Manipulated By His Own Delusion

Delusional and a little insane, Grizzly man lost all sense of reality and believed that he was “the protector” of the grizzly bears. Important to note that where Timothy believed the bears were in danger was actually a nationally protected park. Timothy’s previous intimate and dependent relationship with drugs and alcohol made his mind susceptible to this delusional state. Yes, he claimed to have attained sobriety, but I don’t think he really did. I do believe he did so in the sense of alcohol, but his fascination and obsession with the bears became his new drug. He became so addicted, he believed he could become one of the bears, that he could speak their language, and become their master. He believed these relationships with the bears existed and were reciprocated because he so lonely. His mind created this fantasy land, where he could just run along and play with these harmless creatures. Although I don’t agree with the work he was doing, I do think his fantasy and interactions with the bears provide him with some companionship. He was able to medicate himself in a way that did not require drugs and eliminated his ability to feel empty. (However, for all I know he could have been smoking some stuff up there that no one knew about.) I believe Timothy was crazy, but I don’t necessarily think he was malicious. He lived in a world of ignorance, which restricted him from seeing the true harm he was doing. I give him some credit, because he had good moral intentions; however, he was too naïve to accept or even acknowledge reality. One of the interviews said, “There is an unspoken boundary between the bears and humans, when we cross it we know we pay the price.” Timothy did more than cross the boundary, but he was so isolated and manipulated by his own delusion he could not see the damage. I believe Timothy trespassed on a land that did not belong to him, but his death, although a tragedy, brought some value. So yes, most of the work Timothy did was more harmful than good, but not everything he accomplished was a failure.