Evil in Fantasy and Fiction

Good vs. Evil in Fantasy and Fiction

Sean P. Kelly

English 121

Janelle Jalbert

14 March 2010

Good vs. Evil in Fantasy and Fiction

In the literary world the broad category of fiction, and its subcategory fantasy, most stories are portraying a battle of good versus evil. Although similar, fiction and fantasy often take slightly different paths to relate this same basic conflict. What makes a story or book fiction or fantasy? Fiction is a branch of literature which deals, in part or in whole, with temporally contra factual events (Wikipedia Fiction). Fantasy is an imaginative or fanciful work, especially one dealing with supernatural or unnatural events or characters (Webster's Unabridged Dictionary). Two different approaches are taken by the writers to reach the same end.

Both fantasy and fiction are made up stories designed to entertain. There are quite a few similarities. One example would be both use clever plot twists and suspense to keep the reader engaged. Both are dynamic worlds where the unexpected becomes almost common place. Lastly, there is the use of character building for both sides of the fight. You begin to like or dislike certain characters, as well as empathize if the story and writing are good enough. This is where, in my opinion, the similarities end and the differences begin.

In fiction the events in the story line could conceivably happen. There is a possibility, however remote, that these events could come to pass. The villain is usually a greedy or seedy individual with an agenda to destroy the world or cause some major catastrophe. The hero is usually a normal guy maybe with some military of police training. Both the protagonist and the hero use weapons that are either real, or within the realm of reality. These weapons span from knives and guns, to bombs and contagions. Fiction also limits the characters ability to get from place to place. The hero and protagonist are also limited to regular transportation such as cars, boats and trains. Usually the author will make this an integral part of the story, such as creating epic car chases to keep the reader involved. These elements are firmly grounded in reality. So where does fantasy differ?

Fantasy is something that just cannot happen. There is no way that the events being written about could take place in this world. The hero is normally a regular guy with one exception: he has some great gift or power, while the villain is generally a practitioner of some dark art vastly more powerful than that of the hero. While in epic fantasy, such as The Lord of the Rings, many of the characters use swords and bows, to do battle. There are usually the