the problem with the addiction metaphor for avatars in the magnus archives isn’t actually with the metaphor itself, it’s that it’s treated as the Only way to understand monsterhood.
“jon made the choice to go after live statements because they felt good” is true
“jon felt good when he took live statements as a metaphor for addiction” is true
“jon felt good when he took live statements because victimizing people feels empowering” is true
“jon felt good when he took live statements Because Eating Feels Good” Is Also True
it’s easy to say that jon made The Choice to continue being a monster, there’s plenty of characters in the show who’ve said as much.
but the choice to continue being a monster is Equally the choice to Survive, to continue living. and trying to have a conversation about the Morality of jon’s choice, as if it is Only about how good it feels to be monstrous, as if the addiction to living can be separated from the reality of dying. is a bit ridiculous !
the whole point of jon’s situation, of Being an avatar, is that it’s not Fair. jon was turned into a monster without his knowledge or consent, and then was told that there was no way out of it but to die.
it’s not Fair to blame someone for wanting to live, it’s not Fair to hurt someone to continue living. both are true, and that’s Exactly what makes it interesting ! Why avatars can be both victims and victimizers in turn.
what makes someone like jon different from someone like jared hopsworth isn’t their capacity for violence or to cause pain, it’s the Choice To Continue Feeling Compassion For Other People. to make the active Choice to see other human beings As People and care about the harm you cause them.
so much of the narrative of tma is about characters who are stripped of agency, who still make Meaningful Choices Anyways. by Choosing to care, even as that choice hurts you. to continue to care even though it would feel Good not to.
this isn’t Separate from the metaphor about addiction, it’s in Conversation with it.
