Thor or Loki? Was Loki evil?

[Paranoid Android]

***Spoiler alert (Thor)***


After I saw Thor, I felt sorry for Loki, because I thought he only wanted the best for the kingdom, and though Thor became a better "god" while he was on Earth, I totally understood Loki's motivations to take the throne from Thor.

My NT friends really loved Loki's character, and felt sorry for him, while my family (SJs) hated him, because they thought he was evil. For example, I really liked that jumped off in the end of the movie, because realized nobody understands him, and it's completely unnecessary to continue the battle with Thor or destroy him, but my family said he was only scared, and coward.

I decided to make a poll, so you can vote now and discuss the characters. This thread is based on the movie, not the mythology, because as we know, it's completely different.

If you feel the poll is not enough, reason your choices in comments.

Now I'd quote something I found today on Loki's fan page and thought it was funny:

"Who's the bad guy? Let me guess, the smart one."

 

[Iximi]

Good or evil is something that always requires a definition before it can be discussed. I would say however, that to most in contemporary society, his actions would be seen as undesirable at least. Whether or not he is "evil" as defined comes down to the question of if the ends justify the means. Our society (as I know it anyway) places a higher value on individual choice, something Loki strips away with his actions.

 

[Paranoid Android]

Even though I know, evil and good is something more complex, or just subjective, I think discussing why Loki's and Thor's actions could have a good or bad effect could be interesting. Or discussing what could make them the "good" or the "bad" characters. Of course only imagining it between the frame of the movie.

By the way, it'd be nice to send this poll to another forum, and see how they react or vote, then examine the differences.

 

[Dragonmythos]

There is no good and evil. There are only people with different goals and ideas and when those notions come into conflict with others, that is when we fashion ourselves good and call the other side bad.

Anyways, I always had sympathy for the devil.

 

[RedN]

I liked loki more, thor was like some muscle brained meat man.

he was way hotter too

 

[The Gopher]

My sister and I INTJ and INTP Both loved loki but the ESFJ we went with Hated him...

 

[Irishpenguin]

It's funny that I've been seeing lots of "Was Loki an evil character" around the web. When I look at a story, I believe that if you can finish it and end up asking "Was the antagonist actually evil?" that it is a sign of good writing and a good character, it's just somehow not interesting when the answer is almost unanimously "Yes, that person was totally evil and bad, nothing good or misunderstood about them". To me it is also why Magneto is such a great Villain as well, since he is coming from a point of view that is actually very understandable. Though I suppose some would argue that The Joker is a great argument for this stance I hold, since he is undoubtedly considered just straight up evil among pretty much everybody, but to me it makes him less interesting as a villain in some ways, but more entertaining to watch go against batman in other ways...and plus, well I mean he is just hilarious sometimes

 

[Wolf18]

Loki is smart, a better leader, and in control of himself. Thor is a bad leader, an idiot, and totally lacks self-control or good judgement. Loki should've killed his brother.

 

[TheScornedReflex]

The only bad thing about Loki is that Thor is his brother. Stupid strong heros always triumph over well thought out, genius plans. I think Hollywood does that to give stupid people the hope that they can achieve shit. This just enforces the retarded point that might is right.

 

[Proletar]

I asked myself the same question when I read into the actual mythology. It's really the same thing there, Loki may have been a trouble-maker but in the end it was the unjust actions of his fellow gods that pushed him over the edge and destroyed the world. No matter though..... Because the other gods didn't really mind the end of the world either. I always supported Loki, long before I heard of the comics.

 

[Jennywocky]

I thought Neil Gaiman's spin on Thor and Loki in "The Sandman" was pretty intriguing... and hilarious. (Reference the joke Loki pulled on Thor in regards to the squirrel pregnancy. HA!)

 

[Reluctantly]

I wouldn't say evil, but I thought he was very egotistical. I can't personally trust people like that and did not like him. IrishPenguin mentioned Magneto as being similar, however Magneto acts from a sense of injustice towards his kind; Loki felt he deserved to be a ruler, even when Thor changed. Way too much ego for my tastes.