When we don't have a name for something, or deny that what scares us has one, or decline to refer to what scares as by using it, it gives that something all the more power in controlling us. We allow it to control us by erasing it from our thoughts and failing to understand it. We are so afraid of it that we can't even call it by its name, for fear of its name cursing us, or some other supernatural farce. Once we understand what it is, we are less reluctant to suppress its name, and it can no longer control us. We break free from the chains of fear it binds us by, the weight on our shoulders collapsing in a swift revelation.
It's a common tactic in horror and villainy to refer to a mysterious source of terror as not having a name. The Hebrews couldn't call God by His name, for fear of his wrath; Voldemort was the un-namable villain in the Harry Potter series; Clarice Starling referred to doctors "not having a name for what [Hannibal Lecter] is", making him even more frightening to movie watchers. The nameless villain, or source of power, enhances its ability to frighten us, based on the principle that things we can't identify elude our knowledge, thus causing us to be more wary of their potential danger.
Even the depths of space and the ocean are largely feared because we haven't discovered their secrets yet. Many fear what horrors lay beyond in these natural realms before our brave explorers discover them and realize that they are far more benign than we'd imagined. Our imagination plays tricks on us, exaggerating the mysteries of unknown realms by substituting beasts where there aren't any. Mythologies the world over try to explain natural phenomena by using supernatural beasts to illustrate their mysterious sources. The Kraken, dragons, Hell-fire, kings of the dead- all are constructs in the collective mythology that reinforces our fears and keep us from exploring the great beyond.
The human mind struggles against these conservative forces, keeping us grounded to what we're more familiar with. With a little courage, we can break through barriers, expand our knowledge, and not allow fear to dictate our lives. There are things to genuinely be afraid of, but you should never be afraid of something without fully understanding what it is and how it functions. The failure to understand its meaning will keep you hidden in a shell, drifting in an ocean of ignorance, not being able to swim for the sake of your safety.
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