Misunderstood Monsters

Being different from society will always lead to an individual being generalized and, in most cases, misunderstood. In this blog I will be discussing the similarities between the monster in Frankenstein and Leatherface from Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I want shed light on what really made these two monsters. Both have morbid things that have happened to them which I feel sparked the hate that they present. I would also like to touch on each individual character and who they were before they became murderers, and lastly the reason the reason they killed.

To give a bit of background on each character I will talk about who each character is. For Leather Face I will be basing my information on the original 1974 the follow up to the original with Texas Chainsaw 3D. These two films are connected unlike the majority of the poorly made prequels that just focused on being as goory as possible. These two films have a strong plot that really shows the viewer who Leather Face and his family is. Jedidiah Sawyer is the man who is known as Leather Face. Leather Face lives in Williamson County in Texas. He grew up in an extended family that had some very taboo practices. The exact size of his family is not confirmed but it is known that he lived alongside with every member of his entire family in the same house. The house itself had been built by and inhabited by his family for many generations. Jedidiah or the man behind the mask is known to have a learning disability, that made him have the mental behavior of a child, but nothing is confirmed. Jedidiah is also known for wearing the Leather Face mask because of a deformity on his face. All of the conditions that Jedidiah suffered from was a result of his families inbred practices. Jedidiah became very self-conscious about the deformity after being bullied by children at the school he attended according to Charlie a family member of Jedidiah. He was a very loving person in watching the films and being an avid fan of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series, it is known the reason he killed others was all in defense of his family. This link can finally be drawn in the Texas Chainsaw 3D when Heather is found out to be his long-lost cousin. Instead of killing Heather like he had done to the rest of her group he protects her and is seen to be in fact a very loving person.

Jedidiah did not become a killer for no reason. The first instance of Jedidiah killing was in the original when unwelcomed visitors entered his house thinking it was abandoned. His family hid downstairs as now Leather Face would kill the unexpected guests. Although it does seem undeserving, as discussed earlier Jedidiah had learning disability and listened and did whatever his family would tell him to do. In this case Jedidiah was really only protecting his family in his mind. Jedidiah did not become a killer that would seek out his victims until after his entire family was murdered. His family would be burned alive in their house after Jed killed the five unexpected intruders. This sparked a great deal of rage. The city would view the people who killed his family as hero’s as they would get there very own picture on the front page of the paper. Jed seeing this hung the picture up in his room and would not settle until he killed every last person responsible for the death of his family. A conclusion can be drawn that Jed was not a monster rather a man who just did what his loved ones told him to do. He did not become a murderer until his entire family was burned alive.

Through the entire story it is seen that Jed is a result of not fitting in. From the birth him and his family were always despised by the locals that lived by them. Never given a chance in society Jed became an extreme family man helping with their slaughter house. Family was the only thing Jed had in life. When all someone lives for is taken, that person can completely change. I feel Jed was not result of pure evil rather the circumstances he was put against. I feel another monster that has a lot in common with Jedidiah Sawyer or Leather Face is Victor Frankenstein’s creation.

A similar situation can be said about the monster in Frankenstein. This monster was a mistake and the responsibility of the creator, Victor. As in the same case the monster in Frankenstein. The monster in Frankenstein is also a victim of his environment and upbringing. Like Jedidiah, the monster no matter how hard he/she tried they were unable to be accepted into society. Like Jedidiah this monster was created with great defects and was mentally stumped compared to others in society. Because of these short comings they were never ever able to settle into society. The monster tried to fit in, and it was proven that he was not pure evil when he was able to make a connection with a blind man who couldn’t see the exterior rather the monster’s heart. After being stepped on countless times throughout their life. The monster decided to take revenge against his creator and because of that became a murderer. I feel both of these monsters are not a result of being born as “pure evil” rather a result of how society treated them the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series, it is known the reason he killed others was all in defense of his family. This link can finally be drawn in the Texas Chainsaw 3D when Heather is found out to be his long-lost cousin. Instead of killing Heather like he had done to the rest of her group he protects her and is seen to be in fact a very loving person.

Jedidiah did not become a killer for no reason. The first instance of Jedidiah killing was in the original when unwelcome visitors entered his house thinking it was abandoned. His family hid downstairs as now Leather Face would kill the unexpected guests. Although it does seem undeserving, as discussed earlier Jedidiah had learning disability and listened and did whatever his family would tell him to do. In this case Jedidiah was really only protecting his family in his mind. Jedidiah did not become a killer that would seek out his victims until after his entire family was murdered. His family would be burned alive in their house after Jed killed the five unexpected intruders. This sparked a great deal of rage. The city would view the people who killed his family as hero’s as they would get there very own picture on the front page of the paper. Jed seeing this hung the picture up in his room and would not settle until he killed every last person responsible for the death of his family. A conclusion can be drawn that Jed was not a monster rather a man who just did what his loved ones told him to do. He did not become a murderer until his entire family was burned alive.

Reflection:

A common pattern that I have began to see among most of these monsters is through bullying and other neglect ugliness has been the outcome. This is by no means a shock obvious resentment is going to be shown from anyone who is treated poorly by society. One does not choose how he or she is born or what abilities they are given at birth. In the case of both of these monsters, they both suffered from mental illness as well as defects that were caused from birth or in the Monster from Frankenstein’s case his creation. I do not believe either can be completely blamed for the acts they committed. In both cases the murders they committed were in response to extreme atrocity’s that had taken place against them. The crimes they committed were not out of cold blood rather a retaliation to all the immoral things that had taken place to them.

In conclusion, a clear takeaway from these two stories should be that treating everyone with respect and dignity will clearly reduce the amount of hate and resentment a person has towards society. By treating people in the right way we can help to eliminate monsters that are created due to the affects of society.