The General Skarr Allegory (Or, On Hiding From Honesty)
Updated: Feb 21
I have talked about this fictional character before, but it was in a different context, as him being condemned to misery by being, by his author, a "butt monkey"; one who deserved being the "butt" of jokes because of how detestable he looks (AKA, like a WWII German officer).
However, in the article I wrote about him, one or two years ago since this entry, I overlooked a very important notion. He was a former villain, a paramilitary general of an organization who attempted to rule the world but failed.
Possibly the only reason he joined was so he could overthrow his boss and rule the world himself. Indeed, world dominance, or ultimate power in his case, is his true desire.
However, he is afraid of this fact and attempts to conceal it through gardening. After the organization disbanded, he retired from villainy. The problem with this attempt comes from a certain temptation that is within his reach.
The Grim Reaper lives in his neighborhood, and his scythe is an omnipotent weapon, capable of both fighting and casting countless spells.
In the very episode he is featured in on the new show he "immigrated" to, a dumb kid named Billy visits the former general, who boasts before him, that he used to be a general in a fearsome army.
Nonetheless, the general confesses that now he is no longer a bad guy who seeks power. Billy, with all his stupidity, tempts Skarr by telling him that the person who will wield the Reaper's scythe will achieve ultimate power.
In his attempt to escape his own sincere desires, the general kicks the kid out of his house and tries to distract himself.
Despite the activities he does around his house to reject his authentic self, he receives a mysterious call from Billy, who somehow got his number.
"Hello…? Hello, who is this?" I asked Skarr on the phone.
"Ultimate power...."
In a quick change of scenery, Skarr gives up on his "good neighbor" persona, retrieves his paramilitary uniform, and does an evil laugh, swearing symbolically to steal the scythe for himself. After all, that is the only way he would have a chance at world dominance!
I too was like General Skarr when I first departed from the metropolis, I grew up in. I moved to a less populated region of my country, so I could know true peace. In my quest for peace, I contacted my nemesis, in order to start anew, as friends.
It was all good and well. But then, like the kid from the show, she tempted me with the possibility of relevance. Unlike Billy, she did not do so intentionally at all.
Still, the result was the same! It was the same, because I realized that, it is only through relevancy, that I can attain what I truly desire!
Not peace! not serenity! Not harmony! But pure, raw recognition from the world; a recognition, which for me is too much a form of "domination", even if an esoteric one.
Thus, I left the tea, the deep, conscious breaths, and the relaxing music. Nowadays, like General Skarr wanted world dominance, I want world recognition, in lieu of peace!
Chen, you counter-productive woman! You made me desire the very thing I wished to stay away from during my high school years: to be known, recognized, and relevant, instead of being in the shadows of the world!
My former, fully hermitic persona, Tomasio the Monk! I REJECT YOU! I reject you, and much of the writings I wrote in Hebrew, in the name of ultimate solitude, because nothing else is so tempting to me... than being globally recognized, by the whole world!
This is the philosophy of General Skarr: it is difficult to escape from your true intentions, especially when they are within the reach of possibility.
You can choose to become less than what you would've been, but why do so, when you can seize the Reaper's scythe and try to extract your true desires from this world?
It is "easy" to deny them, but in reality, it really isn't. It really isn't, because the VISION of a more satisfying reality could forever haunt your mind if you resume concealing your desire for it from yourself.
