Good and evil seem like they're exact opposites, but there have to be some shades of gray, right? In Westmark, Theo seems to think he's got a handle on who's good and bad when he meets people like Las Bombas—but as it turns out, deciding who's on which side of the yay versus nay debate is much harder than it seems. His initial judgments are called into question the more he matures and the more people he meets. This dilemma is a tough thing to figure out—scholars have been trying to parse it out for years. Do your worst.
Questions About Good vs. Evil
- How does Theo's understanding of good and evil evolve as the book goes on?
- What makes someone good or evil in Westmark? Is it innate?
- Is Cabbarus entirely evil? If so, how does this fit in with Alexander's portrayal of good versus evil in the book more generally?
- Florian believes that monarchy is essentially bad, while Torrens believes it's good. Who is right? Is there a right answer to that?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
In Westmark, good and evil are ultimately defined by intention.
In Westmark, good and evil are ultimately defined by action.