I've been reading (for the second time), a book by John Irving, called "The World According to Garp", one of my favorites. It's built on a structure of topics that most people shy away from. I've been asking myself why this book is so intriguing to me. Most people that know me wouldn't immediately associate me with the violent, primal undercurrent that runs through this book. But I see this book as a ferocious attack on all that is "wrong" with the world, and our Western society in particular.

The topics of rape and murder (which I believe both fall under the category of "violence") are imbedded in the plot. But, the reigning topic is lust. Lust and violence aren't evil, in my opinion. These are evolutionary qualities that don't belong in modern-day society. But, they exist in all of us nonetheless. The most dangerous people are the ones that don't see themselves as animals, and therefore, aren't able to separate themselves from their animal instincts. Animals don't examine the idea that they are animals. They kill and procreate for one reason - to continue their lineage.

Fundamentally religious people are a good example of this type of person. They have to believe that their spiritual beliefs are fact. They will kill and destroy to protect their ideology. Why? Maybe it is simply the primal desire to be dominant, combined with the the pack-animal instinct to congregate. Then, there are also the more obvious dangers to society, like rapists and murderers.

In the book, a family is torn apart because the parents were unable to separate themselves from the animal instincts of lust and rage. Irving also points out examples of these things in the society around the main characters. He paints such a dark portrait of these qualitites, that they seem like a cancer in the womb of our society (like the uteran cancer that ultimately kills one of the supporting characters, who happens to be a prostitute).

Anyway, these are thoughts that emerged as I was reading "The World According to Garp". I hope that John Irving never reads this. Because if he did, I'm sure that he'd tell me that I'm full of shit.