most prominently, the conflict between the sith and jedi employs the classic trope of black and white moral dualism—an elemental contrast between evil (the "darkness") and good (the "light") first postulated and elaborated in zoroastrianism during the 5th century bce from which the core mythos of star wars is much influenced. the ongoing struggle of the humanistic "light side"-affiliated jedi to permanently defeat the egoistic "dark side"-affiliated sith is framed not only as a contest of values, but as a deep metaphysical conflict: the dark side of the force is viewed by the jedi, and generally represented within "star wars" media, as not only a dangerous expedient but as a form of existential corruption which must be purged for the universe, or a person, to attain spiritual balance. jedi are often depicted as imperfect individuals, but their cause of selfless heroism is ultimately on the right side of an inexorable cosmic struggle against evil, embodied in the power-hungry sith and the dark side of the force.