Fear is an emotion caused by perceived threat in humans. Towey indicates that fear is a mechanism of basic survival, which alerts human bodies to respond to harmful situations. Essentially, fear is a self-preservation technique. Once the body senses fear, it releases hormones that enable survival functions whereby increased heart rate pumps blood faster to muscles to allow one to run or fight for safety. In case of perceived danger, the body releases hormones that activate the amygdala part of the brain to help one focus on the danger. Fear, in right doses, can be helpful for human survival. The emotion however, if chronic, can be harmful to humans, pushing them to do odd things to in order to survive.
Why fear is a helpful emotion to humans
First, the emotion of fear is healthy since human bodies are designed to respond to unfamiliar situations with survival instincts. Fear alerts human beings whenever there is danger and gives us the strength to respond to the situation quickly for self-preservation (Duncan, 2009). For instance, the book “The Red Badge of Courage” by Stephen Crane extensively covers the theme of fear and how it was helpful for the young protagonist, Henry Fleming, during war. The narrative begins with Henry, a teenager, enrolling in the union army, an experience which would later elude intense characters in him which he wasn’t aware of, due to fear of the horrors of war (Crane, 1896).
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As the first battle approached, Henry feared he would wimp out. He engages his peers to establish if they are equally frightened but it turned out they weren’t, which intensified his fright. The war finally started and when the events turned unbearable, Henry ran to hide in the hills, due to fear of being injured and killed. This move saved Henry’s life since other soldiers were badly injured and one, Jim Conklin, died a horrific death (Crane, 1986). Although he was ashamed for not having a red badge of courage like his fellow injured soldiers, he convinced himself that his move to run to the hills was simply a survival instinct.
Fear necessitates creativity. Tension creeps in whenever there is fear, pushing one to explore ways of relieving the tension. It motivates someone’s conscious mind to constantly search for solutions (Duncan, 2009). For instance, the shame of not having the red badge of courage and the fear of being disputed motivated Henry to prepare well for the second war. “….Since he (Henry) had turned his back upon the fight his fears had been greatly increased. Death about to strike him between the shoulders was much more awful than death about to hit him between the eyes. When he thought of it later, he got the impression that it is better to view the terror than merely to hear it” (Crane,1986). This revealed Henry’s determination. During the second battle, he demonstrates relentless bravery, which leads to recognition and appreciation by his lieutenant.
However, Henry and Wilson, his fellow soldier, overhear the general planning to sacrifice them in the next battle, which triggers Henry’s desire to prove his prominence in the battle field. The two go to the front line, take up the flag after the flag bearer fell, and lead others in putting up a huge fight against their enemy. Toward the end of the narrative, Henry bears the union flag and leads his squad to victory (Crane, 1986). This victory was achieved due to fear of being mocked and the shame of lacking the red badge of courage. Fear pushes us to shift our mindset and allows us to eliminate previous barriers (Sam, 2015).
Why fear is a harmful emotion
Fear can cause a tremendous amount of harm to someone and those around him/her. Living under constant threat can cause tragic health conditions (Towey, n.d.). Chronic fear can weaken one’s immune system, cause gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular damage, and damage parts of the brain leading to impaired memory. Fear has reportedly caused mental health like clinical depression, PSTD, and even disrupted decision-making.
Fear can motivate people to act unscrupulously as evident in the Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible. Due to fear of facing various repercussions for their deeds, characters take unexpected steps which harm other innocent people. The play features numerous accusations of involvement in witchcraft. For instance, the townspeople live under fear of evil, which induces irrational and hysteria thinking to ease the tension. When Betty, the Reverend’s daughter got ill, the entire town spread rumors that her sickness was caused by witchcraft (Miller, 1953). When Ruth Putnam got ill too, her parents accused Tituba, Reverend Parris’ slave, of casting a spell on her. These events create a mounting fear in the townspeople who seek to find a solution. “Let you strike out against the Devil, and the village will bless you for it! Come down, speak to them-pray with them..” one character begged the Reverend (Miller, 1953).
Reverend Parris’ fear to lose his job drives him to call out witchcraft. They held a meeting where Abigail, who lives in the Parris household, and Tituba, his slave, were accused of involving in witchcraft. Due to fear of retribution, they both falsely accuse other women to be involved in witchcraft, leading to their imprisonment. Those imprisoned were forced to confess to witchcraft just to save their lives. Fear drives people to do odd things just to save their lives. Abigail, since she feared to be alone and wanted to be with John Proctor, she accused Elizabeth of being behind her mysterious stuck with a needle so Elizabeth could be away in prison (Miller, 1953). Elizabeth too, due to fear of being alone, lied about her husband’s infidelity so she could save him from execution. Proctor refused to confess to witchcraft and was consequently hanged.
The above discussion is an indicator that fear can be helpful in one’s life but again harmful if not controlled. Therefore, it is important to carefully analyze the situation before responding to it to ensure the reaction doesn’t cause harm to self and those around. “Fear can be a very good thing indeed. It has its place-in moderation!” (Hohlbaum, 2013).
References
Towey, S., (n.d.). Impact of Fear and Anxiety. Retrieved from https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/security/facing-fear/impact-fear
Duncan, C., (2009, Feb, 23). Four Reasons why Fear is a Creative’s Friend. Retrieved from https://lifedev.net/2009/02/23/four-reasons-why-fear-is-a-creatives-friend/
Crane, S., (1896). The Red Badge of Courage: An Episode of the American Civil War. Retrieved from https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=qcMvAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+red+badge+of+courage&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwju-IyH1JjbAhUlIcAKHSxTAS0Q6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q=the%20red%20badge%20of%20courage&f=false
Sam, F.E., (2016, Oct, 8). 3 Reasons why Fear is Actually a Good Thing. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-f-emelia-sam/why-fear-is-a-good-thing_b_8258746.html
Miller, A., (1953). The Crucible. Retrieved from https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=Vaw3-I0bG_MC&pg=PA90&dq=the+crucible&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjI4u6C15jbAhXLbRQKHSyoCyoQ6AEILDAB#v=onepage&q=the%20crucible&f=false
123HelpMe, (n.d.). How Fear Motivates the Characters in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. Retrieved from http://www.123helpme.com/how-fear-motivates-the-characters-in-arthur-millers-play-the-crucible-preview.asp?id=229576
Hohlbaum, C. L., (2013, Jul, 19). The Benefits of Fear. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-power-slow/201307/the-benefits-fear
