The aim with this paper is to study the different portrayals of evil as seen in Mary Shelley ́s Frankenstein. The analysis of the material is supported by two theories of evil, to further establish an objective aspect to the main subjective interpretation of the content. The analysis is conducted with the support of Claudia Card ́s theory of evil from the book The Atrocity Paradigm, as well as Arne Johan Vetlesen ́s theory of evil from the book Studies of evil. Card ́s theory of evil takes the rains in determining whether or not a deed should be deemed as evil or just unethical. Meanwhile, Vetlesen ́s theory focuses more on determining the causes of evil and what motivates evildoers to commit acts of violence towards other people. These two theories work well together to better understand the abstract and concrete shapes of evil in the novel. The conclusion drawn in the paper is that both Frankenstein and his creature are capable of evil deeds. The creature does do more evil deeds than Frankenstein, but nevertheless, they both commit acts of evil according to Card ́s criterium for atrocities. Furthermore, while the creature seems to lack Vetlesen ́s articulated cultural symbols, Frankenstein seems to lack in a sense of responsibility and growth. Since neither Card nor Vetlesen claim to be able to determine whether or not a person is predominantly evil or good, this paper will not try to answer that question, but rather discuss the characters as a whole based on the results from the analysis.

In my essay, I illuminate evil from the perspective of whether we can explain evil deeds through the perpetrator's narrative. As an object for my study, I have chosen a popular culture perspective - the character The Joker - which has been portrayed several times. The purpose of the essay is to study if we understand and can come to terms with evil deeds if we also know the perpetrator's narrative. The starting point for this reasoning is the question of whether evil deeds can always be defined as evil? I have limited my thesis to be based on theories based on traditional and historical research in the field of evil. The material I have used for my analysis is limited to the shape of The Joker in the script of the films The Dark Knight and The Joker. Methodologically, the essay is based on textual idea analysis - around evil and myths.  Out of the scripts of The Joker and The Dark Knight I have developed a hypothesis which I finally discuss the reasonableness and test logically. Theoretically, I have based my study on Lars Svendsen's analysis of evil, John Martin Fischer's analysis of the meaning of the narrative and Claudia Card's discussion of grey areas. Based on these, I have analysed, discussed and argued to test my hypothesis and answer the question of the essay: Is The Joker's narrative an explanation for his evil deeds? The study's method and analysis have generated a result that shows that this is not the case. The Joker has made his own free choices that have made him who he is and what he does. His narrative is not an explanation for his demonic evil deeds.

The inquiry of this essay is to examine the expression of evil in fantasy literature with a special focus on J.K. Rowlings’ Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s stone and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, but also C.S. Lewis’ Narnia the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Narnia the Last Battle. The purpose is to illuminate different depictions of evil in the books and reflect what these depictions can tell us about evil in our contemporary context. With this essay I want to show how world views are present in fantasy literature with a special focus on the portrayal of evil and its significance for the understanding of the narrative. I mean that the understanding and depiction of evil is a universal problem and an existential issue of relevance to world views.