In mythological and psychological contexts, the "dark side" represents a necessary stage for growth rather than a permanent state of villainy.
In contemporary real-world essays, the "dark side" often refers to the internal battles heroines—whether real women or fictional characters—face behind a facade of perfection.
The Shadow She Carries
: According to Theodora Goss , the "dark forest" is a part of the journey where the heroine is lost and afraid. It is a precursor to rebirth, where death of the old self is required to become who she is truly meant to be.
Her dark side isn't villainy. It's the rage she swallowed to stay kind. The choice she didn't make when mercy was demanded of her. The face she shows only to the mirror at 3 a.m., when the world’s gratitude feels like a cage.
