The Stories We Tell: Dystopia & Ragnarok

One of my favorite local bookshops recently displayed a sign that read as follows: Due to recent happenings we have moved our ‘Dystopic Future’ section to ‘Current Events’. 

Isn’t that just the case though? Everywhere you turn and every device you turn on has another article about environmental catastrophe, a research report heralding disaster, and opinion pieces laying hefty bets on where, when, and how humanity will ultimately destroy itself. Best-selling books are bleak, despairing, and pessimistic. Popular Netflix series like Black Mirror paint a horrid picture of where humanity is headed and the movie industry seems to only have time for scripts where superheroes, rather than relatable humans, solve all our problems for us. ​

It is my firm belief that the kinds of stories a culture tells will, in fact, tell you far more about that culture than the stories themselves. What kind of stories do we tell today? I sense futility, anger, hopelessness, selfishness, and defeat in most of them. A sense of embarrassment about the story we are currently telling through how we live is already openly acknowledged: how often have you heard people shudder as they ask what their grandchildren might say of us and how we treated the environment, or nuclear science, or genetics research? But there are other cultures and with them other stories that we might tell instead. ​

"It is my firm belief that the kinds of stories a culture tells will, in fact,
​tell you far more about that culture than the stories themselves."
​

​For this reason I am eternally intrigued by the concept of Ragnarok in Scandinavian mythology. For those unfamiliar with the Norse Myths, Ragnarok is an apocalyptic battle that will take place in Asgard where the Norse gods reside. Odin will be swallowed whole by the giant wolf Fenrir, Thor will slay the world serpent Jormungandr only to die by its venom, and Frey will be slain by the fire giant Surtr with the edge of his own sword. In short, it is a prophecy of utter doom. The gods lose.

What sort of people tell that kind of story? What kind of culture lets their heroes lose? Couldn’t the strength of Thor, the cunning of Loki, the beauty of Freya, the keen senses of Heimdal, or the wisdom of Odin divert this terrible disaster? No. The gods are doomed and each must live under the shadow of this impending apocalypse. Does that sound familiar? I think we might have more in common with the ancient Scandinavian story-tellers than most people imagine.

What sort of people tell that kind of story? What kind of culture lets their heroes lose?

​So what is the response of Odin and the gods to their plight? Do they give up? Do they lay down their swords and surrender to their inevitable end? Do they drink themselves blind in light of the doom that awaits? No. Odin plots ceaselessly to seek out the bravest and wisest warriors to join him in Valhalla where they constantly prepare for Ragnarok. Thor continues to beat back the frost-giants with his hammer Mjolnir and Heimdal remains ever-watchful at his post atop Bifrost. And, of course, the iconic viking warrior emulates the Norse gods: despite the odds he fights, more concerned about finding a good end than in trying to avoid it.

So I offer this thought: if the stories we are telling today are not the sort we’d like people to remember us by then let’s look back and find stories worth telling. After that, when we are ready, we’ll embrace a new way of looking at the future and learn face the inevitable challenges that lay ahead with courage instead of cowardice. Then we’ll start telling stories worth living.

For more on Ragnarok Joshua recommends Kevin Crossley-Holland’s translation of the Norse Myths.