Imagine Sauron, standing at the pinnacle of his dark tower, gazing out over the lands he seeks to dominate. The vast expanse stretches before him, yet he stands alone, surrounded by shadow, unable to partake in the laughter, camaraderie, or simple joys of those who live freely. Or think of Voldemort, gathered around a table with his followers, seeing nothing in their eyes but fear and dread. Tragic, isn’t it?

If you’re a dark lord, you must be both the architect and the executor of your evil schemes on the path to your dark ambitions. You must be smarter than everyone around you and always one step ahead. When things go wrong, no one will warn you; instead, future tyrant hopefuls will eagerly watch your plans crumble, hoping to take your place.

The dark lord’s tragedy begins when, despite having the potential to be a wise and just ruler, they succumb to the allure of power and choose the path of isolation. This is the easy path, because from that point onward, their decisions are unquestionable, they no longer need to be accountable for their actions, and they don’t have to maintain delicate balances among equals; eliminating any rising threats will suffice.

Great power comes with great responsibility, but the dark lord rejected that responsibility from the start. As their ambition and cruelty grow, so too does their power. But the power that initially destroys their enemies soon becomes the foundation for their own downfall. Remember, it is no coincidence that a wise ruler goes through the trouble of surrounding themselves with people who are at least as intelligent as they are — perhaps even smarter. Thus, when our dark lord eliminates or suppresses their outstanding advisors to secure their rule, they eventually find themselves surrounded by flatterers and mediocrities.

It is now time for the hero to step onto the stage and end this tragedy. Kelsier and his crew gather to overthrow the Lord Ruler’s thousand-year reign. The Fellowship of the Ring assembles, and Frodo sets out for Mount Doom. Neville calls for the Sword of Gryffindor to destroy the final Horcrux. And so, the tragedy of the dark lord, now a mere shadow of their once-glorious self, is brought to an end.

The cycle of power is complete. Whether the next cycle leads to tragedy or triumph depends on the choices of the hero. Although history is filled with tragedies, there will always be wise leaders who, by taking the harder path, move both themselves and humanity forward.