Halloween brings with it a collection of creatures that curdle our blood and haunt our minds. Modern computer generated graphics proliferate the collection of creepies that cause alarm and make sleeping a test. Getting to sleep is hard…followed by nightmares…not good. Young children are particularly impacted. Of course, we can avoid the problem. Don’t watch it. But we do. What is it that makes humans want to have the manure scared out of them?
An author friend of mine claims it is the human preoccupation with death. It is one subject which we have no definitive information. What really happens? Do our souls lift to heaven? Do some become ghosts? Why do many see evil in the process we all will experience? It is a point of conjecture and speculation. Authors have had their say. That ‘say’ shapes many of our concepts we see depicted on Halloween.
Frankenstein is one of those images created by an author that spawns many of the offshoots we see today. All are some variant of the dead coming back to life. The living dead, zombies, etc. all stem from the deceased returning to life with evil intent. Dracula and The Wolfman are the undead that can shift their shapes. The bat and the wolf are now associated with Halloween and a nebulous evil that surrounds the holiday. After all, Halloween is connected closely with “The Day of the Dead.” An interesting side bar; many folks think the creature shown above is “Frankenstein.” Oh contraire! What’s pictured is Dr. Frankenstein’s monster, the brought back to life creature he created. No matter…that monster tromps in our minds, its awkward motions clutches our imaginations.
My newest novel will be available in paper form November 1st. Out of Italy is the second in the Iron Lady, Harper Sturgis mystery series. (Turtle Point is the first) Set in Tuscany, Harper traces a treasure of immense wealth in Etruscan tombs. She finds locating it isn’t her greatest problem. Others want the treasure as bad as her. Mafia, a corrupt clergyman, others want to steal it away. Will Harper find a way to get the gold Out of Italy. Check my webpage www.dlhavlin.com for more info and for my appearance schedule.
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