GOBLIN SLAYER - Chapter 9

Something I just realized.

Many people in this series give our main man GS grief over going on “adventures” to slay goblins, but going about it brutally and mercilessly. Criticizing his attitude of “I will kill all the goblins” as being joyless and not proper for an adventurer.

Yet GS doesn’t see a problem with any of that, and I’ve finally figured out why. Goblin Slayer doesn’t see killing goblins as an adventure, or a series of quests, but as a necessary job. An important and difficult task that must be done for the sake of everyone.

Contrary to what modern media and society may tell you, jobs are not supposed to be fun. That’s not to say you can’t enjoy doing them, or that no jobs are fun, but that work, in and of itself, has no inherent element of enjoyment.

What a job can be however, is something far more important. Both meaningful and satisfying. Those are what GS gets out of killing all the goblins. A meaningful life, of miserable, difficult, dangerous, and underappreciated work. And the satisfaction of knowing there are now less goblins to do evil in the long run.

One of many lessons I think we can learn from GS. That often times doing the difficult work is inglorious, but will be more meaningful and satisfying than work that is “fun” or enjoyable.

All hail our lord Goblin Slayer! Virtuous, heroic, and an example for all young men!