Myths Analysis: Good vs. Evil

The good vs. evil myth is a struggle between heroes/heroines and those whose power causes harm to society. Many times the heroes have super powers that help them fight against evil while the evil takes the form of a monster or villain. In reality good and evil characters may not be so easy to identify. The difference between good and evil may be a representation of a person’s beliefs. Both people in the struggle may think they are in the right. For instance, in America’s War on Terror, those who America feels are terrorists are living by what they believe. Good and evil in reality may sometimes just be a difference in views. Good vs. evil is many times exaggerated to help provoke a viewpoint or empathy. This myth is represented in many movies including The Lord of the Rings and many works of art such as the Good Defeats Evil monument in New York City.

The Lord of the Rings novels by J.R.R. Tolkien have become one of the most popular and influential works in the 20th century. Filled with wizards, hobbits, elves, dwarves, and mankind, The Lord of the Rings is a struggle between good and evil. In The Lord of the Rings, Frodo Baggins, a hobbit, is put in charge of his uncle’s Bilbo’s precious ring that gives the holder special powers but is also being hunted down by the Dark Lord Sauron. Frodo must take the ring to be destroyed in the fire of doom before the dark forces can get their hands on the ring and destroy the world. Frodo and his friends battle the dark side throughout the trilogy and heroes emerge in unlikely places.

The Good Defeats Evil monument was created by Zurab Tsereteli in 1990 and is located in New York City at the grounds of the United Nations. The New York Public Art Curriculum website states,
“Good Defeats Evil is a sculpture that combines traditional-style bronze work with a more contemporary material--American and Soviet missals. ‘Good’ is represented by a depiction of St. George, who is astride a rearing horse. In his right hand he holds an enormous spear, with which he is slaying a writhing dragon, representing ‘Evil.’ The dragon lifts his head with one last attempt at resurgence, but it is clear that this is the dragon's last breath: the dragon's body, which is made of an American Pershing II missile and a Soviet SS20 missile, has been torn apart by St. George's spear (New York Public Art Curriculum, 2009).

This mythic pattern is attractive to contemporary audiences because they get to choose a side and someone gets to be a hero. In a world filled with bad news, people want to see a struggle where a hero emerges and wins the battle. Like The Lord of the Rings and the sight of the Good Defeats Evil monument, America’s War on Terror is a long and straining fight with many losses. However, we can relate it to our own lives and hope that America can rise above the villains in the world and our heroes can win the War on Terror.

Many novelists, artists, and other creators research myths and consciously incorporate them in their work. Novelist Guy Gavriel Kay discusses the conscious use of myths in his work stating, “I see myth and legend as the principal wellsprings of fantasy literature” (Dumoski, 2002). He went on to say that mythic themes were consciously incorporated in many of his novels including his Fionavar Tapestry trilogy which is a high fantasy much like The Lord of the Rings (Dumoski). Artists also consciously incorporate myths into there work, in fact, many times their work is inspired by myth. “Many myths are such compelling stories that artists have turned to them again and again, reinterpreting them from the vantage point of their own experience and imagination”(Minneapolis Museum of Art, 2009).

The presence of the good vs. evil myth within different works does not change my view on them in the future. I’ve been raised to be observant and analyze information that I am exposed to. The good vs. evil myth is a fairly obvious and easy to identify myth. A struggle between what we call good and evil is a part of U.S. history and in many parts of our culture. When I watch movies with the good vs. evil theme, although fictional, I analyze how it can be related to real world events.

References
Dumoski, A. (2002). Guy Gavriel Kay: The mythic heart. Phantastes. Retrieved May 27, 2009 from http://www.brightweavings.com/ggkswords/phantastes.htm.

Minneapolis Museum of Arts. (2009).World myths & legends in art. Retrieved May 27, 2009 from http://www.artsmia.org/world-myths/whatismyth.html.

New York Public Art Curriculum. (2009). Good defeats evil, 1990. Retrieved May 26, 2009 from http://www.blueofthesky.com/publicart/works/goodandevil.htm.