Good vs. Evil?

[Shaun]

Must it always be present? What does it encompass? What are the cliches? What do you think about the nature of good vs. evil? Go on, discuss it! It's literary and important! (You can talk about the Bible here...since it is literature)

[Alex]

Good and evil does not, and should not always be present

its simple as that really. Only exceptional writers can pull it off without being cliché, not that amateurs shouldn't try, but I believe, because of its wide use, its much more difficult to write. Every other aspect of literature is still present, but you have to worry about if you're writing a cliché.

[Andy]

The cliche that annoys me most is: having one good force and one evil force. Because nothing nowadays is like that. The US made a terrible mistake when it went to Iraq and assumed all terrorists were bad guys united against them.

A good story often has more than 2 groups with differing opinions, whether politically, personally, or religiously motivated. And they can be good or evil: it's always possible to have multiple bad guys vying for power, but there can also be good groups that fight, possibly with regard to how to get rid of the bad groups. :)

Good and evil isn't ever as simple as 1 vs 1, and literature is no different.

[Shaun]

So you'd argue that the nature of good vs. evil is ambiguous then?

Alex, what about writing stories that touch on good vs. evil, but in a very removed and non-grand way? Say you're writing a story about love and betrayal (stuff that is, sadly, quite common in society as far as relationships are concern). There would clearly be some concerns of good vs. evil. James is good, but Alfred isn't (he might not be evil, but he's an ass), and Michelle is a bitch, but Anna is really sweet...etc etc.

[Andy]

Yes, I'd argue that. Although sometimes it's very clear who's good and evil. ;)

[Shaun]

Goodness, wait until you get into the theoretical third book of the Satin Bag series...the evil guy becomes so utterly ambiguous you don't even know whether to punish him for his crimes or let hi off...it's awesome.

[Rafael Domination]

Personally, I don't think the sides matter. I think its the plot, the twists in the plot, the characters, the flair and quality of the work that matters. Sure, blurring the boundaries of good and evil can put a littl bit of originality into the novel, but if it's just for show, then it'll be obvious.

[Alex]

Something that only touches on the idea of good vs. evil isn't what I was reffering to. The idea of "good" vs. "evil" to me, is when an author makes it blatantly obvious of sides or when it just isn't done very well ((which sadly, occurs frequently)). In any story with a biased narrator one side is going to come off as "evil", that can't be avoided and is sometimes intended, but when a story starts:

They stood there that somber night, defending the justice for which they stood.


Obviously stating that one group is good and one group is evil ((or at least implied because they were fighting something, and if they're fighting something and they're good... well you get it =p)) is what I was reffering to. The entire idea should be used through the dropping of scarce, ambiguous clues until it all culminates in the end. If not then it nearly eliminates an entire section of mental description available to an author, and based off what I've read, if they are pre-labeled as good or evil the story turns much to far to just plot.

[Quietus]

No, I didn't read all the posts here, but I'm still gonna give my input:P

I think that good and evil is based on what the writers intends each side to be. I'm gonna be bad here and use myself as an example, with a story some of you may have read. In it, I have my two main characters, neither one is perfect, their plots are interconnected, greatly. But the main thing: Neither one is good nor bad. Of course, from each of their respective povs, the other one will seem the bad guy. But from an impartial view, they're both just humans going through life.

All in all, I think good and evil are all about perspective.

[jordanisonfire]

I believe there is no Good and Evil. Only power and the way people go about obtaining it.

(Yes, what Voldemort said in the Philosopher's Stone movie, but a little tweaked :D)

[Lykaios]

I believe there is no Good and Evil. Only power and the way people go about obtaining it.

Hehe, good way of putting it. :D

I think it depend on what genre your writing, like in a horror there will be a bad guy who kills people etc. In fantasy there might be two forces etc. But in normal life say romance, there might be opposition or a meanie but nor really an 'evil' character. I think it also depends on what you interpret 'evil' as. People will have different opinions and even the bad guy might think he/she/it is a good guy.

Sorry if this makes no sence, I'm typing in the dark . . . :P

[Shaun]

I don't think it's always so cut and dry in horror, though. Sometimes your murderous character can turn out to be the not-so-bad guy. Sometimes they murder for a reason and you find out that that reason is because someone else is really evil.

[Weirdside]

Good vs Evil is a ton of fun to write. What is good and evil? doubly so. Of course there are cliches. I don't think you can have the classic Superman and Lex dynamic anymore. It has to be muddled a bit. Well you could, but you'd have to be pretty clever. You're right, I should just do it instead of talking about it.