Villains. What makes them... good?
During my writing process, I came to think about what makes a truly great villain. First off, I think there are different ranges of villains. Secondly, I think you begin to delve into the philosophy of evil. And third, how you can illustrate personal evil- or villains who hit home.
Honestly, I when I think of the different levels and ranges of villains, I thank James Bond writers, 24 episodes and politicians. In each case, there are ranks to them. Sure, there's the masterminds at the top, plotting world domination and so on... but that malevolent will often has to trickle down through many other minds in order to reach your character. And as the evil filters through each layer, due to sub-creative process gone awry... you get new ways to enforce and illicit desired results. You can also craft whole new realms of terror... but to do this well, I think, you need to understand the dark material you're working with...
I remember sitting in my college philosophy class with professor Axton... and I still think I hold with him, essentially, when he said something to the effect of how diabolical evil, at its core, cannon be comprehended from our human/mortal point of view at this point in time. It is slippery and slidy. When you get to the really hellish instances of evil, the motivators behind it defy solid, concrete explanation... as if logic rules break down. Even now, I'm starting to ramble about it... which is point-in-case. Also, as a side note on this subject, I still love Alfred's quote in The Dark Knight about how some people just want to watch the world burn... or even take Loki's character as another example... A good way to get around instances where standard definitions begin to become indescribable, analogies often become an excellent work-around.
Don't tell people about your villains- illustrate them. (Again, another example of the analogy work-around in action). It's odd, but living in Missouri has exposed me more to really terrifying evil than anywhere else. Major metropolitan centers like Portland OR or even Albuquerque have not really illustrated evil for me (and I suppose I'm lucky for this). During college, when I began writing Rienspel, I would volunteer at youth outreaches... at one in particular I was the doorman, ensuring youth signed in and out... made sure they had rides home and what-not... I remember one night, a youth casually describing his 'friends' dragging him out of his house and making him watch as they lit a cross on fire in front of his own front yard. It wasn't the violence of the situation or the iconography employed or its' terrifying legacy... it was the kid's own nonchalance about the event. The casualness of it is what really made me shiver in the end. For most of those living outside the Midwest (and I was one of them), you have this vague stereo-type in your mind about the safe, idyllic small-town atmosphere of the region. But living here now... volunteering at those youth outreaches... and working at a nearby gas station has illustrated for me rather clearly how not all is as it seems, even in the 'safe' places of our world.
So, when I sat down to begin writing my villains- all this was swirling around in my mind. Personally, I think there are plenty of stories where the villains are disposable. If you want stock villains, try and look elsewhere. One of my goals writing my story, was to create bad guys who actually scare me. I want evil which creeps out of the book at night and bothers my dreams.
Why?
Because I believe we have forgotten via experience what real goodness is like, and just how bright the dawn can be. While I don't believe we need darkness to illustrate the qualities of true goodness- I do believe, I know, we need to be heroes again. You and I, where we are, right now. This means practicing love and courage and justice tangibly with ourselves first, and then others until we no longer even think twice about it.
-thanks for reading!
