“You can justify anything if you do it poetically enough.”

Morality and Cultism in M.L. Rio’s If We Were Villains

Abstract

Dark Academia concerns itself with themes such as morality and manipulation. Typical for the genre is the presence of an elite group that performs immoral actions. This paper explores the connection between the elitist theater group in If We Were Villains and its cultist tendencies. The main focus lies on the charismatic cult leader, Richard, whose influence leads to a shift of moral boundaries. Through analyzing the group's internal hierarchy, supported by the influence of the assigned roles in Shakespeare’s plays, it is highlighted that internal and external structures create a space that legitimizes murder, abuse, and delusion. Moreover, the novel's integration of Shakespearean plays undermines the obsession with theatrical performance and connects it to the integrity of a cult.