Introduction
The eternal struggle between good and evil lies at the heart of Susan Cooper's acclaimed fantasy series The Dark is Rising. This five-novel saga centers around Will Stanton, an ordinary boy who discovers he is actually the last of the Old Ones, immortal beings dedicated to defeating the forces of darkness. The second book in the series, The Dark is Rising, dramatically depicts Will's initiation into his powers and his central role in the timeless battle against evil. Cooper casts this conflict in mythic proportions, filling her story with archetypal symbols, mystical quests, and lyrical passages that evoke the magic inherent in the everyday world. Ultimately, The Dark is Rising explores the complex interplay between good and evil while suggesting that both reside within each individual. This essay will examine the theme of good vs. evil in The Dark is Rising and analyze how Cooper develops this classic struggle between light and darkness. It will assess the moral ambiguity of certain characters and consider how Will comes to understand his own dual nature. Analysis of this pivotal novel illuminates why the clash between good and evil has remained an enduring concern of literature across cultures.
Universal Theme, Mythic Roots: The Moral Conflict in The Dark is Rising
The battle between good and evil is a universal theme dating back to early religious and philosophical traditions across the world. In Western culture, this motif underpins myths and legends from Beowulf to the Bible, shaping the structure of stories for centuries. British author Susan Cooper drew upon the folklore of her homeland as well as wider mythic traditions when crafting her epic fantasy series The Dark is Rising in the 1970s and 80s. The five novels incorporate elements of Arthurian legend, Celtic mythology, and Old English poetry while developing a unique contemporary setting and plot. The series traces the adventures of its protagonist Will Stanton, who discovers on his 11th birthday that he is the Sign-Seeker and last of the Old Ones, ancient beings who safeguard the world from the rising dark. The stakes escalate in the second book, The Dark is Rising, as Will comes into his full power and takes on the kindly guise of an Old One named Merriman Lyon to guide him on his quest. Will's initiation tasks him with recovering six magical Signs to help ward off the Black Riders, sinister agents of the Dark who seek to subjugate humanity. Cooper poses Will's hero journey as a classic battle of good and evil forces, with an emphasis on free will.
Will vs. the Walker: Purity and Evil in Conflict
Susan Cooper structures the clash between good and evil in The Dark is Rising around the opposition of her protagonist Will and the novel's antagonist known as the Walker. Will represents the Light as one of the Old Ones, sworn to fight the Dark wherever it emerges. When Will finally accepts his destiny, he takes on ageless wisdom and goodness reminiscent of Tolkien's Gandalf or Dumbledore from the Harry Potter series. However, Cooper portrays Will as more relatable than these wizards, highlighting his ordinariness and fears. In contrast, the Walker embodies pure evil and cruelty as a powerful lord of the Dark. Cooper associates the Walker with wintry imagery and a pervasive coldness as well as supernatural menace. Unlike the humanized Will, the Walker is portrayed as entirely merciless and inhuman, beyond any hope of redemption. Cooper emphasizes this moral polarization between the two nemeses throughout their confrontation. However, hints about the Walker's own initiation into the Dark suggest that evil may corrupt even once innocent souls. Their climatic struggle dramatizes the opposition between selfless good and selfish evil.
Shades of Morality: Ambiguous Characters and the Complexity of Good and Evil
While the central conflict pits Will against the malevolent Walker, Cooper introduces moral complexity through more ambiguous characters whose actions blur the lines between good and evil. For instance, Will's guide Merriman Lyon, the first Old One, has a dual nature that balances wisdom and benevolence with occasional ruthlessness. When Merriman aids Will on his quest, his stern but caring mentorship highlights his essential goodness. However, Merriman also metes out uncompromising justice against the Dark, implying a more fearsome side to his power. Meanwhile, the Lady, who aids the forces of the Dark, proves to be a tragically conflicted figure when she betrays the Walker out of latent affection for Will. Through these characters and others, Cooper suggests that fundamentally good individuals can sometimes act cruelly just as evil ones may show mercy. Few characters in The Dark is Rising are wholly angelic or demonic. Cooper uses this moral ambiguity to add nuance to the basic struggle between good and evil that anchors her tale.
Embracing Archetypes: The Power of Moral Polarity in The Dark is Rising
Some readers may argue that the stark contrast between Will and the Walker represents an overly simplistic take on the conflict between good and evil. They may contend that the two figures are too archetypal, positioned at opposing poles of morality. However, rather than detracting from Cooper's portrayal of good and evil, the polarity between Will and the Walker allows her to develop a classic incarnation of this timeless struggle. The clear juxtaposition between the two characters highlights the high stakes for Will and for the world. It also makes the Lady's internal conflicts and Merriman's flashes of menace more resonant as departures from the main clash. Cooper draws upon the conventions of epic tales in portraying the two nemeses as moral endpoints between which the other characters navigate. By embracing rather than deconstructing archetypes, she creates an elemental version of the good vs. evil theme that powerfully channels mythic precedents.
Conclusion
In The Dark is Rising, Susan Cooper breathes new life into the eternally compelling struggle between good and evil. Using the fantasy quest structure, she positions her ordinary youthful protagonist Will against otherworldly malice personified in the Walker. Yet she also complicates this opposition through morally ambiguous characters whose actions underscore the complexity of good and evil within individuals. Cooper's novel explores not just an external battle but an internal one, suggesting Will must embrace his own dual nature to overcome the rising Dark. Tapping into mythic resonances of the Light and Dark, The Dark is Rising depicts an archetypal clash between selfless goodness and destructive evil while acknowledging moral grey areas. Though set in modern times, Cooper's saga evokes the magic of old tales and an ancient war that still rages within every human heart.
