While someone might be the villain of the story, people generally don't think of themselves as the villains in their own lives. And one of the important keys to a memorable antagonist is for the audience to see that villain's perspective. Because that perspective is going to be key to understanding the villain's motivations, and showing how (from where they're standing, at least) their actions make sense.
 |
| No one cared who I was until I put on the mask... |
But before I get into the meat of today's post, remember, don't forget to sign up for my newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Also, if you've got a bit of spare cash that you'd like to use to help keep the wheels turning, consider becoming a Patreon patron! Also, be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree.
Lastly, for hundreds of extra articles on gaming, weird history, and for more free fiction, check out my Vocal archive, too!
How Does The Villain See Themselves?
Villainy is often a matter of where you're standing. So take a moment and consider where your antagonist is, and how things look from their end of the field. Most importantly, though, ask how it is they see themselves, and how they protect the idea that they are a good person (or, at least, how they justify the things they've done).
Take a character who's a billionaire CEO. This guy is out-of-touch, he engages in unsavory business practices, and he exploits people and the planet alike. However, that's from the outside looking in, and it's easy to see from where we're standing. But take a moment to ask what his perspective is, and what he believes. For example, does he view the law (and particularly tax law) as a game to be played and won instead of something that should inform one's morals? Because paying an additional $200,000 in fines every year for ignoring restrictions, but making an additional million dollars as a result, is just the cost of doing business. Alternatively, is he so completely isolated from the struggles of the people he employs that the very idea he isn't providing enough for them never crosses his mind? Especially when he's surrounded by people who are constantly spending time in their vacation homes and on their yachts, so he never sees anyone actually struggle?
You can extrapolate this to all sorts of villains. Does the cruel stepfather legitimately think he's toughening up his stepchildren with his punishments? Does the scarred commander of the imperial army truly believe that crushing smaller nations is a necessity for peace? Or does he believe that following orders and doing his duty is more important than the morality of those orders? Does the cop truly believe that he's protecting society and his community, even though he's ruined lives with his laundry list of prejudices about who the "real" criminals are in society?
 |
| He shouldn't have been carrying a pink squirt gun. Anybody would have done what I did. |
That's one half of the coin; asking what motivates your villain, and how they see themselves and their actions. However, villains often take actions that they know are wrong, and which cross ethical boundaries. Some things aren't just a matter of perspective... so how does your villain justify those actions so they can sleep at night?
Is this villain blinded by their own grievance, or a need for vengeance, which allows them to ignore the way they're hurting other people if it's in service to their own pain? Have they dehumanized a certain group of people, allowing them to harm or victimize them without feeling bad about it because "they deserve it" or "they'd do the same to me if our positions were reversed"? Have they gaslit themselves into believing a situation was different than it was, convincing themselves of a false narrative that allows them to feel justified? Is the villain so consumed by greed that they can't be bothered to think about other people because their fortune is worth any cost? Are they driven by fear so deep and visceral that they'll commit atrocities just to make it go away?
If You Can't See Where They're Coming From, Look Harder
To be clear, while some villains should be misunderstood or redeemable, that is not always the case. Just because you can understand someone's reasoning and rationale doesn't mean you should identify with them. However, to make a character feel believable, we need to ask ourselves how they can look at themselves in the mirror, and then go to bed after the things they've done.
And maybe they do struggle. Maybe their conscience bothers them. Maybe there are cracks in the facade... and if that's the case, you should show the audience those things too!
For instance, does that billionaire give a lot of money to a certain charity because it helps assuage his guilt, and he feels like he's somehow squared the harm he's done? Does the serial killer go to church to light candles and pray for their victims, using the ritual and the belief that a higher power has forgiven him to face the world again? Is the cold-blooded mob hitman doing his best to be a good father to his kids, and to give them the opportunities he didn't have so that this life isn't even something they consider taking up?
Humans (and human-related characters) are capable of astonishing feats of mental gymnastics when it comes to explaining why they aren't bad people, and in some cases why they're actually the victim in a situation rather than the villain. And even if we never get a comprehensive psychological evaluation on the page, knowing these things about your villains can help you write them in a way that feels more genuine, organic, and believable, instead of just having them twirling their mustache as they deliver a monologue to the audience about why they hate colors and want to outlaw sharing.
Support The Literary Mercenary
If you want to see me produce more work, consider some of the following options!
- The Azukail Games YouTube Channel (where I contribute video content)
- The A.L.I.C.E. Files (a channel full of short stories, many of which are mine)
And if you happen to have some spare dosh lying around, and you want to be sure my supply doesn't run low, consider become a Patreon patron, or leaving a tip by Buying Me a Ko-Fi!
Also, if you're curious about how to write for tabletop RPGs, don't forget to check out my show Tabletop Mercenary, which you can find on both the Azukail Games channel!
Like, Follow, and Come Back Again!
That's all for this week's Craft of Writing! For more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, or at My Amazon Author Page where you can find books like my sci-fi dystopian thriller Old Soldiers, the Hardboiled Cat series about a mystery solving Maine Coon in Marked Territory and Painted Cats, my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife, or my most recent short story collection The Rejects!
And to stay on top of all my latest news and releases, collected once a week, make sure you subscribe to The Literary Mercenary's mailing list.
If you'd like to help support my work, then consider Buying Me A Ko-Fi, or heading over to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page! Lastly, to keep up with my latest, follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and now on Pinterest as well!
