Moral Problematics of Fantasy Oktalogy by Andrzej Sapkowski

The article examines the moral problematics of the Witcher Saga by Andrzej Sapkowski. It studies the function of self-realisation and moral motifs. A. Sapkowski builds the characters that face moral dilemmas. Many of the key characters go through a symbolic death and rebirth into a new life, after which they try to fix the mistakes they’d committed prior.The path of characters from the Witcher Saga is a balance between choosing good and evil. Often the author utilises the trope where the character has to choose right or wrong within themselves, forcing them to change. Sapkowski’s protagonists undergo the road of atonement for their past deeds, and it also changes their nature. The article studies the topic of “the lesser evil”, which is a running theme in Sapkowski’s writings. It shows that choosing “the lesser evil” is not always the right thing to do and the price the protagonist has to pay for choosing it.The article highlights the leitmotif of the character’s atonement. It shows the scope of its influence on the saga’s overall plot and on the shaping of its protagonists.The moral dilemma of A. Sapkowski’s octology is based not only on the issue of good and evil but also on the self-realisation of own identity through atoning and cleansing. The protagonist, Geralt of Rivia, atones for his murders and deeds, that are tied to his nature as a mutant. The atonement comes only through finding humanity within himself.In the Witcher Saga, even a fantasy beast such as a vampire finds humane traits within themselves, such as love and compassion. A. Sapkowski shows the human ability to change one’s conscience and to grow. The author tells the reader that love can change even beasts, traditionally associated with evil.