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"The banality of evil" - phrase coined by 60's philosopher Hannah Arendt
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If nothing else, Post Modern liturature has made us all understand all too well Ms. Arendt's naming of evil as "banal". Modern authors address this theme constantly in their books. The nameless buraucrats that stamp the papers sending innocents to the gas chamber or kicking them out of their homes. The smiling corporate executive who firmly believes that what's good for (fill in the blanks) is good for America!". The 20th century rationalzation of "I was only doing my job", or "following orders". We all know that evil still exists in this world, though we may break it down in to small bites of "greed" or "pettyness", or "racism", or "unfairness". It's all pervasive, and very hard to pin down. Especially since many times "the solution" to evil in one situation leads to new "evils"!
In fantasy lit, (which by the way, is built around a base of all our ancient legends) Evil is big, bold, chest-thumping, "Evil Here!" Evil!! It has a name and location. It can be pointed out and found, attacked and rooted out. It may arise again, but in the same form.
And Evil DECLARES itself. And all the forces that assist it declare themselves as well. Orcs didn't go around saying "I was only doing my job. They new they were evil and loved it!
Now maybe the consequences were just as bad living with "proactive" [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] Evil, but at least you felt you could conquer it, if you only had hope, faith, courage and a strong sword arm.
Strong sword arms don't work as well against a clerk.