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Poor Villain?

In most stories the Villan turns from what was either an intimidated or abused character to one that becomes the abuser or 'punisher'. Do you feel sorry for the Villain at any point? Do most authors help you to understand why the Villain is doing what he does or do you find yourself immersed in the 'good guy'?

Villain Poor

It kind of depends on the story. I've often found myself siding with the bad guy. Escaflowne for example, I totally identified with Vaulcan (I think that's his name).

Other times the bad guy recieves nothing from contempt from me. I guess it's kind of in what you were saying. If I can see the reasons for the villians turning evil, then he gets a lot more sympathy from me.

Poor Villain? UFO & Writing Art Education Sciences

Well, I sometimes do find myself feeling sorry for 'the bad guy'. Because, in his twisted, evil, little way he/she didn't really want it all to turn out like it did. And he/she did have reasons for his/her actions. so, yes, I sometimes do feel sorry for them. Only when there's a good and detailed story behind their plots though. If I see flashbacks of their life or hear from some other character that they've been abused or beaten or something. Though in the end as the viewer you also realise that it's for the best of the villian is vanquished. Otherwise they can do a lot of damage, even if they are not fully aware of the consequeses.

Villain Poor

A good example of a villan that I feel sorry for is Lex Luthor in Smallville. The guy is becoming evil because of what he has experienced with his father, that's all he knows. So he basically acts based on the model that was presented to him when he was a child. Not always the director or actor let know you why the villan is so evil but if you pay close attention, almost always you can figure it out by yourself.

Villain Poor

In stories that simply make the villain a foil for the main character, or as a 'cardboard' villain, the kind that are born evil, and are irritatingly evil (think the baddies with their oh-so-clished MUAHAHAHA laughter) but I have to agree with what the other posters have said; once a reason (a logical one) has been given for a villain to be evil, then the readers or watchers naturally sympathize with him.

A possible example of this kind of villain would be Shylock in the Merchant of Venice - his daughter runs away with a Christian man, and also steals his money, he doesn't get revenge at the end of the play... However if you compare him to Babaras the Jew in The Jew Of Malta, a villain who is evil merely for the sake of being evil, then obvious differences start appearing. For one, when watching Babaras, one cannot help but hate him for being so evil without no reason.

Of course, that brings us back to the point that in the end, it usually depends on the author and if the author gives a reason for the villain being evil.

Poor Villain?

Shylock.

*cringes*
*remembers that she needs to do her Merchant of Venice essay*
*winces*

Hmm. Shylock. Yes. Poor soul. Hmm. He is one poor soul.

You see, a lot of authors recgonise the fact that many people like villains if they have a story behind them, or if they went through certain events that led them to becoming the bad guy in the story. In fact, directors and scriptwriters recgonise this fact as well. Which is why a lot of people are attracted to the dark characters.

Oh well.

I agree with Xepher. If a character is evil and there is no reason given as to why he is evil and he is just plain evil, then it's really difficult to sympathise with him/her, especially if the character is flat, two-dimensional, and fulfills many stereotypes at one go. In fact, you'd feel like taking a knife and stabbing them through the lines and lines that make up the story.

My personal philosophy is also that there is no such thing as real evil. Some people go through really traumatic events and they go "the wrong way". The real mistake does not lie in the evil acts they commit but instead lies in the fact that they chose to turn to hate rather than forgiveness - and who doesn't make mistakes? It sounds idealistic, but it's a philosophy anyway.

Poor Villain

I'd have to say Necrosaro from Dragon Warrior 4. I had a summary lined up, but it was too long, and giving any kind of summary would spoil the plot... even if this game is no longer in print and is a decade old. What's interesting is that when going through the game, you learn a little bit about his past. He was good at one point, but something turned him around. The only thing I don't feel sorry for is that twice someone close to him asked him to put away his rage, and twice he ignored that advice. Very deep story for a game that's quite open-ended (nothing more fun that traveling the open sea once you get a boat! ).

Poor Villain Sciences Education Art Writing & UFO

I find myself more enthralled with an anti-hero type character. Somebody that tries to what is right, yet goes about doing so by any means necessary.