The Summer and Winter Courts

[zerohour]

Mainly directed towards Drwsden Files, but anything applying to the Seelie and Unseelie works.


Main issue I've been with the Fair Folk in Dresden Files is that they define Summer and Winter as neither good nor evil, but forces of nature.   Problem is, Winter tends to be the evil court, and barring outside forces, Summer is the good court.

Obviously, there's meant to be more subtle aspects to it, but it doesn't come up too much in the books.  Best I've seen for Winter not being evil is

Spoiler

Mab ordering harry to murder her daughter instead of doing it herself.   She ends up killing her daughter anyways.

As for Summer, any time they act as antagonists, there is outside interference, or they're opposing Winter "because."


So what I'd like is a better understanding of both courts, preferably oriented towards amoral forces of nature personified, instead of good/evil.


Need to get some sleep, but I'll post my own ideas relating to this once I get some rest.

 

[lord geryon]

Mainly directed towards Drwsden Files, but anything applying to the Seelie and Unseelie works.


Main issue I've been with the Fair Folk in Dresden Files is that they define Summer and Winter as neither good nor evil, but forces of nature.   Problem is, Winter tends to be the evil court, and barring outside forces, Summer is the good court.

Obviously, there's meant to be more subtle aspects to it, but it doesn't come up too much in the books.  Best I've seen for Winter not being evil is

Spoiler

Mab ordering harry to murder her daughter instead of doing it herself.   She ends up killing her daughter anyways.

As for Summer, any time they act as antagonists, there is outside interference, or they're opposing Winter "because."


So what I'd like is a better understanding of both courts, preferably oriented towards amoral forces of nature personified, instead of good/evil.


Need to get some sleep, but I'll post my own ideas relating to this once I get some rest.

Well, uh, Dresden Files.

The Courts there have genuine purpose in the world. Winter makes sure the Outer Gates stay shut, and Summer makes sure Winter doesn't go too far(like trying to subjugate the world for resources) in that purpose.

They are also depicted as the amoral forces you wanted to see, and they're not evil vs good, or at least it's not Winter = evil, Summer = good. It's noted in fact that their leaders(Mother Winter & Mab) are actual moral people, with compassionate hearts(in order to have a mostly frozen heart, you had to have one in the first place), they're just ruthless in their mission. If anything, Summer is depicted as the weird ones, ruled by their emotions with almost no restraint or control.

 

[shiki]

The only difference is that Winter will stab you in the face with a smirk while Summer will stab you in the back with a smile.

Neither are good or evil. They are necessary for the balance and the protection of the world. In DF, at least.