human conflift in "the large ant"
Throughout the short story 'The Large Ant' Howard Fast's character Mr. Morgan displays the natural fear humans have against the unknown; by killing it. As a species through history, we have grasped an ideal that the development of superior weapons is supposedly a demonstration of one's technological advancements; though it may also be seen as a compensation for the social fears of that society. As a race the unknown presents us with a great fear. Thus when the idea of an eternal vacuum like space is brought up, we cringe at the thought of it. After the first signals of communication from outer space was received hysteria was spread through the world about it's purpose and meaning. Showing us how easily fear grips our emotions, which drives us to do crazy things to compensate for it. As a society, we have the conception that we must get better weapons cause the enemy might have better weapons. Thus when the idea of an unknown is brought into the equation, we assume that the “aliens”will have high levels of intellect and highly sophisticated weapons to kill us; however the idea that they come in peace to communicate does not often come up in discussions. “Look at yourself, a smart man, yet you cannot think of a mindset that does not need a weapon as a main requirement.” (Fast 157) showing how much we rely on armaments for protection. Acknowledging this, demonstrates to us the fears we perceive to be real that may have never existed. In recent years, human culture has been full of writers, directors, and story tellers alike who have been creating fearful tales of outer space; idealizing it as an eternal abyss where you are completely alone with no hope or salvation. giving the idea that if it's not from this planet then “it almost does not matter where they come from” (Fast 158). Instead we should see it as a new frontier of development; an endless span of time and space waiting to be discovered. Yet we still remain here on a tiny planet, examining space as