Thread:Balthus Dire/@comment-27485238-20151231125805/@comment-1969141-20151231162525

Most often yes, but not necessarily, it is a complicated matter.

Remorseful villains do regret their crimes and feel sad about them but it can merely happen because something made them realize the moral extent of their actions. However, they do not always get extenuating circumstances. This might be merely a change of heart or a villain who did bad things on their own free will.

Tragic villains were pushed into villainy by a personal tragedy beyond their control; be it intense persecution, the death of a loved one, or a traumatic event. That can count as an extenuating circumstance, but not always. For example, Syndrome, Kalandre, Creed Diskenth and Madara Uchiha's action are FAR too self-serving and horrible, and ruined far too many innocent lives, for their tragic past to matter anymore. It is clear that what really motivate them is their thirst for power and greatness. As TV Tropes puts it in, once you have crossed the Moral Event Horizon, there is no turning back.

What matters is how the villain act following their extenuating circumstances. If their motivation is to right a wrong done to them or prevent others from suffering the same fate, yes, but it depends how far they go. A villain who states they feels bad about their crimes but does nothing to atone or still comit even gorier actions is merely a hypocrite.

Long story short, saying "sorry" is not enough. To be forgiven, a villain must deeply regret and actively attempt to atone.