Are the "Bad Guys" Actually Bad?

Use this forum to discuss the October 2020 Book of the month, "We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies" by Matthew Tysz.
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Devika Rajesh
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Re: Are the "Bad Guys" Actually Bad?

Post by Devika Rajesh »

It's really a controversial topics. But I am reminded of a quote by Paulo coelho in one of his books, " Nothing in this world is entirely wrong. Even the stopped clock is right twice a day". So I think there is more to the antagonist that everyone should understand.
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Post by aimeepieterse »

I definitely got this feeling from how the story progresses, and it's an excellent question. I think I will my reservations about some of the "bad guys" though, just in case!
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Post by Neverlandgirl »

Awesome question! It is all a matter of perspective. Bad guys could just be good guys who offended the wrong people with their beliefs. The heroes versus villains dilemma.
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Jaidyn Taylor
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Post by Jaidyn Taylor »

It’s hard to make a definitive statement with this because we know so little. From simply reading the first book, without looking further into it, the “bad guys” definitely do seem bad. As in they oppose the goals of the protagonists. But I honestly don’t know if Meldorath is “evil”, maybe simply powerful and feared because of that power. We don’t know if Orlin actually abused children and the more I read, the more grew skeptical. I’m interested to find out more about these characters in later books.
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Post by aby johnson »

Very thoughtful question. I felt kind of the same after reading the book. Because the author is hiding something about the characters which I'm sure he will reveal in the next installments. I think Maido is evil and also Meldorath. The rest I'm not so sure. Lets find out in the next books.
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Post by Ndiviwe »

I understand what you mean but I think its all about perspective. To us, the readers, it all seems justifiable and to a certain extant it is. But, to the people of Voulhire they are villains. The Riva are definitely criminals, they stopped being victims a while ago when they started vandalizing properties and killing innocent people.
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Post by EReid »

I think the Riva Rohavi were mistreated. However, that in no way excuses the vandalism and killing they did in revenge.
I wish you a kinder sea --Emily Dickinson
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Post by Cassie_Megan »

I had this question in mind too! I love how the mystery grows and how nothing is sure, especially about the two villains. The first book is to set the scene, so I guess there will be more clues and answers to this question in the following books!
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Post by Damian Keyes »

I was thinking the same thing because King Wilhelm seemed to dislike Meldorath for some unknown reason and wanted him out. On the flip side, Meldorath was doing some undercover magic that put the people of the village in harm's way. This is the first book in the series so I think it was the author's motive for the reader to question those who are in high positions.
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Post by Rayah Raouf »

If you think about it, everybody has a purpose. The Riva do. Their purpose might not seem 'bad' to them. I don't think they are 'bad' guys, I just think that their purpose is harmful to others. Yes, they kill and hurt people, but they have motivation. To themselves, they aren't bad. To others, they are.
Even Meldoarth. I don't think he is a bad character per se. I just think that if things didn't go his way to achieve his purpose, it would be harmful to others.
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Post by Vivian Jabeya »

I think that the 'bad guys' in the book are actually villains. They may have been trying to achieve the greater good but they used the wrong means to achieve that. One thing that saddened me is the message that Meldorath conveyed to Lord Eldus. How would killing Lord Eldus help Meldorath to clear his name? I can't wait to read the next book. I hope that it answers this question.
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Post by iammiape »

Krista Ash wrote: 03 Oct 2020, 14:25 There is evidence that perhaps Lord Orlin did not actually abuse children. The Riva Rohavi have very righteous reasons for hating Voulhire. Meldorath was never given a proper trial before being imprisoned.

Do you think the antagonists of the story are actually villains? Or are they more honorable than the portrayed heroes: King Wilhelm, Chancellor Maido, and King Saint Idus?
I believe that if former King Idus had ordered humanitarian means in dealing about those who opposed him, the Riva Rohavi would've not been created and adamant to destroy Voulhire. But the sinful deeds of twenty people does not deserved the death of hundreds of innocent people. I can never sympathize to those who think that the actions of the Riva at present can be justified because of the horror of their past. They are downright villains to me.
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Post by Vanessa Leong »

This is an interesting topic! I always love when authors show different sides to characters and that not all are merely "good" or "bad". I believe the characters have personal motivations that lead to conflicting opinions and actions. However, when the actions that the "villains" take in the book involve harming others, I'm not so sure if that can be deemed as honorable.
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Post by JH_Mayyy »

Although I was sad and shocked when the Riva Rohavi invaded Hillport, I can't say that they are solely evil. They refused to surrender to King Saint Idus to protect their ways of life. They were not demons, but merely people who clung to their culture, and therefore remained the same and turned into "the enemy" all at the same time. Yes, they were brutal and aggressive, but considering their history, I'd say that their deeds are not only simply out of evilness.
As for Meldorath, though he killed and hurt lots of people, he was betrayed by King Wilhelm and never received a just trial. He has his scars, too.
However, I do not think either Riva Rohavi's or Meldorath's actions were righteous. Neither murdering innocent families nor experimenting on people is right. They have their backgrounds, but that does not give them the right to do such cruel things.
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Post by Dzejn_Crvena »

I do not trust King Wilhelm and Chancellor Maido. I don't think the main characters are as good as they appear to be. Even Galen has a dark past. I like that the characters have flaws.
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