? Should we even label the person with a gender? Is it possible for us to come up with a name for this individual that does not increase the public's fear, does not increase his power over us, and at the same time does not risk making him madder and possibly make him kill more?"
YOU ARE READING
Concerning Death
Misterio / SuspensoAt home we are safe. At home, nothing can hurt us. But home no longer exists; it belongs to a different world. Home is now a roof and four walls. Home is a trap where you sit waiting for the killer. Home has abandoned you, betrayed you. It is where...
