Poll: Is it possible to return from the Moral Event Horizon?

[twistedmic]

I've been pondering this question for a few days now, ever since I finished watching Oz (note, it has nothing to do with the Wizard of Oz); Is it possible for a character to return from the Moral Event Horizon (the point where a character becomes a complete monster)?

My thoughts come from the depiction of Ryan O'Riley from Oz, in the first or third season he crosses the MEH, but after the consequences of his crossing, he seems to become less and less monstrous (though he's still bad guy).

What are your thoughts

 

[Saelune]

The person can, but they will have had crossed that line, and thus the consequences will still happen. For example, a mass murderer can all of a sudden for whatever reason realize how horrible they were and renounce it and be a good helpful person...but he still should get fried for what he did. He will just realize he deserves it.

 

[Faux Furry]

I've been pondering this question for a few days now, ever since I finished watching Oz (note, it has nothing to do with the Wizard of Oz)

It isn't always true that Oz has nothing to do with the Wizard of Oz.
http://www.classicflashgames.net/Romp_Animations/Oz_vs_Oz/index.html

On topic: I would say yes, not that this person's redemption excuses their crimes and wrong-doings unless that person crosses the Moral Event Horizon via murder-suicide,suicide bombing or other method of taking other people with him/her when he/she dies.

Then again, from the perspective of historians, that person may still be remembered as a valiant hero no matter how dastardly the fiend, no matter how ignobly he/she comported him/herself so long as this person's evil deeds benefit society as a whole (or at least help out the class that the historian belongs to).

 

[boag]

Yes, but society will always demand either Justice or Revenge for the Actions that crossed the line.

 

[twistedmic]

Yes, but society will always demand either Justice or Revenge for the Actions that crossed the line.

Of course, I know that the person in question must be punished, but after their punishment (via death, torture or incarceration) will they always be viewed as a complete monster? Take Star Wars for example. Both Grand Moff Tarkin and Darth Vader cross the Moral Event Horizon during the original (only) trilogy. Vader was able to come back, though it cost him his life, while Tarkin did not, not that he really had a chance.

 

[zfactor]

Yeah, it is possible. Look at GLaDOS and Whetley. They turn evil (in a silly, not actually evil way...) and both come back.

 

[drisky]

I tough moral event horizon was buy definition an unredemable act. This only regards to fiction, but the act is supposed to be so bad that writing in redemption ether isn't accepted buy the fans or is just straight up out of character.

 

[Anachronism]

It's difficult as all hell and needs a very talented writer to make it work, but yes, it's doable. As an example, a certain important character from A Song of Ice and Fire.

Spoiler

The character in question is Jaime Lannister. His first important act in the series is to push a child out of a window with intent to kill him; Bran doesn't die, but he is crippled for life. Jaime ends up becoming a POV character in Book 3, undergoes masses of character development, and ends up becoming quite sympathetic, and one of the series' more complex and interesting characters.

 

[JamesBr]

I tough moral event horizon was buy definition an unredemable act. This only regards to fiction, but the act is supposed to be so bad that writing in redemption ether isn't accepted buy the fans or is just straight up out of character.

This. Although what qualifies is subjective, there are some things writers can't undo without serious backlash/disbelief from the audience. Redeeming a character in fiction is really hard, especially if they've been built up as immoral bad-asses. The act is so out of character that often writers simply remove the redeeming character through some act of self-sacrifice. And even that doesn't always work. You know it's bad if killing the character isn't enough to garner sympathy from the audience. There are some things you simply can't undo.

The Moral Event Horizon is not an actual line in the sand that a person can't return from, it's a line in the sand where a character in fiction loses all sympathy from the audience, forever. If you can rebuild sympathy for the character, then clearly he hasn't crossed the Moral Even Horizon, no matter what they did.