The Theme: King’s Worlds and the Logic of Scarcity
In post-apocalyptic narratives, scarcity of resources—especially gold—drives survival and conflict with mythic intensity. Historically, royal authority has been rooted in controlling gold, a tangible symbol of wealth, power, and legitimacy. Kings and rulers claimed divine or natural right to hoard and distribute this precious metal, reinforcing their dominance over fractured societies. Even in modern stories, this foundational logic persists: gold becomes more than currency—it embodies survival, legacy, and the right to lead. When the world collapses, gold transforms into a narrative anchor, grounding abstract power in visceral stakes. As one scholar notes, “In tales of ruin, gold is not merely kept—it is guarded, hunted, and weighed as proof of sovereignty.”