It is a hard concept to define what makes a person good and what makes them evil? What is the difference? Is evil simply the absence of goodness and vice versa?

An Oxford dictionary (Oxford Dictionary 1951) definition of ‘good' may describe the term using words such as, morally excellent, virtuous, kind, benevolent, reliable or well-behaved. Good people may be viewed as selfless, innocent and willing to help and are unsuspecting of the worst in others. But do all good characters possess these qualities?

In stark contrast, the term ‘evil' may be classified as selfish, bad, wicked, harmful or injurious and many evil people are viewed as embodying these qualities, but do all?

If a person doesn't fit these two categories, what are they defined as? Are they ambiguous or powerless or neither of these?

Clearly, the idea that all characters fit the binary of either good or evil is certainly too narrow. For instance there are varying degrees of goodness, as can be seen among the characters of The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy and the Scarecrow, who are both classified as good characters, show significantly differing degrees of ‘good' qualities. Dorothy could be said to be a more giving, caring person, who plays an active, initiative role throughout the story. On the other hand, the Scarecrow is a more passive character that once put into a situation will show moral and good qualities, but is perhaps more innocent minded, not expecting the worst of people.

Perhaps, the concept of good and evil characters can be defined on a continuum between the extremes, where the binary points are at either end of the scale. The characters fall along this dimension depending on the type and degree of qualities they may possess.