18. Victory: Villain is defeated

Disciplines > Storytelling > Propp's Morphology of the Folk Tale > 18. Victory: Villain is defeated

Description | Discussion | See also

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Description

Symbol: I

At last the villain is defeated in some way, often through direct combat, in which they may be killed or spared after pleading. They may be vanquished by magical means whereby they disappear or are imprisoned, such as in a genie's bottle. They may also be banished, sent away to an unnamed and distant land where they can do no harm to the hero or his constituency.

Example

In Star Wars, Luke and Han defeat the storm-troopers.

Discussion

How the villain behaves after defeat is itself a contrast to heroic behavior, and the villain may lose all dignity, grovelling in the dirt and falsely repenting their evil past. The hero's behavior here is also important, as they may show mercy and are modest in their victory.