The Moral Spectrum is a spectrum that covers all aspects of morals from good to neutral to evil in fiction. The spectrum consists of characters that falls under any parts of the spectrum whether they are good, neutral, or evil. The moral spectrum covers the most wicked characters to the most benevolent and selfless characters with everyone else in between.
As seen in the image above, the moral concepts are at the bottom and other concepts are listed to show which part of the moral spectrum falls under which concept.
The Spectrum
- Pure Good (Rank 1 +): Characters that are the most noble, benevolent, and selfless whose acts have brought about good things to the setting.
- Near Pure Good (Rank 2 +): Characters that are the exceptionally noble and admirable, but with has one or few corrupting qualities or fails to stand out to other admirable heroes but is still comparable to some degree.
- Inconsistently Admirable (Rank 3 +): Characters whose actions have been beneficial to their setting and are comparable to the actions of Pure Good and Near Pure Good heroes, but are known for having multiple corrupting qualities or have notable traits that makes them inconsistent.
- Heroic Benchmark (Rank 4 +): Characters who are heroes that commit good deeds. These characters are either fail to stand out compared to other heroes and are not as admirable or a combination of both.
- Completely Ambiguous (Rank 0): Characters that are neither heroes or villains. These characters either fail the heinous or admirable standards to be considered villains or heroes or have traits that make them ambiguous good and evil, or may have done so much of both that they are in between good and evil.
- Good-natured: The space between Pure Neutral and Heroic Benchmark. These characters have largely neutral are not heroes, but have good traits. They can vacillate between this and Ill-natured.
- Pure Neutral: Characters that cannot be placed in as good or evil. These characters are shown to exhibit traits that are totally amoral. These characters are likely to be animals in nature, cosmic beings, or artificial intelligence.
- Ill-natured: The space between Pure Neutral and Villainous Benchmark. These characters are largely neutral and are not villains. However, these characters have evil traits. They can vacillate between this and Good-natured.
- Villainous Benchmark (Rank 4 -): Characters that are villains. These villains commit evil deeds but either fails the heinous standards, does not stand out compared to other villains, or a combination of both.
- Inconsistently Heinous (Rank 3 -): Characters that are exceptionally heinous within their story and in general but are held back by many redeeming traits or have notable traits that makes them inconsistent.
- Near Pure Evil (Rank 2 -): Characters that are among the most heinous in their works, but usually has one or few redeeming qualities or fails to stand out to other heinous villains but is still comparable to some degree.
- Pure Evil (Rank 1 -): Characters that are the most wicked, heinous, and cruel whose acts have brought about terrible things to the setting that they are in.
Notes
- Not every character is going to stay under one part of the spectrum throughout their entire character history. Some characters are bound to move up and down the spectrum, but will consistently stay in one area of the moral spectrum that is heavily a part of their character.