Shades of Villains

[custos_noctis]

 I would very much appreciate any feedback and guidance in regard to the different aspects of a villain you've found to be well-written and believable. I’m currently writing a story where I aim (hope) to create a well-depicted baddie.

I find the character of Damien from The Omen to be scary and chilling, particularly in the first film because he is

Comments

[barbs_d]

I would very much appreciate any feedback and guidance in regard to the different aspects of a villain you've found to be well-written and believable. I’m currently writing a story where I aim (hope) to create a well-depicted baddie.

ANY villain with solid motivation is believable - approach him (her?) as you would your MC/hero. Unless you're going for the 'mentally disturbed' approach, every action has to have it's cause... the perceived weight of arguments is always subjective, otherwise humanity as a whole would hold the same beliefs, correct?

In other words: think of the reasons that would make you (or someone you know) behave or think in a similar way, and you can't miss.

[custos_noctis]

Sound advice - thank you! :)

I agree. As mentioned further down in the comments: villians rarely think of themselves in that category. If they head down the slippery slope, even recognise it, they'll still justify it as a necessity to right an injustice or nobler cause just like Umbridge, while the reader can see how abhorrent it truly is.

Also, there are some cliches I'll need to avoid. The over-elaborate death scheme/trap. The lengthy speech on their plan and reasonings, or other manner of toying with their victim, allowing plenty of time and opportunity for the good character to figure out how to escape. Of course, if I do away with the latter, it sets up the challenge of finding a more indirect way to explain the motivations to the reader. Could be fun. :)

[suo_gan]

There are two villains I'm thinking of who are very successful, but for opposite reasons. They are Iago from Shakespeare's Othello and the Sheriff of Nottingham, as played by Alan Rickman in Robin Hood. Iago is the subtle villain, he manipulates by poisoning Othello against his wife. He does nothing overt, and yet he's evil because he drops hints and innuendos that eventually lead Othello to believe Desdemona is unfaithful, causing him to strangle her. Iago is the type of villain that insinuates himself into a situation and slowly spreads doubt and uncertainty, poisoning the atmosphere, so that he can grasp power and become the real power behind the throne

[custos_noctis]

Thank you for your input! Thinking of Alan Rickman's potrayal of the Sheriff of Nottingham (a delight to watch), also brings to mind Geraldine McEwan acting as the witch Mortianna. She was brilliant and really creepy: pullings the Sheriff's strings like a marionette, teaching and manipulating him into position for the throne; cruel and merciless. Boushh came up with a great point: even the Sheriff had a sympathetic moment when it comes to light, that he had been deceived, corrupted and manipulated all his life. And his subsequent numb/bewildered kind of horror and shock. Needless to say, I was very glad they released the DVD with all those edited scenes.

[suo_gan]

Good point about the Sheriff's moment of truth.

Mortianna is another Iago-like figure, the type of villain I find frightening - the one who insinuates and corrupts. Grima Wormtongue in The Two Towers is another as he slowly turns Theoden King, Gollum as well when he tries to turn Frodo against Sam. Denethor is corrupted long distance by the palantir, under Sauron's control. In a way, these villains may all be based on the Serpent in the Garden of Eden story, who begins to corrupt Eve by making her desire the knowledge of good and evil, while the evil they wield usually is the desire for power, or power over others.

[ms_arithmancer]

OK, I'll play! A favorite villain(ess) of mine is Milady de Winter from "The Three Musketeers" by Alexandre Dumas. In some ways she is a very typical femme fatale (her MO is typically, to seduce a man to get whatever it is she needs at any given time

[custos_noctis]

Milady de Winter is an excellent example - such a formidable character. I also found her background and severe frustrations a very convincing influence and motive for her development; her consequent thinking process and behaviour. Thank you for mentioning her and jogging my memory.

[custos_noctis]

ETA: I enjoy reading an ironic twist to given to a character's final fate, especially if the plot threads ravel together in a satisfying and impressive way. I really like that point you highlighted.

[rattlesnakeroot]

I tend to like villains who really are sociopaths because then the lines of good and evil are clearly drawn. The best non-fictional sociopath to study is Charles Manson in the book Helter Skelter. The best recent villain I liked was Chigurh in "No Country for Old Men" - the book is better than the movie

[rattlesnakeroot]

Oh, I forgot a few female villains! ;)

The Bingley Sisters and Lady Catherine De Bourg - Pride and Prejudice
~~ all selfish, vain, jealous, and cruel

Aunt Reed from Jane Eyre
~~ mistreats Jane and sends her away to the horrible boarding school with another cruel villain, Mr. Brocklehurst. When she is dying she has the nerve to call Jane to the deathbed.

Lady Russell in Persuasion
~~ tries to manipulate Ann Elliot to make her marry for status and family connections instead of true love - and almost ruins her life twice by keeping her away from Captain Wentworth

The Ice Queen from The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
~ more likely a sociopath, and not truly human, but cruel and vicious and again, manipulative to get what she wants

[custos_noctis]

Those are some great female villains! Lady Catherine De Bourg and the Bingley Sisters certainly: their condescension, scornful sniping, delight in others discomfiture and attempts at intimidation. They are the type of people that has been a thorn in most people's sides, or someone who willfully acts (rather than taught)in that manner to convince themselves of their own superiority.

I found the The White Witch really scary when I read The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe as a kid. The very idea her turning someone to stone, thoroughly trapped in that form, seemingly neither able live or die. Yes, she's certainly able to hone in on people's weakness, fears or desires and skillfully spin them to her own advantage.

[custos_noctis]

Thanks for the recommendations you listed

[custos_noctis]

Thank you