Critical Introduction to “A Fool’s Creation”

by Christian Tolentino

When I first thought of my original myth in week one, I had an idea of what I wanted, but so much has changed since then with different stories being introduced and the genre I wanted to aim towards. However, something that should be said is this myth isn’t my final story. In fact, if this myth does pique interest for future readers, I’d like to hear feedback and see what else I can add. Creating worlds and fleshing out characters in 990 words is difficult, so this myth is just an extended list of plot points I had. In my writing process, I like to believe that it is like a road trip. I know where the start and end are, as well as the rest stops which I like to think of as moments where if it were a movie, the best songs would play. The rest stops are moments where the plot shifts to something new, goals switch, or there is a big fight. The rest of my myth can be changed just like taking a new route to avoid traffic. This could be fluff to mold the characters or add beasts to show off the entire world more. While I believe I have the foundation of a great story, I also believe my writing must improve with some areas of weakness being hand holding the audience through the plot and overwriting. If possible, I wish to have the strongest of criticism and fixes to make my myth be at the professional level.

While I never tried to make connections to the required readings, I do know that they came naturally with how I set it up. In Michael Bazzett’s, The Popul Vuh, multiple iterations of humans are created until they’re ready to worship. When describing the mud people, Bazzett says that they fell apart and the work “softened into mush” (Bazzett 14). Having a flood story with imperfect was something that I was drawn to. However, I wanted it not to be so much hands cleansing, and I wanted it to feel like they were an uncleanable stain, but also have the Christian trope of God loves everyone. So, when creating the boy, I wanted him to be a stuck-up God. I remember someone in a discussion board mentioning “The Boys” and was drawn to Homelander. Someone arrogant and only truly cares about the mirror. Some aspects I wish I could expand on is this boy such as giving him a name when he does get power, signifying a turning point to where he believes he’s the source of power. I wanted to give him a moment where he could see the deformed humans and think “wow they don’t belong here”, but also deep down he believes it’s his fault and not the regular humans who birth them. Giving him more time with the void in his youth, showing that he was lonely growing up being the only living thing on Earth.

The void was a unique character to create. For one, it doesn’t speak which I did just because it was unique. But also, I still don’t have a full grasp of what the void is. I know it controls space, and ultimately all life. I wanted the void to be a mentor to the boy, but one whose failures cost him his greatest gift. Like how in “Kung Fu Panda”, Master Shifu handles Tai Lung. I never introduce a face to the void either, but I do have an idea of what it looked like. An inspiration for this moment comes from David Leeming’s, The World of Myth: An Anthology. The creation story of Bumba is one of my favorites because I can imagine a clumsy beast not knowing their own strength. When Leeming says, “Bumba vomited up the moon and the stars,” (Leeming 40) I imagine a baby playing in the sand and accidentally destroying a colony of ants. Having a character not realize their own strength shows recklessness. Yes, the void is a good being, but it not a perfect god.  The final thing I will touch on is the trickster. I’ve often thought tricksters are the pure evil villains like the Sith, but Leeming says otherwise, “Yet the trickster is profoundly inventive, creative by nature, and in some ways a helper to humanity,” (Leeming 165). I wanted to do the trickster role in a way that I’m not used to. Somebody that doesn’t play by the rules, so it makes them look bad, but really tries to do the right thing.

Carl Jung believed that everyone spoke the same language, in dreams. As described in “The Archetype of Dream Symbolism”, archetypes are universal symbols of characters. As Jung states, “There are, for instance, many representations of the motif of the hostile brethren, but the motif itself remains the same” (Jung 67). Meaning there are many of the same types of stories, and even though cultures have different beliefs, the archetypes are the same. My myth emphasizes the father son bond as the proud creator thinks he’s creating a hero but is creating a monster. I outlined earlier that one of my comparisons was to “Kung Fu Panda”, but this story is also like Frankenstein. One comparison I tried to make is Zeus such as him murdering his wife in fear that his child would destroy him, but there are a few key differences. Nevertheless, the story of developing someone to be like you and failing isn’t unique to me. One of my characters also has traits of believing in supremacy which has been a common theme since World War II. Paul Atredis and Anakin Skywalker believe they make the world better by getting rid of people who stand in their way. By doing this they don’t have any competition that will stop them from creating their idea of utopia. All in all, my story isn’t original because it is based of others culture and previous ideas. I took some aspects of the things I’ve learned, read, and watched to give my telling of creation.

“A Fool’s Creation”

A void, deprived of song and sight. Cold and lonely as thoughts paused. One thought was a voice calling out, “Hello? I’m here for you but I can’t see you.” The void was in shock, they were not the only one who remained? This voice talked to the void, but with no response. But, before the voice wandered away, he was given flesh and placed on ground. He looked up to the void as a splash of color exploded, light. “Wow, I can see everything. Woah what’s that?” As the boy ran towards, fell into the giant blue ground and sank to the bottom. The void helped the boy kick his feet up back to the surface. The boy was thankful. As time passed the boy would talk the void, and the void provided. Trees block the hot beaming sky. These trees provided food. A bucket, to hold water. As the boy grew bigger, the void created time, a measurement of progress. By the time the boy turned 16, he had already grown taller than the trees and had hair on his face. As a gift, the void lifted the boy up to the sky, “thank you” the boy said as he become the ruler of the Earth. The void would remain in the sky for the rest of eternity with no affair on Earth.

The first thing the boy did was create more beings just like him, so he could rest more and grow the Earth. He diversified the planet with man and woman so everyone could bear children just like him. They built cities to gather to eat and sing. Giving a monument to the one that gave them life. The void. The world thrived as new innovations came and there was harmony. But as more people flooded the Earth, there were flaws. Defectives that made some less capable than others. They needed more resources and couldn’t provide for themselves. The boy saw these flaws as unacceptable, “the world was created under perfect conditions. I was brought because I’m a God. If they’re not good enough I will rebuild,” he thought. So, he created an army from the bark of the trees. Separating all those with defects, the boy stood atop a stage warning all those who aren’t up to his standards. “I give you everything and these are the disgraces you leave behind. The void’s legacy was bringing you from the atoms of space, you will not make a mockery of our generosity,” as the void watched above, seeing bodies fall to the ground. A stare into the frenzied crowd, the boy glances down at his long sharp blade, then sees a twinkle in the sky. It was unfamiliar, and his stomach dropped knowing he’d finally meet his maker soon enough.

Days passing, the boy waited in his quarters thinking about his first true encounter with the void. Then one of the tree bark guardians walked in stiff as ever, “well?” the boy said as the tongueless tree stood still. He knew exactly why he stood there, as he picked up his infamous weapon and ran out to battle. While on his way to the action visions blurred his thoughts as he saw a woman, birthing a new age. Fire engulfed the land, but then a stranger looked out to shore. He walked over to the figure, not getting a glimpse at the face, but seeing the hair fall over his side, it was his son. Eureka, it was exactly what the world needed, more people like the boy. He would create his own bloodline to bring peace. But, he had to confront the void.

He then reached the battlefield as trees from a forest burned and spread, “commander,” the boy greeted until he saw his forces burn into oblivion. The Earth shook heavy, as great carnage rained from the sky. Rocks, the size of trees were hurled, and the ground loosened under the boy’s feet. He went flying into the ash. Confused, the boy wondered what had gone wrong. The Earth was falling apart and he couldn’t do anything. Cracks made there way as the ground was split, and the ocean seeped through the faults creating more oceans. Water flew up into the sky creating a great storm with light blasting from the clouds. Terrified, the people prayed for the madness to end, and the void say this suffering. He ceased his will at nightfall, creating the stars so he could always see the Earth. Here he also made beasts of the boy’s nightmares. Deformed humans in the sea, land, and air that were used for hunting and service. The void saw beauty in differences, not blemish. Sadden by his mistakes, the animals became a gift for the humans.

Weeks later, the boy returned to his home. He’d seen firsthand his power was no match for his creator. But the earth was his, and his alone. Walking alone, he felt a tap on his shoulder, the gust of a great wind calling to him, leading his eyes to a field. Here lied a woman with black as night eyes and hair. The boy tried to open his mouth, but the visions came back. He knew that this was how he’d dominate the earth, with her by his side. Time past and his relationship grew. She never spoke a word, not a name, parents, nothing was known about her. One day the boy took the girl back to the fields, where he would tell her who exactly he was. As he stood tall and opened his mouth the girl stopped and grabbed him by the throat with a tear in her eye. He was thrown off to why she was crying, but before he could finish his thought, his eyes rolled back as his life faded. His body lay there to be eaten by cattle as the girl dusted to the sky. When she vanished, it rained.

Works Cited

Bazzett, Michael. The Popol Vuh : A New English Version. Minneapolis, Minnesota, Milkweed Editions, 2018.

Jung, Carl G. Man and His Symbols. Anchor Press, 1964.

Leeming, David Adams. The World of Myth: An Anthology. Oxford University Press, 2024.

Christian Tolentino graduated with a degree in Creative Writing from the College of Western Idaho with aspirations of furthering his education and writing. He enjoys reading comics, watching Star Wars, and writing his own stories. His favorite genres are sci-fi, fantasy, and comedy.