What is a Villain?

Is it an age old type or has it changed at all for the modern era? How do villains act and what do villains look like these days? If I need to create a villain, how should I describe them? Perhaps someone who will stop at nothing, with a hunger for power, money, fame or simply control?

In The Hunger Games the Government in the Capitol wants the common people to stay in their caste or their lane and will stop at nothing to ensure control. Even in The Lego Movie Lord Business didn’t want people to mess with his stuff. He wanted control above all else. The Emperor in the original Star Wars trilogy is the biggest baddie of the series, what motivates him?

In Harry Potter, what does Voldemort actually want? To get his body back originally, but primarily to get his power back and then rule. Two kinds of power in that one.

Other villains, do they enjoy messing things up just for the fun of it?

I suppose some people do things for personal reasons, like beauty, living forever/eternal youth. What would make you give up all of your values, what would be the edge of morality? Is there something that you would never, ever do? (And what happens when you find yourself doing that very thing?)

Do villains ever just want knowledge? (Or do they only want to use the knowledge for power or other reasons.)

Are villains corrupt or corruptable? Is it a moral failing that makes them villains? Voldemort was a very powerful wizard, was he always evil? If he hadn’t gone to Hogwarts would he have been as powerful? How did Voldemort end up in an orphanage?

What makes a hero? Is it someone who isn’t corrupt or who doesn’t give into temptation. Or draws a line and stays on the right side of that line. Sometimes it is a matter of survival, the person with the power survives or wins. Sometimes there isn’t really one villain, but the system is the villain.

Is there a villain in every story? Many people I have heard from about writing say that there must be conflict. I understand why they say that, but I also think that there is a place for stories about growth.

Do readers not find those stories interesting? Some of the romantic stories I have read are stories of growth and connection, though often there is a conflict story thrown in to interest the reader.

Do all science fiction and fantasy stories need an Evil villain?

If things go badly soon, what weapons are you comfortable with?

Knife? Baseball bat? Some folks are trained in firearms, hand to hand combat, sword, or other options. Some are trained in words.
All take time and dedication to learn, and aren’t something you can just pick up and be good at wielding.

Think Bilbo Baggins or Frodo if you like, weapons don’t really belong in the Shire, but they learn to use them over time. Often necessity is the reason, but it doesn’t have to be.

If someone picked you up and took you with them in a fight/major battle between good and evil, what weapon would you bring right now? If you became a companion, or had to defend yourself what would you do?

I recently realized that I know very little of self defense. I would like to learn to defend myself, try archery perhaps and grow my knowledge of such things.

In apocalyptic fiction there are weapons of all types. Handmade, straight from the factory, crude and powerful.

So often in apocalyptic fiction the power goes out and due to some reason (war/famine/disease) the population is much lower than today. People have to fight closer, one on one or in small groups. Large bombs and large aircraft/ships and such are too much trouble. So think about it. Hopefully we will never need to resort to unruly masses with mostly homemade weapons, but it is something to think about as I write.

What is your weapon of choice?

Halloween is now over and the Christmas decor and music is firmly installed in all shopping places here in middle America. Before we get too immersed in the gift buying (if that is your thing, if not, totally cool) I thought we should reflect on what we saw on (and around) Halloween. What costumes did you see? Which ones were the best?

I saw many as I (masked and appropriately social distanced) handed out candy to the neighborhood kids. Some had homemade costumes, others store bought and some were simply amazing. I saw Transformers that transformed, princesses of every stripe, witches, Harry Potter extras and lots more. One kid had on the inflatable waving “guy” that we usually see outside car dealerships and the like. He was socially distanced inside it, (Can you say positive air pressure everyone?) and looked great. Adults and kids all got into the spirit and seemed to have fun with the best holiday to wear a mask.

What did you see?