A Question of Literary Theoretics Regarding Evil Overlords and Such...

[sboydtaylor]

So I've been thinking about this one issue pretty deeply for well... about 2 hours... which means I've hit on a question that isn't going to let me go

Comments

Examples to the contrary

[trexr1]

What about Flash Gordon? Ming the Merciless had already taken over the Universe and was simply wiping out small pockets of resistance. Like Earth.

What about Eragon? Galbatorix had pretty much already taken over and again... was just wiping out small pockets of resistance.

What about Star Wars? You're telling me that the male pantheon of villains in this epic universe weren't already in charge and just wiping out pockets of resistance? (the orignal 3 movies of course being referenced...not the Jar Jar debacle.)

Order of the Stick! The evil Litch is pretty much in charge and getting more so. The order of the stick is just out to stop him. In fact...I'd stretch this example out to include most D&D based Universes. Most of the time there is an already in power evil overlord tormenting the local villiage etc. and the adventurers must fight impossible odds to win the day.

Even Disney provides an example contrary to your theory. What about the Black Cauldron? The Horned King? Already in power.

However if you are trying to make the point that there are very few epic fantasies with up and coming Female overlords striving to take over...you are correct. The only example we could think of was Izma from The Emperor's New Groove. Most up and commers are indeed male in this respect. *Bing!* Idea for a story brewing here.

:) Thanks for the mental exercise this morning.

Re: Examples to the contrary

[pure_doxyk]

IAWTC -- I thought the same thing. (Though I'd forgotten Order of the Stick, heh.)

Though there are examples of wannabe-female-overlords, all the ones I can think of occur within the context of a monarchy: The stepmother, the usurper, the dowager, looking to take away the King's (rightful) power.

And while I can think of many male baddies whose reasoning was "because I will do a better job at managing this place than anybody else" (i.e. Dr. Doom and his many spinoffs), I can't think of any female up-and-comers who were doing it because of a persistent I'm-a-better-caretaker delusion. Which is funny, since you'd think women would be MORE likely to bank on their life-management skillz. (Then again, maybe the women know how hard it actually is to raise a person, and thus have no interest in mothering whole worlds or countries?)

Yes, thank you for the great question!

Re: Examples to the contrary

[sboydtaylor]

Well, another facet to this is that all the Evil Women Tyrant Queens are either the Dowagers you mention or -- if they aren't usurping a male rightful (and thus divinely chosen) king -- they are witches. Perhaps the evil witch part is based in the overthrowing of the Female Divine and the Goddess Cult -- because it usurps the power of the (male) Christian God?

And perhaps the evil male overlord can never win because no male can overcome or truly threaten the will of the Christian God?

It'd be sad if it's all subconsciously tied up in religion, but that's what seems to be most likely.

Re: Examples to the contrary

[pure_doxyk]

It totally could be -- unless it's even more petty than that, and the message is just "no woman, and no-one not in the 'chosen' group or caste, has the right to power, and if they try to take it, they must be an exceptionally evil power -- either due to their own effort, or because some type of demons are assisting them, as with witches".

It's hard to separate religion from misogyny, now that I think about it... ;)

Re: Examples to the contrary

[sboydtaylor]

Good counter examples :) I was thinking Labyrinth last night too, where the Goblin King really does wield unlimited power in his domain.

As for me missing these, my only excuse is that the only stories you mention that I've seen are Star Wars and Flash Gordon. Perhaps it's just a limitation of my experience then. :)