Colours have long been associated with different meanings and symbolism. When we think of “evil”, often the colour that comes to mind is black. However, there are actually many colours that have been linked to evil throughout history. In this article, we will explore the various colours that represent evil and their origins.
Black
Black is perhaps the most obvious colour associated with evil. In Western cultures, black is often used synonymously with darkness and all things sinister. The connection between black and evil has roots stretching back to Ancient Greece and Rome, where the colour was associated with death, wickedness, and the underworld. Black clothing was worn when mourning the dead and Christian tradition views black as the colour of sin, with black animals like crows and ravens representing evil omens.
In literature, black-clad villains epitomise evil, like the wicked witch dressed in black robes. Figures from folklore like the grim reaper are visualised in dark, hooded cloaks. The ‘Prince of Darkness’ epithet for Satan also stems from black’s association with night, shadows, and secrecy. Hence, in Western symbolism, black represents menace, malice, and wrongdoing.
Red
While less obvious than black, red has links to evil in some cultural contexts. In ancient Egypt, red symbolised chaos and anger. The dangerous red of fire and blood marked it as unpredictable and wild. When used in national flags, red can represent aggression and war, like those of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. Red is also associated with lust, carnality, and scandal. Prostitutes in history often wore red garments and lipstick and the devil is depicted as red or scarlet-skinned.
The colour red provokes excitement and raises blood pressure, giving it an intense, even threatening aura. In Christianity, Satan is known as the ‘Great Red Dragon’ and red represents temptation and sin. Hence, red signals danger, violence, and evil forces across different societies. However, red is a complex colour with both positive and negative connotations.
Purple
Purple is linked to evil and darkness in some contexts due to its historical rarity and association with royalty and mysticism. In Roman times, purple dye was expensive to produce so restricted to emperors and senators. As Purple became associated with spiritual authority and royalty, it could represent arrogance and conceit when used improperly. The royal colour was also associated with ritual and pagan religions, seen as decadent and sinister by early Christians.
Hence, the extravagance of purple garments could signal vanity and hubris. Figures of authority clad in purple like corrupt bishops, cardinals and kings, came to represent evil and moral decay. Purple robes were attributed to witches, warlocks and practitioners of dark magic, as the colour seemed exotic, mysterious and otherworldly. So while purple is a regal colour, in some contexts it came to be linked with deception and evil.
Green
While green is generally seen as representing nature, renewal and harmony, it can have some evil associations in mythology and folklore. Poisonous and venomous creatures like snakes and frogs are often vibrant green. The supernatural beings of faerie mythology are envisioned as green-hued nature spirits that could be mischievous or sinister. Gothic tales imagine ghosts and phantoms as ‘the green-eyed monster’ or ‘green with envy’.
In Thailand, green is associated with bad luck or cursed objects. The phrase ‘green with envy’ conjures jealousy and bitterness. Green can therefore signify wildness, spite and the paranormal in some cultural contexts. However, green more widely represents life, renewal and health. So its connections to evil are limited compared to the more overtly sinister colours of black, red and purple.
Grey
Grey lacks the vibrancy of other colours and inhabits a murky area between black and white, light and dark. It can therefore represent moral ambiguity, evasiveness, dreariness and gloom. Villains are sometimes the ‘shades of grey’ between traditional heroes and villains. Grey is associated with depression and sadness. Buildings that appear grey and bleak may seem unfriendly or forbidding.
Too much grey signals boredom, gloom and joylessness. It can lack energy and vitality. In colour psychology, grey promotes detachment and reduces stimulation. While not definitively ‘evil’, grey symbolises ambiguity, gloom, and shadowy intentions. It muddies the lines between good and evil rather than firmly taking a side. At best, it represents compromise and moderation. But its moral neutrality gives grey darker undertones in some contexts.
Yellow
Yellow is generally seen as a happy, cheerful colour, but has some evil connotations due to its associations with disease and cowardice. The yellow skins of jaundice and malaria patients gave it unhealthy associations. Yellow became linked with treachery – Judas was often painted in yellow robes and the Star of David representing Jews was yellow. Yellow also represented heresy and madness in medieval times.
The colour yellow is connected to fear, weakness and deception rather than outright evil. Calling someone ‘yellow bellied’ or ‘yellow’ suggests weakness and cowardliness. In the 19th century, yellow paper was used for pulp fiction novels which featured immorality and scandal. So while yellow is usually upbeat, its connections to sickness, betrayal and cowardice give it some evil undertones.
Conclusion
In summary, the colours most overtly linked to evil throughout history are black, red and purple. Black represents darkness, death and the underworld; red can symbolise blood, lust and violence; while purple is associated with arrogance, mysticism and corruption. Green and yellow have some negative connotations due to their connections to jealousy, disease and cowardice, but are not definitive representations of evil.
Colours have complex cultural symbolism with both positive and negative associations. However, the darker, more intense shades seem to predominately signify evil, menace and death rather than vitality and optimism. So the next time you picture a villain, they are most likely to be dressed in black, red or purple!
