tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248193231958936629.post4594510060423511574..comments2024-03-09T15:57:58.218+11:00Comments on Justified Lunacy: Writing Sympathetic VillainsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677563505368503476noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248193231958936629.post-22002992524207269992010-06-26T00:34:58.196+10:002010-06-26T00:34:58.196+10:00Villains should only exist with proper motivation....Villains should only exist with proper motivation. They should not be evil for evil's sake.<br /><br />Sympathetic, tragic, forced, whatever... so long as it's properly motivated.Stephanie Loréehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03512485557711771802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248193231958936629.post-57592920262061189362010-06-25T22:52:01.227+10:002010-06-25T22:52:01.227+10:00I like my villains evil and truthful. But yes, thr...I like my villains evil and truthful. But yes, three dimensional. I think a villain can be 100% evil and still be relateable. As writers, we have to be able to understand all sides, yeah? Otherwise, we'll never create a believeable villain.Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16915603693944523761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248193231958936629.post-11216921785791796302010-06-25T19:49:38.594+10:002010-06-25T19:49:38.594+10:00I prefer sympathetic villains! They are much more ...I prefer sympathetic villains! They are much more interesting. I love it when they turn good by the end: Darth Vader!Aubriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10884036126491922530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248193231958936629.post-55036180901392002712010-06-25T15:01:03.391+10:002010-06-25T15:01:03.391+10:00I like both, but both have to be relatable and mul...I like both, but both have to be relatable and multi-dimensional. I like the sympathetic villian, they are more agreeable and settle better because they have a motive that a reader, viewer can at least relate to. Just like Japanese horror, suddenly I think well...they had it coming after what happened to the ghost. But then I also like a villian who is straight evil but they have depth like the Joker who was brilliant. So I guess my best answer is, both with depth.Erica Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01047782756627025143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248193231958936629.post-53994153180562240332010-06-25T11:26:56.576+10:002010-06-25T11:26:56.576+10:00I like a rounded villain, someone who has good par...I like a rounded villain, someone who has good parts of his/her personality, and good reasons for the things s/he does. I love it when I can't decide if a character is good or bad. Wondering brings more depth to the work.Deb Salisbury, Magic Seeker and Mantua-Makerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01513482264195697450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248193231958936629.post-89573492553229587292010-06-25T11:23:50.509+10:002010-06-25T11:23:50.509+10:00It really depends on the book's focus, but I d...It really depends on the book's focus, but I do agree that a sympathetic villain is much preferable, because there is a degree of fear from knowing that there is sympathy in his/her actions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248193231958936629.post-92105494045316456572010-06-25T10:25:38.362+10:002010-06-25T10:25:38.362+10:00I agree. A villain needs three dimensions.I agree. A villain needs three dimensions.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248193231958936629.post-12036504419352397362010-06-25T10:02:56.045+10:002010-06-25T10:02:56.045+10:00If they're 100% evil, they're probably one...If they're 100% evil, they're probably one-dimensional. Think of Voldemort. As the series unfolds, we find out his upbringing isn't so different from Harry's. He was an orphan after all. And he's trying to prove he's the heir of Slytherin, and not his non-magical father who abandoned his mother. (And he seems to take after his mean grandfather, only worse.)<br /><br />Almost rooting for a villain is trickier. There has to be less evil in him, and more of a choice that he's making the reader can identifying with making. Would we be strong enough not to make the easier, but wrong choice?<br /><br />Your juxtaposed twins sound intriguing.Theresa Milsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477761307315565259noreply@blogger.com