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A '''''villain''''' is an "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil evil]" character in a story, whether an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History historical] narrative or, especially, a work of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiction fiction]. The villain usually is the '''''bad guy''''', the character who fights against the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero hero]. A female villain is sometimes called a '''''villainess'''''. Random House Unabridged Dictionary defines villain as "a cruelly malicious person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime; scoundrel; or a character in a play, novel, or the like, who constitutes an important evil agency in the plot." |
A '''''villain''''' is an "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil evil]" character in a story, whether an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History historical] narrative or, especially, a work of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiction fiction]. The villain usually is the '''''bad guy''''', the character who fights against the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero hero]. A female villain is sometimes called a '''''villainess'''''. Random House Unabridged Dictionary defines villain as "a cruelly malicious person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime; scoundrel; or a character in a play, novel, or the like, who constitutes an important evil agency in the plot." |
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| − | What makes a villain a villain is down to personal opinion on what "good" and "evil" is but there are a few acts that are universally accepted as villainious: betrayal, murder and deception. |
+ | What makes a villain a villain is down to personal opinion on what "good" and "evil" is but there are a few acts that are universally accepted as villainious: betrayal, murder and deception as well as abuse (especially sexual abuse) - also it is an almost universal acceptance that harming a child is an "evil" act so any character who is deliberately cruel to a child more than once would be considered a villain. Also in most cultures it is considered extremely dishonorable (and often illegal) for a man to hit or other abuse a woman, of course this goes both ways but it is seen as especially immoral when commited by a male and is often considered a type of abuse. |
Also many villains do not see themselves as "evil" and may have just goals but go about their deeds in immoral, even wicked, ways - in fact the cackling maniac intent on destruction for the sake of destruction is a character-type that while still popular in fiction is beginning to fade away in favor of villains that display the same varied depths of emotions as heroes do: making them more three-dimensional characters than they were originally. |
Also many villains do not see themselves as "evil" and may have just goals but go about their deeds in immoral, even wicked, ways - in fact the cackling maniac intent on destruction for the sake of destruction is a character-type that while still popular in fiction is beginning to fade away in favor of villains that display the same varied depths of emotions as heroes do: making them more three-dimensional characters than they were originally. |
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Revision as of 16:46, 10 April 2010
Template:Important A villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether an historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the bad guy, the character who fights against the hero. A female villain is sometimes called a villainess. Random House Unabridged Dictionary defines villain as "a cruelly malicious person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime; scoundrel; or a character in a play, novel, or the like, who constitutes an important evil agency in the plot."
What makes a villain a villain is down to personal opinion on what "good" and "evil" is but there are a few acts that are universally accepted as villainious: betrayal, murder and deception as well as abuse (especially sexual abuse) - also it is an almost universal acceptance that harming a child is an "evil" act so any character who is deliberately cruel to a child more than once would be considered a villain. Also in most cultures it is considered extremely dishonorable (and often illegal) for a man to hit or other abuse a woman, of course this goes both ways but it is seen as especially immoral when commited by a male and is often considered a type of abuse.
Also many villains do not see themselves as "evil" and may have just goals but go about their deeds in immoral, even wicked, ways - in fact the cackling maniac intent on destruction for the sake of destruction is a character-type that while still popular in fiction is beginning to fade away in favor of villains that display the same varied depths of emotions as heroes do: making them more three-dimensional characters than they were originally.