We are finishing out the 3rd quarter and beginning of the 4th quarter with a unit called "Monsters and Ourselves." One question that I have been pondering is: Is there a monster in everyone? My answer.....Yes.
In reference to society, as was mentioned in class discussions, when we are children, we do bad things (steal toys, use physical means against others, throw temper tantrums when we don't get our way, etc.) Our parents or guardians are there to help teach us to not do those things. In essence, to teach us to be good. In this way, we are hiding or pushing away the evil nature we have in favor of the good nature society expects of us. When people go "crazy" or commit crimes, they are allowing the evil part of themselves to escape, similar to childhood. In my opinion, we are all evil, but some learn to be good and choose to be good over evil. While others still choose evil over good.
In reference to literature, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson shows the connection and separation between good and evil. Dr. Jekyll knows that he has a weakness when it comes to the two, so he chooses to use scientific means to separate good and evil in himself in two personalities. When he is Dr. Jekyll, he is good. When he is Mr. Hyde, he is evil, and does things like assault little girls. Dr. Jekyll almost has a high off of the actions Mr. Hyde does. He chooses to become evil because when he remembers what Hyde does, he wishes to become Hyde again. In this way, he is choosing evil over good.
So, yes, there is evil in everyone. Someone could choose to do evil at any time. Although, as you said Mrs. Burnett, most of us are not one step away from murder. Choosing evil could be as simple as lying to your parents, saying something nasty to your siblings, or starting a rumor about someone in high school.
