Is Scorpion Evil?

J. Valjean

J. Valjean

BANALITY
YES: Scorpion is not evil in the sense that Quan Chi or Shang Tsung are evil, but his reasoning is primarily selfish in relation to the situation he finds himself in. Scorpion's motive is revenge for his and his family's honor, and perhaps to see them again. However he is surrounded with an erupting battle between good and evil, and follows his contract with Quan Chi out of obedience to his own principle of revenge. Therefore, because he fails to take the good side and sides with evil for his own purposes, he is evil. Evil in this sense being that he's doing no good to the battle and contributing to to victories of Quan Chi and Shao Kahn.

NO: Scorpion is neutral and operates on what holds meaning for him. If revenge is what he seeks, he is serving in himself a higher good. His family was butchered and dishonored by Quan Chi, and though he doesn't realize this yet and is misplacing his hatred on Sub-Zero, he is still nobly serving to protect the honor of his family and is responding any way a man in his situation would, by hunting for revenge. In this sense, he is more human (though a specter) than the good characters such as Liu Kang and Jax who seem not to have a gram of vulnerability in them.

What would you say? How can Scorpion's actions be perceived? Neutral, with caveats? I think Scorpion is probably the most ordinary character out of all of them.
 
He is evil in the sense that he is self-motivated, and cares for no one other than his clan, but he does have a few heroish traits. His motives are hero-like because he wants to do right for his family. Yes, he does kill people and all that, but he doesn't really feel the need to kill anyone unless they deserve it. So he isn't good like Liu Kang or Raiden, but he isn't fully evil like Shinnok or Quan Chi. So that's why he's neutral, and I think of him as that.
 
He is one of those characters that LOOK so evil but he tends to be alright. I agree though he is certainly not as evil as the deadly alliance (shang tsung, quan chi)
 
Scorpion is one of those guys who can't be classified. In MK1 and MK2, he was just at the tournament to kill the Sub-Zero bros. In MK3, in his bio, it states that he was working with Raiden to fight off Kahn. In MK4, he worked for Chi until he figured out he was the true killer of his family. MKDA he was hunting Quan, MKD he was working for the elder gods, MKA he wanted to kill Taven and Daegon, and in MK9, he's Quan Chi's lapdog. So he really can't be called evil or good. Just neutral.
 
Scorpion is neutral, and only looks out for himself and his own wants/needs. He has sided with good and evil on and off, but he is mostly fueled by vengeance. So, he can't really be classified because he switches sides frequently, or not at all. He is kind of like a mercenary when it comes to sides: he's independent, but if the bid or rewards are great enough, he side with the greatest offer. However, that doesn't mean he will die for whoever he decides to side with, if he chooses a side at all.
 
He clamis to be neutral but he serves evil people so no matter what, he is evil. Also he was part of the Forces of Darkness during the Armageddon.
 
I agree with you. He's just a pissed of and hurt individual who lost everything including his own life and now has superpowers to get revenge on his enemies but has been misguided and lied to by the same people who brought him back to life. In the end Sub-Zero (Tundra-Bi Hans brother) becomes his ally in their quest to seek revenge and fulfill their hunger for asswhipping. lol i love those guys as a team and IMO think they are the coolest and most badass tag team in the franchise. You can see a video of them at work side by side on my channel youtube.com/mkwarlok the video is 'Fire & Ice'.
 
It's pretty much irrelevant, because I think Quan Chi is mindcontrolling him anyway. He probably doesn't realise this. If he did, and knew what Quan Chi had done to his family, I believe he could break out of it (note that it takes Quan Chi alot of effort to persuade Scorpion to kill Sub-Zero in Story Mode - he was close to breaking out there). I think this is why Raiden was still trying with him, too.

But for the most part, I'd say he's neutral.
 
Scorpion is an honorable person. Scorpion serves Quan Chi because he was the man to give him a second chance at life, a chance to destroy the man he believed massacred his kin and his clan (of course he is unaware that the man who resurrected him was, in fact, the one to destroy his family and clan). Not only that, being resurrected as a spectre, he is immortal and possesses more power than ever. For this, he is grateful, and serves Quan Chi in retribution for his resurrection. Anyone in Scorpion's position who is given that opportunity would be grateful.

Before his murder of Bi-Han, the original Sub-Zero, Scorpion was fueled by revenge, his purpose in his new life was to slay the perpetator of those close to him. Aware of this, and also aware of Bi-Han's eventual death giving way to a much more powerful adversary, Raiden approaches the undead ninja with a deal: if he were to spare Sub-Zero's life, he would resurrect the Shirai Ryu and family as mortals once more. Scorpion accepts, and when Cyrax belittles the Shirai Ryu and Scorpion, he retaliates, which is an example his true ambitions in his new life: not to merely have a place at Quan Chi's feet, but to avenge the deaths of those close to him.

Scorpion attempts to honor his word of not killing Bi-Han after he defeats the latter in the Netherrealm, but Quan Chi prevents this, showing him false images of the massacre of his clan and family. Enraged by these visions, Scorpion doesn't hesitate to slay Bi-Han, despite Bi-Han's futile efforts and to disprove to Scorpion his involvement in the loss of his kin, and his pleas to spare his life.

Eventually, he realizes that he slayed Sub-Zero as mercilessly as his own self was slayed by Sub-Zero, and that he did not honor his word of sparing him. Scorpion, ashamed of his actions, drops the skull of Sub-Zero in front of everyone, in quiet contemplation that he must continue to allow external forces like Quan Chi to control his destiny, as he feels that he is unable to control his own actions, as displayed by his murder of Sub-Zero. He also feels that serving Quan Chi well will bring honor back to him, because of him dishonoring his word to Raiden that he would spare Bi-Han.

Scorpion is neither inherently good or inherently evil. Judging by his actions and reactions, and also his conversation with Nightwolf, honor is a very important value to Scorpion, which explains his absolute need to avenge the deaths of his family and clan. His intentions are not evil, despite his allegiance to Quan Chi and the Netherrealm's forces, but this is merely because he is grateful of Quan Chi resurrecting him, which in his mind, allowed him to avenge his own death and the loss of his kin. But as hinted at by Scorpion's arcade ending, the loss of his kin still weighs heavily upon him, despite the fact that he killed Sub-Zero. Currently, he is unaware of Quan Chi's treachery. When this is revealed to him, he will turn against Quan Chi and kill him, which makes him neutral. Since he hasn't avenged his family and clan yet, we don't know of his ambitions or moral outlook on life, and when we do know this, we will then be able to discern Scorpion's true alignment. For now, though, he remains neutral, being the series' foremost anti-hero and vigilante.
 
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I never considered Scorpion evil; he seemed more like a tortured soul blinded by revenge to me, I just think the fact that he lives in Hell half the time and his intimidating appearance have given him a bad name. :P
 
Good and evil are arbitrary values we give to certain types of thoughts and behaviors. Morality is subjective to the culture, family, that a person or group was raised in. It's not uncommon for people on opposing sides to consider themselves good and the their enemies evil. Look at all the WWII propoganda posters demonizing one another countries while depicting themselves in a heroic light. I don't think we can objectively call any character good or evil; what is or is not considered acceptable behavior is not universal.
 
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Scorpion always striked me more as neutral. He never really takes sides, and is just looking out for himself and his desires, such as seeking revenge on the Lin kuei or other who may have wronged him. So, in the sense of being selfish, I suppose he could be considered evil, but for sides, more nuetral.
 
Who cares he's dead. Didn't Johnny Cage kick his ass in the first Mortal Kombat movie?

Lol jk. I see him as Evil. Doesn't do anything to help the "good guys" and the way he confronts Raiden in the story is sorta protecting his master and also he is fueled with rage. Never do you see him calm.
 
He is neutral. The MK team has claimed it.
Wasn't he "the chosen one" to kill Onaga by the elder gods (in MKD Konquest); i don't think they like evil people too much
 
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