28th Annual Student Research Conference
"Neither/Nor": Transcending Good and Evil in Terry Pratchett's and Neil Gaiman's Good Omens
Christine D. Brister
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
Good Omens follows the multiple perspectives of those wrapped up in the upcoming apocalypses including the Anti-Christ, angels and demons, the Four Horse-Persons, and all the people caught in the middle. An examination of the similar natures of the archetypal portrayals of Heaven and Hell in the novel, and their relation to the nature and freedom of Humanity, illuminates Humanity's fluidity of alignment that goes beyond being simply good or evil. Humanity's great acts of kindness and destruction transcend the works of Heaven and Hell due of their unique ability to achieve both states simultaneously. The innate power of expression belonging to humans to change those who do not inherently have free will ends up becoming their greatest attribute. Ultimately, it's their free will that makes Humanity worth saving. This paper will examine how humanity strays from the typical archetypal portrayals of Good and Evil, therefore creating their own niche in the grander scheme.
Keywords: Archetypes, Good & Evil, Humanity, Good Omens, Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman
Topic(s):English
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 103-5
Location: VH 1224
Time: 9:00