I respond to the first query about villains with intrigue. I teach writers to use as many antagonists as needed to create conflict and excitement on the page. I seldom concentrate on the archetype of the villain. The antagonists I focus on are the seven internal antagonists that plague our characters (as well as ourselves). There are also seven external antagonists.
I generally address only dictionary definition #3 of villain: a character in a story or play who opposes the hero.
My intrigue turned leery when I noticed the same message appear in the comment’s section of the blog — this time repeated three times.
Before I have a chance to post, I personally get slammed in the face with #4 definition of villain: one blamed for a particular evil or difficulty. Caught completely off-guard by the vehement anger and resentment thrown at me, I could not help but note the timing. My hesitancy to write about the villain paired with the email experience forced me to face my fear of the villain. Bullies scare me. So much easier to see them as antagonists — a concept. Removed.
Instead of an actual post, I twittered about villains. Cop-out, I know. But still, a step…
Before I have a chance for an actual, the message returns, now with a threat. Don’t answer and the writer will take his question elsewhere. My deepest reaction? Relief.
The message comes back.
Here goes:
The protagonist of a story of any kind, even in a blog post, sets out on a journey. Along the way she is tested both internally — fears, hates, and / or flaw. She is also tested externally — society, nature, other people, machines. Other people can be family members and friends, anyone out to stop the protagonist from getting what she wants.
A villain is darker and meaner. Family and so-called friends can be or become villains. The villain welds power enough to demand their own plot line. They are not changed and transformed by the dramatic action in the story — as the protagonist is — but their story has to hit the same key scenes in universal story form.
Have you ever faced a villain?? Not an antagonist but the archetype of a villain?? How dark and how evil? How do you deal with a villain — in life and in your writing?? I only have that once. My lasting impression is being overpowered by blackness.
Martha and blogg poeple,
I’m J. I asked ’bout the villains question. I’m 15. I insisted cause you said u would get back to me on it. I liike writing. And I dont have money to buy writing books so blogging works for me. I’m sorry if you felt like I was a villain to you. I like your blog becuase you always seem to answer your questions. I won’t bug you anymore. Sorry for the mistakes in my writing, but I’m running late for school.
J.
Hi J,
That’s the thing about villains — only we (and our characters) create our own villains by how we perceive others. No one can be a villain unless we attach that archetype to another person and hand over our power to another.
That’s why villains are often seen as a mirror to our characters. The villain holds something the character has to conquer in themselves and thus over the villain. Some say that all the characters are different aspects of the protagonist, reflections of the protagonist.
Your persistence alone was persistence. The fact it came with the term villain triggered something in me. That was then paired with someone I felt was a real threat to me — a real live villain. My fear created a villain where there was none. I learned a lot about myself, thanks to you.
I hope you do come back and continue to ask questions and continue to be insistent. Just know, if I’m too delayed in answering it probably has something to do with my own demons and nothing at all with you.
Thanks for your kind words.
When I read a story, I often find myself admiring a villain. Especially if there are certain Iagolike machinations. I don’t like the hip bad guys that populate a lot of books and films, though. And for the most part it takes a lot to make me actually dislike a villain because I tend to see them as just regular folks who have allowed some hurt or vice to make them go overboard. When I do dislike a literary or cinematic villain though it’s generally someone who reminds me of someone I’ve met in real life.
Real life villains are pretty creepy because they rarely are found out. They scheme or they are self-righteous. Or they rationalize…and only time can heal my heart against the cruelty and machinations of a real life villain. And that’s what urges me to finish the book when I encounter a real life villain in a story. I want everyone to see how slick they are. I want their plan to unravel and for them to get their comeuppance. -C
Great post! I think of the villain as someone who is driven by evil forces and has no conscience. Why he is driven that way comes out in the story.
Everyone can turn villain for a moment or two, but if they are normal, repent of it and grow from the experience, becoming more passionate to others.
I have experienced villians in life. The main thing is to keep rational while dealing with it.
Hugs, JJ 😀
And J…I am impressed that you are asking these questions at 15. You’ll be a famous author one day. 😀
Blessings! JJ
Hi J.
There is a good book by Rachel Ballon called “Breathing Life into Your Characters”. You might find a copy at your local library. I hope this helps.
Also, just wanted to mention, that Martha is great at answering your questions. But like everyone else, she has a busy life so sometimes it may take a while, but she always gets back to you.
I’m still waiting for a response to a Theme question I asked her for my writing group (Friendly nudge to Martha 🙂 .
I know that I’m always being a bugger in a friendly kind of way, but Martha always pulls through with her insight and helpfullness.
Just know that Martha is a very giving person, especially with her time. I hope to see you on the blog board again soon J.
Liz
To J:
Let me know if you can’t find a copy of that book on this board. We can get in touch and I can mail you a copy of that book along with a few others that I don’t use anymore. As long as you don’t mind some highlights in them.
Liz
Well my first thought goes to Hamlet – O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain! (this quote may be off a bit) My personal thoughts are that I have but one villain to conquer and that is the part of me which battles with the good and my fear is that neither will win. Best Regards, Annie O
(oops! I initially put this in the wrong post and don’t know how to remove it. This is where it belongs)
Thank you for your kind words, Livvy!!
To answer your earlier question:
How does the Aunt in Tom Sawyer’s first chapter embody the theme as you noted on page 89 [of BBP]? You said to leave it blank because there are no “actual thematic” details? If that’s the case, then how do you know that the Aunt embodys the theme at this juncture in the story?
Answer:
The indication is slight = …said, not fiercely, but still loud enough for the furniture to hear…”
“Not fiercely” seems to me to imply that she is open to prove the theme: “There is a collective tendency of man to go overboard toward generosity and forgiveness.”
Now that I reread the first scene, my rationale is weak. I must have been using what I know about the aunt later in the story to color what I said about her here, early on.
Question:
I don’t see how the Aunt embodies the theme from the first scene example of Tom Sawyer that you provided in pages 63-65? [of BBP]
Answer:
You’re right. I put perhaps too much significance on that one little descriptor — “not fiercely.”
Sigh…..
Oh, Martha, this blog post really stops me in my tracks. I have yet to incorporate a villain into my novel ‘Night Surfing’ but I have encountered villains in real life and it is usually not something I want to revisit but for you my sweet girl, I will. When I was in my early twenties, working towards my Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology, I worked at a lock-down facility for what was then called ‘acting out adolescents’. It was the last stop before they turned 18 and were tossed out into society as adults. I was naive and sweet and had grown up in a reasonably civil family and wanted so badly to help these kids find something positive to hold onto. One evening after dinner I was scheduled to lead a group workshop so I went into the kitchen to get a cup of tea and that was when one of the male clients decided to pull a knife on me. It came out of nowhere, and I truly didn’t know what to make of it. He dragged me into a closet, the knife grating at my throat, and I think I went into some sort of trance. For whatever reason, and I know this will sound so corny, I started to sing to him. The story could have turned out so badly, but my singing soothed him in some way, and after several hours, and believe me I was shaking inside, he let me go.
Was he a villain? Of course he was, he had a knife to my throat. But villains like all of our characters, are complex and malleable. You never quite know what they’re capable of and that’s what makes them interesting. I think you’re down here in LA this weekend, Martha, Hope you’re having a blast. You’re new website looks awesome. I’m so proud of you, pretty girl…Mary Kennedy Eastham, Author, ‘The Shadow of a Dog I Can’t Forget’ and the upcoming novel, ‘Night Surfing – The Story of Love and Wonder in the Waves of Malibu’
Hello. This is my first time surfing to your blog and I had to leave a comment to say how great it is. It is a unique service you provide and likewise a very unique and interesting blog.
If you don’t mind my asking, how did you get started as a plot consultant?
Cheers,
April
http://aduffy.wordpress.com/
Great post. My original draft of my novel was accepted by Warner Books, on the condition that I revise the villain, because he was too chiched. It started me thinking, that in any novel, a villain isn’t necessarily evil, so much as someone who wants the opposite of what our hero wants. An obstruction.
I’ve created a villain who I think is now even more sympathetic than my hero, in certain ways, but his philosophical view of life is diametrically opposed to my hero’s.
Of course, out of this tension, other, less-scrupulous characters interject, creating more conflict and danger. But still, it changed my view on what a villain is.
So first I thought, okay, okay, I’ll make G. worse. Then I went, oh, wait–is G or Mr. P. that true villain. Oh, shoot, I’ll have to make them BOTH worse. Good time for this post!
Thanks Mary, for your comments. What a frightening experience. However, I too, have heard and been lulled by your gorgeous singing voice. You mesmerized and bewitched him. Perhaps even made the difference you were hoping for.
Congratulations Todd. Everything I know about Warner Books is that they are a terrific publisher and good to their authors.
Great comments. I always learn so much from everyone……
Hi Martha!
Thanks for your response. It really helped me to really look at all the subtleties when reading/analyzing prose. You always teach me something new!
By the way, what does the *T mean in the Theme column in your book?
L