Atavistic Greed

 

atavistic - adjective - relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral (Google).

For me, Halloween is an occasion to get upfront and somewhat personal with children trying unsuccessfully to hide their true natures behind masks and imaginative costumery. Despite the creative facades, however, human nature is recognizable, notably atavistic greed. As we already know, greed is one of the seven deadly sins, most of which people sidestep today since few want to acknowledge that sin is even a contemporary concept worthy of notice. Despite our ignorance, when hit in the face with it, we can't help but call the spade a spade. 

Yesterday afternoon, Halloween Day, I decided to conduct an experiment reminiscent of William Golding's test of his male elementary school students that wound up inspiring him to pen Lord of the Flies. I bought large, movie-theater-size boxes of popular candy, enough for the first twenty trick-or-treaters, positioning them on a pumpkin-and-orange-plastic-festooned card table, which I had erected at the end of my driveway. Upon sight, the first wave of revelers ran to the table, screaming (Think the Beatles' Hard Day Night here.) various enthused exclamations. Despite the chaos, I stood unfazed, observing, saying little. What I witnessed surprised me. For most of the children, one large box a piece was not enough. Most started to take as many as their frenetic, splayed fingers could grasp until I authoritatively interrupted the obvious thievery with, "No. Take only one. Please." Naturally, they listened, especially since their moms and dads were not too far away, Their mere presence was a grievous reminder that the errant sons and daughters would not get away with any amoral behaviors that afternoon. Needless to say, after two more waves of masqueraders, the movie-theater candy lasted about twenty minutes, disappearing first before the snack-size bags of chips, Reeses, Hersey bars and Kit Kats. Between the boys and the girls, I'd say the boys exhibited more in the way of blatant nerve, not giving their unrepentant rapacity a second thought, whereas the girls seemed more apologetic and ashamed after being caught redhanded with multiple treats. Summarily, gender aside, atavistic greed oozed up from beneath the surface, lodging itself in the hands of these children. So much for innocence. 

Rather than comment/judge further, I'm going to leave you with the words of one of my favorite writers, Oscar Wilde:

"The more one analyzes people, the more all reasons for analysis disappear. Sooner or later, one comes to that dreadful universal thing called human nature."

Thank you, sir.