1.The Prophet’s Hair By: Salman Rushdie
2.Who Is Like God By Akwaeke Emezi
3.Hanalei Bay By Haruki Murakami
Dungeons and Dragons uses a system of nine-alignments to help guide how different characters will react in different situations. On one axis you have morality (good neutral, evil), on the other ethics (lawful, neutral, chaotic). The ethics section of the alignment indicates that character’s perspective on society as a whole. Do they respect authority or rebel against it? Do they like order and hierarchy or prefer individuality and freedom?
The second part of the alignment describes that alignment’s morals. Will they trample on others to get what they want, or do they want to help others? Will they hurt people for fun or will they protect them at all costs?
Your task this week is to choose three characters (at least one from this week) and determine their D&D alignments. Explain why you’ve chosen that alignment, supporting your argument with specific evidence from the text.
I’ve included a chart here that outlines the 9 alignments, but you can also find a really wonderful description of the theory and most importantly the different alignments at this link (which is also where the below descriptions and examples are borrowed from): https://mykindofmeeple.com/dungeons-dragons-alignments-with-examples/
If you’d like to look at some additional examples, try doing a google image search for “D&D Alignment” + the title of a popular movie franchise or television show that you have some familiarity with. “D&D Alignment Marvel” or “D&D Alignment Star Trek” or “D&D Alignment Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (seriously, there’s one for Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
Remember that assigning a character to one of these alignments is, in and of itself, an interpretive act. You are reading into the characters actions, their words, their relationship to their society.
Lawful Good
Lawful Good characters always do the right thing as expected by society. They always follow the rules, tell the truth and help people out. They like order, trust and believe in people with social authority, and they aim to be an upstanding citizen.
Superman, Robocop
Neutral Good
Neutral Good characters do their best to help others, but they do it because they want to, not because they have been told to by a person in authority or by society’s laws.
Gandalf, Harry Potter, Spiderman
Chaotic Good
Chaotic Good characters do what their conscience tells them to for the greater good. They do not care about following society’s rules, they care about doing what’s right.
Robin Hood, Luna Lovegood, Mary Poppins
Lawful Neutral
A Lawful Neutral character behaves in a way that matches the organization, authority or tradition they follow. They live by this code and uphold it above all else, taking actions that are sometimes considered Good and sometimes considered Evil by others.
Judge Dread, Amanda Waller
True Neutral
True Neutral (sometimes called Neutral Neutral) characters don’t like to take sides. They are pragmatic rather than emotional in their actions, choosing the response which makes the most sense for them in each situation.
Lara Croft
Chaotic Neutral
Chaotic Neutral characters are free spirits. They do what they want but don’t seek to disrupt the usual norms and laws of society.
Jack Sparrow, Catwoman
Lawful Evil
Lawful Evil characters operate within a strict code of laws and traditions. Upholding these values and living by these is more important than anything, even the lives of others. They may not consider themselves to be Evil, they may believe what they are doing is right.
Darth Vader, Lex Luthor
Neutral Evil
Neutral Evil characters are selfish. Their actions are driven by their own wants whether that’s power, greed, attention, or something else. They will follow laws if they happen to align with their ambitions, but they will not hesitate to break them if they don’t.
Jabba the Hut, Bowser
Chaotic Evil
Chaotic Evil characters care only for themselves with a complete disregard for all law and order and for the welfare and freedom of others. They harm others out of anger or just for fun.
The Joker, Voldemort
