|
Author
|
Comment
|
clairvoyantent
Registered User
(8/6/05 5:01 pm)
|
Benevolent creatures turned evil
Greatly appreciate any help someone may have on the following:
Curious if anyone is familiar with any fairy tales or mythic stories that deal with benevolent creatures turned evil due to an injustice done to them?
To be specific: magical healers who once gave life, turned to creatures of darkness who bring terror and death as vengeance to those who turned on them.
Obviously, it doen't have to exactly fit my description - I'm just looking for an example that may serve as a framework to something I'm workingon.
I'm very gracious for your time and help.
|
Rosemary Lake
Registered User
(8/6/05 5:28 pm)
|
Tiamat, Lilith
Well, it kind of fits the myths about Tiamat and Lilith. They weren't healers sfaik, but good (and very fertile mothers). Then there was trouble and the mother's husband and/or children were killed; she turned evil and began killing other children in revenge. See Enuma Elish. Spenser had a version of this monster in FAERIE QUEENE.
|
Veronica Schanoes
Registered User
(8/8/05 12:20 pm)
|
Re: Tiamat, Lilith
There is a suggestion that the Bloody Mary of Florida street kids' folklore is such a one, but I can't remember the link to the story. Perhaps somebody else has it?
|
clairvoyantent
Registered User
(8/12/05 9:27 pm)
|
Re: Benevolent creatures turned evil
Any others?
|
Rosemary Lake
Registered User
(8/13/05 12:30 pm)
|
Cabinet des Fees?
I can't think of any more, at least in European tales. The Cabinet des Fees writers did a lot of unusual things, often cruel; they might have added something like that.
|
DividedSelf
Registered User
(8/13/05 4:39 pm)
|
Re: Benevolent creatures turned evil
Can't answer the question in the way you want, but it feels like there ought to be some mythical precedent. Lucifer might be somewhere in the ballpark? Cain? Judas? I'm sure there are plenty of examples in modern literature of the potential for good turning bad. Raskolnikov in "Crime and Punishment"? Kurtz in "Heart of Darkness"/"Apocalypse Now"? In Margaret Atwood's "Oryx and Crake", the Crake character might be seen as having potential for good and bad, before going nuts (though arguably not). A lot of Tolkien's nasties seem to start good. Darth Vader? Dracula, in Copola's film version?
I wouldn't've thought there'd be anything in fairy tale, though, because the characters are essentially one-dimensional. Evil characters tend to be just evil.
|
clairvoyantent
Registered User
(8/13/05 5:24 pm)
|
Re: Benevolent creatures turned evil
Tremendous thanks for your help
|
darklingthrush
Registered User
(8/14/05 9:51 pm)
|
Re: Benevolent creatures turned evil
Quite famously, Medusa's origins might be included in this. From what I remember reading, some tales begin with her being a young naiad who is favored by Poseidon (or given a necklace of sorts.) Athena being jealous either of the necklace or the favor shown to Medusa then curses her with the stone gaze and serpentine crown. It might be an off-base version of the myth I read. However, if it is the case she would have begun harmlessly enough at the beginning.
Perhaps even Melusine could fit into this category. She certainly has monstrous qualities as well as very beneficial features.
|
Veronica Schanoes
Registered User
(8/15/05 1:58 am)
|
Re: Benevolent creatures turned evil
The version of Medusa I know is quite nastier: basically, Medusa is a stunningly beautiful young woman whom Poseidon rapes in Athena's temple. Athena, in an amazing show of nastiness, punishes Medusa for this transgression by transforming her into the gorgon we know and love.
|
darklingthrush
Registered User
(8/15/05 8:44 am)
|
Re: Benevolent creatures turned evil
Well I do think the version I read was in a Greek myths for the young and impressionable. It's interesting to see that the Poseidon and Athena are still key in her transformation from beautiful maiden to ugly gorgon. Now I think I'll have to hunt down Medusa again and read some various translations.
Another note on beneficial creatures while I'm thinking on it. It does seem as though any household faeries that are maltreated do have a great tendency to go from highly beneficial to super nasty. Along these lines, I really loved how Holly Black & Tony di Terlizzi's Spiderwick Chronicles portray this in their first volume. I love the picture of Mallory Grace's hair knotted to the bars on her bed frame.
Edited by: darklingthrush at: 8/15/05 8:52 am
|
megaerairae
Registered User
(8/17/05 10:16 pm)
|
Re: Benevolent creatures turned evil
Pied Piper, they stiff him on his bill. :) |
david
Unregistered User
(9/7/05 8:11 am)
|
tiamat
I'm looking for identity between babylonian tiamat and greek medusa
|
