Why are so many supernatural villains weak to salt?

SupernaturalSam and Dean Winchester by no means left residence with out a provide of salt, and there's a great purpose why the condiment has confirmed so efficient in opposition to a number of completely different monsters. From angelic blades to grenade launchers, the Winchester brothers by no means had a scarcity of weapons all through Supernaturalthere are 15 seasons. Surprisingly, although, probably the greatest instruments of his commerce was extra prone to be present in a diner than on a capturing vary. Salt, wonderful salt, was Sam and Dean's greatest pal till Supernaturalfinish of, utilized in an more and more artistic method by the 2 brothers.

Strongest when used in opposition to ghosts and spirits, salt was adequate as a demon repellent in some settings and will even thwart legendary creatures like goblins. Like most issues in Supernaturalthe present's guidelines surrounding salt had been impressed — at the least partially — by the actual world. Naturally, Supernatural took many artistic liberties - search for historic information of pagans loading shotgun shells with rock salt and also you'll come up empty-handed - however the foundation of why salt was a normal weak point for therefore many Supernatural villains could be defined by real non secular beliefs.

The origin of salt getting used to push back evil

Salt has lengthy been thought of a power for good

Earlier than fridges and chemical components, salt was one of the widespread methods of preserving meals, whereas salt's moisture-eliminating qualities meant it was additionally used to gradual the decomposition of corpses throughout historical rituals akin to embalming. Salt's usefulness as a purifying agent might maybe clarify why it has turn into an integral a part of numerous completely different spiritual and non secular practices, in addition to people superstitions. Salt could be added to holy water in a church, is used for cleaning in Wicca, and likewise has nice significance in Buddhism.

Pepper's greatest pal got here to characterize purity, and it's simple to see how the mineral would come to be seen as a power to drive out the impure - demons, ghouls, and many others. or a cross to push back paranormal evils: the presence of a pure cleansing substance as an antidote to one thing unnatural and contaminated. This perception has flowed into fashionable tradition concerning ghosts and hauntings, with salt praised by some as a technique of defending bodily areas from undesirable non-human invaders.

Why Salt Works So Effectively In opposition to Monsters in Supernatural

Salt has turn into a recurring trope on Supernatural

Supernatural adopted the folklore surrounding salt, particularly its efficiency in opposition to evil, and formed the thought to suit Eric Kripke's fictional idea of hunters secretly monitoring and eliminating ghosts in the USA. From comparatively grounded makes use of like circles and obstacles, Supernatural took the non secular function of salt to its restrict using it as ammunition and anti-possession drug. The central premise was nonetheless the identical – preventing impurity with purity – however the execution grew to become extra implausible.

The explanation for salt's versatility in Supernatural - why so many alternative monsters fell to their knees when confronted with him - could be attributed to how widespread salty folklore is in actual life. Slightly than being a facet of a particular perception system, the facility of salt is a standard thread that runs via in any other case conflicting areas of spirituality. Since salt is a uncommon space the place believers usually agree, it makes excellent sense that the substance can be one of many few weaknesses shared by ghosts, demons, fairies, and extra.

SupernaturalHeidelberg's stance on gods and faith has at all times been considerably murky. On the one hand, Chuck Shurley and his heavenly setting appeared similar to Christianity. On the identical time, Supernatural additionally portrayed gods from different religions, thus admitting that each one religions are broadly correct to some extent, and all deities existed both as separate gods or as representations of Chuck himself. Why Supernatural operated on the idea that the majority religions are heading in the right direction, it stands to purpose that salt - as a characteristic of many of those beliefs - has turn into a standard characteristic of this system. He honored the try to incorporate religion.

Salt reveals how a lot the supernatural has modified over 15 seasons

Supernatural's largest villains may deal with slightly salt on the bottom

SupernaturalThe salt use decreased because the present went on, and never simply because Dean minimize the pie. With every season, the Winchester brothers relied much less and fewer on the salty antics that appeared so widespread when their journey was simply starting, and this modification is indicative of how Supernaturalthe villain's focus was realigned in later seasons. The present was initially a monster of the week, the place every episode tailored a brand new nook of spooky folklore, so the abundance of salt made sense.

When Sam and Dean started dealing with off in opposition to the Satan, the Knights of Hell, the primordial beings, and God himself, a couple of grains of salt wouldn't be sufficient, and the trope pale into nothing. Supernaturalhistoric. Because the stakes elevated and the antagonists grew to become extra highly effective, superstitions ceased to be a reputable and efficient weapon. SupernaturalThe transition from folklore to extra biblical topics was cemented.