The Battle between Good and Evil The conflict between good and evil is universal in the human condition. It is a common theme in both history and literature. In 1866 Joseph Roux wrote: “Evil often triumphs, but never wins.” In “Mercy Among the Children” by David Richards, the Henderson family suffers many injustices and is exposed to “evil” in many forms. Roux's statement can be analyzed through examination of the characters, including Henderson themselves and those who influence them most profoundly. If there is anyone who personifies evil in this novel, it is Mat Pit. Raised in a poor and violent environment (Richards 294), he and his sister Cynthia are driven by ambition and dream of escaping the circumstances of their youth. Mat is a major cause of the persecution suffered by the Henderson family, including the robbery blamed on Elly (108) and the bridge sabotage/murder blamed on Sydney (108). Mat and his sister are “…the new ruthless entrepreneurs. They listened with almost stunned inattention to the words 'ethics' and 'moral responsibility'… But they also both knew… how to use friends, and how to give them up in the blink of an eye” (99). Mat's "ruthless" nature and his lack of any sense of "moral responsibility" make him a formidable foe. There is no indication that he has an internal struggle with evil, apparently “conquered” from an early age. Mat embraces evil amorally with little evidence of remorse or regret. Throughout the novel Mat shows no signs of some inner good “conquering” his evil character. The sabotage of the bridge resulted in the death of his handicapped younger brother Trenton, and by blaming others he is able to arouse public sympathy so that his family has a prominent position in the community (1...... half of the paper ... ...ificiates his "own well-being", including his reputation. In Sydney evil has met its match The characters in "Mercy Among the Children" by David Richards, illustrate the internal struggle between the good and evil. Many figures confirm this truth in Joseph Roux's quote, "Evil often triumphs, but never wins". to the human spirit, who resisted sinking to the level of those who persecuted them. The darker characters do not confirm the truth of Roux's statement, but the overall tone of the novel leaves the reader with a sense of hope that people like Sydney Henderson can. make the world a better place for all of us. CitedRichards, David Adams. Mercy among children. Toronto: Canada again, 2000.