Frozen Fury: The Dark Side of Ded Moroz

In the world of magical fairy tales, a character emerges who defies all stereotypes of kind heroes. The portrayal of Morozko, also known as Ded Moroz, plunges us into an atmosphere of unspeakable terror and ruthlessness. His actions, in stark contrast to traditional expectations of warmth and care, literally freeze time and life, striking with his cruel punishment of those close to the heroine. In this depiction lies not merely a fairy tale character, but the embodiment of a force that disrupts the natural order, mercilessly punishing all who cross its path. Enchanting and terrifying, Morozko leaves an icy trail behind him, forcing listeners and readers to reconsider the concepts of justice and cruelty in the magical world.

Which fairy tale character can be regarded as the most evil and dreadful hero, and what determines this?

Based on the provided excerpts, the most vivid candidate for the role of the most evil and dreadful hero in the fairy tale is the character Morozko, better known in some versions as Ded Moroz. One of the cited passages describes his image in detail:

"For instance, the well-known fairy tale 'Morozko.' Its main character (as suggested by the title) is not the poor girl, but Morozko himself. Who is he? Human? — No. Angel? — Not that either. He froze Marfutka’s sisters to death, and the old man (Marfutka’s father) later frightened his grandchildren with Morozko. Is he an evil spirit? And it’s not that. Then who? — Simply Ded Moroz (in other versions of this fairy tale, he calls himself that). In other myths there is the 'god of the sun,' while in ours there was the 'spirit of frost.'" (source: link )

This characterization defines him as a figure whose actions—such as the brutal freezing of the heroine’s relatives—are clear indicators of malice and horror. It is precisely his deeds—defying the natural order, extinguishing life, and instilling fear in those around him—that allow him to be seen as the most sinister character in the fairy tale narrative.

Supporting citation(s):
"For instance, the well-known fairy tale 'Morozko.' Its main character (as the title implies) is not the poor girl, but Morozko himself. Who is he? Human? — No. Angel? — Not so. He froze Marfutka’s sisters to death, and the old man (Marfutka’s father) later frightened his grandchildren with Morozko. Is he an evil spirit? And that’s not it. Who then? — Simply Ded Moroz (in other versions of this fairy tale he calls himself that). In other myths there is the 'god of the sun,' while in ours there was the 'spirit of frost.'" (source: link )