tales
We have all heard of strange and gory stories that are supposedly true, experienced by a friend of a friend. Whether true or not these so called "urban legends" tend to circulate throughout society thriving on each individual's fears and curiosity. What most people don't realize is, within these tales lies the attitudes and values of a community. These tales do not survive throughout the years solely on the basis of their entertainment level, but due to the fact that they reflect society's fears and anxieties. In dissecting these tales one can indefinitely find the social fallacy against females that has existed for decades, as well as the fears women have against men. However, more importantly, the values that society hold are hidden within. Throughout these tales the idea that society values life and the sexual innocence of a female has proven to be a frequently manifested and completely pervasive underlying theme. Stories that continuously circulate throughout our community often times are horrendous in nature, yet believable and realistic enough such that a reader or listener can connect with it. When Jane went to the store and returned to her car to find an old lady inside, she went to get help. It was a
These "urban legends" should not only serve to entertain, but to further enlighten an individual's understanding of society. One should definitely note the fact that the tale never distinguished whether the perpetrator is a male or a female. Jane in seeking help from a male, suggest that she is weak and needed a man to protect her. We as a culture, has valued the virginity of females since the beginning of civilization. The predator male seeks and stalks its innocent female prey. That is, it is very possible that the tale has some truth to it and that the actions of the tale are quite believable, distinct, and real. These attitudes, fears, views and concerns arise due to the strong values society embraces. This story sends chills to readers and listeners alike because the message at the end is surprisingly shocking and frightening. The man turns this act into a grotesque one because the audience discovers that the dog is dead and that her hand was being licked by a perverted man. This tale also implies that females often play the role of the victim while males are the perpetrator of these violent crimes. In this urban legend, females are portrayed as weak, frightful, and naive. Males are accepted to be able to protect themselves against such crimes, because they are strong physically and mentally. The next morning her dog was found hung in the bathroom with a note that read, "HUMANS CAN LICK TOO!"Source: Mary and Herbert Knapp's One Potato, Two Potato, (1976)This sickening tale sends shivers along one's spine because it is perverted and utterly grotesque. The next day she finds cops everywhere and discovers her roommate's bloody body where she had tripped last night and a note on the bathroom mirror that read: AREN'T YOU GLAD YOU DIDN'T TURN ON THE LIGHTS? Source: Cousin who heard it from a friend of a friend. However she is a female whose antagonist is a demented and neurotic male, thus greater fear and anxiety is created.
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Acceptance Essays
