Dichotomy of Destiny: Unveiling Class Struggle in The School for Good and Evil

Abstract

The objective of this research is to explore the theme of dichotomy of destiny and class struggle in Soman Chainani’s The School for Good and Evil. The methodology employed in this study is a qualitative content analysis, focusing on character arcs, plot developments, and symbolic representations of class dynamics. Close readings of the text are paired with Marxist theory to reveal the underlying economic and social tensions, particularly examining how the binary of "good" and "evil" mirrors the real-world polarization of social classes. The study concludes that The School for Good and Evil subverts traditional fairy-tale narratives by questioning the legitimacy of predestined social roles and the fairness of rigid class systems. It reveals that the concept of "destiny" within the novel serves as a metaphor for the deterministic forces shaping individuals' socio-economic status, offering a critique of class inequalities in both fictional and real-world contexts.