dragon related/pointer to book review

[Doug Millison]

http://www2.h-net.msu.edu/reviews/showrev.cgi?path=4297998507510

 David E. Jones. An Instinct for Dragons. New York:
Routledge, 2000. 175 pp. Bibliography index. $24.95
(cloth), ISBN 0-415-92721-8. 
Reviewed by Marion W. Copeland, adjunct Tufts Center
for Animals and Public Policy, Tufts Veterinary
School, North Grafton, Massachusetts.

 "He also finds it supportive that human heroes
worldwide are cast as dragon-slayers in the early
phases of "cultural evolution." Later dragons may
acquire a more balanced reputation, symbolizing both
good and evil, or even evolving to represent good.
Thus, dragons also serve as a clue to the development
of politics and religion in individual human cultures.
In the West, where dragons were for centuries believed
to be both real and related to the devil, dragons
proved an encouragement to centralized organization
under a "dragon-slayer." Once such organization was
established, the dragon became a symbol of state and,
over time, "its nature changes to reflect that fact."
That the Eastern dragon has existed as "the friendly
consort of emperors" for many more centuries than has
been true in the West seems to Jones to explain what
is often assumed to be a contradiction between the
Western and Eastern dragon. The latter has simply had
longer to mellow. The Western dragon is still in the
mellowing process (p. 111). Hence while 21st century
young adults take the challenges of Dungeons and
Dragons quite seriously, their younger siblings cuddle
with Puff the Magic Dragon."


...I thought this might be interesting to some M&D readers.

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