Theme and Symbolism: EVIL

EVIL

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HELPFUL TIP:

Your story's theme is its central message to readers and can be reinforced with specific symbols and motifs pulled right from the setting. Additionally, symbols woven into a scene can underscore your character's emotions, establish mood, and even generate conflict. Explore your story theme thoughtfully and use associated symbols to do more with less.

THEMATIC STATEMENTS THAT MAY APPLY TO YOUR STORY:

Right and wrong are subjective.
Everyone is capable of both good and evil.
Good and evil fight a constant battle within every human being.
Tolerating evil is itself a form of evil.
Every villain is the hero in their own story.
Some things are unforgivable.
Evil means can never justify good ends.
Good will always triumph over evil.

LIES (ANTI-THEMATIC STATEMENTS) YOUR CHARACTER MIGHT BELIEVE:

Evil happens in other places, not here.
They're the bad person, not me.
I'm not capable of that kind of evil.
I'm not strong enough to fight this evil.
This is just the way I am.
This kind of evil can't be overcome.

CHARACTER TRAITS TO SUPPORT OR CHALLENGE THE THEME:

CALLOUS, CRUEL, EVIL, FANATICAL, GREEDY, IRRATIONAL, JUDGMENTAL, MELODRAMATIC, PARANOID, PREJUDICED, SELF-INDULGENT, SUPERSTITIOUS, UNETHICAL, VINDICTIVE, VIOLENT, BOLD, COURAGEOUS, EMPATHETIC, HONORABLE, IMAGINATIVE, JUST, MERCIFUL, OBJECTIVE, PHILOSOPHICAL, PROTECTIVE, SPIRITUAL, TRADITIONAL, WISE

WOUNDS THAT MAY SHAPE A CHARACTER'S PERSPECTIVE:

A HOME INVASION, A PHYSICAL ASSAULT, A SCHOOL SHOOTING, A TERRORIST ATTACK, A TOXIC RELATIONSHIP, AN ABUSE OF POWER, BATTLING A MENTAL CONDITION, BEING BULLIED, BEING FALSELY ACCUSED OF A CRIME, BEING HELD CAPTIVE, BEING HUMILIATED BY OTHERS, BEING SEXUALLY VIOLATED, BEING THE PRODUCT OF A RAPE, BEING TORTURED, BEING TREATED AS PROPERTY, CROSSING MORAL LINES TO SURVIVE, DOMESTIC ABUSE, FINDING OUT ONE'S CHILD WAS ABUSED, INCEST, LEARNING THAT ONE'S PARENT WAS A MONSTER, LIVING WITH AN ABUSIVE CAREGIVER, WITNESSING A MURDER

CREATIVE WORKS THAT EXPLORE THIS THEME:

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
Good Omens
Lord of the Rings
No Country for Old Men
Lord of the Flies
The Stand
East of Eden
Rosemary's Baby
The Omen

NATURAL SYMBOLS FOR THIS THEME:

Snakes and serpents
Spiders
Poisons (hemlock, nightshade, etc.)
Wolves
Animals killing for sport rather than need
Night
Darkness and shadows
Thorns

HUMAN & SOCIETAL SYMBOLS FOR THIS THEME:

Satan
Inverted crosses
Dark magic
Pentagrams
Cloven hoof prints
Demons and evil spirits
The evil eye
The number 666
Blood rites and sacrifices
Werewolves
Vampires
The undead
Swastikas
Slavery
Genocide
Torture
Murder
Rape
Crimes against children
Serial killers
Cult leaders

SYMBOLISM EXAMPLES IN STORIES:

The one ring (Lord of the Rings trilogy)
The pig's head (Lord of the Flies)
The witches (Macbeth)
The carnival (Something Wicked This Way Comes)