Right and wrong Quote by Terri Windling
““(...) Some fairy lore makes a clear division between good and wicked types of fairies — between those who are friendly to mankind, and those who seek to cause us harm. In Scottish tales, good fairies make up the Seelie Court, which means the Blessed Court, while bad fairies congregate in the Unseelie Court, ruled by the dark queen Nicnivin. In old Norse myth, the Liosálfar (Light Elves) are regal, compassionate creatures who live in the sky in the realm of Alfheim, while the Döckálfar (the Dark Elves) live underground and are greatly feared. Yet in other traditions, a fairy can be good or bad, depending on the circumstance or on the fairy's whim. They are often portrayed as amoral beings, rather than as immoral ones, who simply have little comprehension of human notions of right and wrong. The great English folklorist Katherine Briggs tended to avoid the "good" and "bad" division, preferring the categorizations of Solitary and Trooping Fairies instead. (...)””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “Fairy Lore and the Seelie/Unseelie Courts”, 2005
Fairies are portrayed as amoral beings, with classifications varying across cultures and contexts.
In simple terms: Fairies aren’t simply good or bad.
Recognize nuance in moral judgments.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- storytelling
- cultural analysis
- character design
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do cultural contexts shape moral categories?
- Can you see moral ambiguity in other beings?
Simplistic good‑vs‑evil labels can limit understanding.