Why is Enchantment Evil?
This is obviously the companion piece to my “Why is Necromancy Evil?” article. Go read that at https://www.ofgodsandgamemasters.com/blog/necromancy-why-is-it-evil then come back. I'll wait.
Done? Good. If Necromancy is evil because it corrupts, enslaves, or harms souls, and even death is not an escape, then Enchantment, as it's most often used, is only slightly less evil, if at all. To quote that article again, “I would like to express very clearly that any application of Enchantment that abrogates free will is evil, arguably more so than doing actual physical violence.”
Even something as innocuous seeming as the friends spell in dnd5e arguably violates the concept of consent, by using magic to unduly influence the perceptions and reactions of others. The spell even notes that people you use it on will be hostile to you when it wears off. The charm person spell doesn't note that they automatically become hostile, but it does note that they know you did it. And it is, at its base, a lie. A violation of their free will and consent by negating the informed portion of consent. In many ways, it's magical gaslighting. And it just gets worse the higher you go up the spell levels. (Not that vicious mockery doesn't have nasty and problematic implications if used on someone that doesn't deserve it...however you define 'deserves'.)
Hideous Laughter might be ok, situationally, to incapacitate a foe without actually hurting them.
Command is a direct will breaker.
Compelled duel at least leaves the foe options.
Even calm emotions can violate consent.
Crown of madness? I use your body to hurt your friends? That's foul.
Enthrall is an edge case if you aren't in a combat situation. But it ain't great.
Hold Person is really less bad, because it just holds them still, unless you then use it to hurt them.
Suggestion is where it starts to get real bad. “Do this thing you would probably not otherwise do, that might hurt your or your friends, for up to 8 hours.” Not allowing you to suggest a thing that will obviously harm the creature itself is barely a saving grace. There are too many ways to get around that.
And it just keeps getting worse.
Dominate person/monster? Literally your slave or puppet for an hour.
Modify memory is literally the ultimate gaslighting move.
And D&D is not alone here.
Just a quick glance at mind control spells in GURPS gives you a similar list. (Enchantment is GURPS is making magic items).
Vampiric Dominate or Presence/Majesty in World Of Darkness.
The whole Mind Arcana/Sphere in Mage.
Anything that takes away free will is clearly evil, possibly more so than simply killing someone, even if a lot of people seem to think of it as the soft option.
Don't think so? Comment why, but consider all the trauma, the PTSD, the regrets, the self hate, of someone forced into an act they find repugnant. Of a person forced to betray their duties to guard a door for their liege lord. A person made to hurt someone else they care about, or even just a comrade. A person who cannot remember what really happened, and acts in ways that may hurt them and those they love because they believe falsehoods. People you have stolen from by 'convincing' them to give you a good deal. (The Jedi are an interesting example of this kind of heedlessness.) Even if they aren't made to do something awful, what kind of damage is done by making them a puppet,moving their body without their consent, stealing control of their most basic choices? Can you imagine the horror of being trapped in a body that won't respond to your mental commands, your will? And in many cases, fully aware and cognizant of it, but unable to do anything else? Ask a disabled person or a neurodivergent person if you can't fathom it.
There are a few other spells in Enchantment in D&D that aren’t evil…but actual mind control of any kind is grey at best. Discuss!
