Faces of Dualism: Unmasking the Fated Betwixt the Fatal
In the realm of human existence, a profound Japanese proverb asserts that each individual possesses three distinct faces, representing the multifaceted nature of their being. The first face is tailored for the public gaze, presenting a carefully crafted image for the outside world. The second face is revealed only to family and close friends, expressing a more intimate and familiar persona. Lastly, there exists a hidden face, concealed from all, which remains unseen and shrouded in secrecy.
Dualism delves deep into the intricate dichotomy that exists within us all, exploring the contrasting identities of both killers and victims that reside within the human psyche. It acknowledges the inherent capacity within us to commit acts of killing, whether they be emotional in nature or manifested in the realm of reality. The choices we make, the moral decisions we undertake, ultimately define the path we choose to traverse in life. Society is often enthralled by the enigmatic figures of serial killers such as Jack the Ripper, Jeffrey Dahmer, Ed Gein, and Ted Bundy, yet seldom do we remember the names and stories of their unfortunate victims.
Among the killers that walk amongst us, four distinct archetypes emerge, each driven by a distinctive motivation:
The Visionary: Guided by an unwavering belief in a higher calling, these killers perceive themselves as vessels carrying out a divine mission, bestowed upon them by forces that transcend mortal comprehension.
The Hedonistic: Ensnared in the web of their insatiable desires, these killers are driven by an unquenchable thirst for pleasure, thrill, and self-indulgence. Their violent acts become the perverse means to satiate their darkest cravings.
The Missionary: Donning the cloak of prejudice and discrimination, these killers direct their malevolence towards specific factions within society. Fueled by a warped ideology, they target those they perceive as obstacles or threats to their beliefs, perpetuating heinous acts of violence and destruction.
The Powerful Controller: Seeking absolute dominion over their victims, these killers relish in the exertion of complete control and dominance. Their heinous acts are not merely about extinguishing life, but about subjugating and asserting their power over the helpless.
While the killers assume their distinct personas, the victims they claim can emerge from any walk of life. They transcend the boundaries of age, gender, occupation, and background, serving as a poignant reminder of the indiscriminate nature of violence.
In a single day, an average person encounters an astonishing number of faces, an overwhelming array of individuals who pass through their field of vision—roughly 5,000 unique countenances. Over the course of a lifetime, this number reaches a staggering 146 million. It is perhaps this sheer volume of encounters that contributes to our collective failure in remembering the countless victims who have fallen prey to the darkness that dwells within humanity.
The truth remains that the lines between good and evil are often indistinguishable, intertwined so intricately that separating one from the other becomes a formidable challenge. The killer within us can wear a charming facade, exude kindness, and even elicit empathy, making it difficult to identify the malevolence lurking beneath the surface.
As we navigate through the realm of duality, let us contemplate the profound words of Patrick Bateman, a character that encapsulates the essence of this complex struggle:
There is an idea of a Wendy Louise Howard, some kind of abstraction, but there is no real me, only an entity, something illusory, and though I can hide my cold gaze and you can shake my hand and feel flesh gripping yours and maybe you can even sense our lifestyles are probably comparable: I simply am not there. It is hard for me to make sense on any given level. Myself is fabricated, an aberration. I am a non-contingent human being. My personality is sketchy and unformed, my heartlessness goes deep and is persistent. My conscience, my pity, my hopes disappeared a long time ago, if they ever did exist. There are no more barriers to cross.
All I have in common with the uncontrollable and the insane, the vicious and the evil, all the mayhem I have caused and my utter indifference toward it, I have now surpassed. I still, though, hold on to one single bleak truth: no one is safe, nothing is redeemed. Yet I am blameless. Each model of human behaviour must be assumed to have some validity. Is evil something you are? Or is it something you do? My pain is constant and sharp and I do not hope for a better world for anyone. In fact, I want my pain to be inflicted on others. I want no one to escape. But even after admitting this—and I have countless times, in just about every act I’ve committed—and coming face-to-face with these truths, there is no catharsis.
I gain no deeper knowledge about myself, no new understanding can be extracted from my telling. There has been no reason for me to tell you any of this.
This confession has meant nothing….”
