Conflict is at the core of every captivating tale, including between protagonist and antagonist. But can a main character who acts irresponsibly still serve as the protagonist? Absolutely – as long as three key elements are taken into consideration: 1. Demonstrating his/her despicable acts early 2. Showcasing them early 3. Emphasizing how these depraved actions tie back into the plot
Characterization
The Main Character Is the Villain Chapter 23, or protagonist, is the focus of readers or viewers throughout a story. He or she must face off against an antagonist; their presence often creates obstacles and conflicts which allow readers or viewers to explore more fully who this powerful force represents, thus enriching plot development and making plot more intriguing.
An antihero protagonist often lacks heroic qualities, yet still pursues unfavorable goals and actions – this was certainly the case with Louis Bloom in Nightcrawler, whose actions brought harm and evil from day one of the movie.
An antagonist protagonist can make for an excellent main character in any story, but it’s essential that we learn their backstory and gain an understanding of why they hold certain beliefs or make certain decisions. A character arc can help tremendously: for instance, your villain could either become morally better over time (such as becoming more likeable but maintaining core principles), worse or remain unchanged altogether.
Conflict
Doing things differently by employing villains as protagonists adds an exciting edge to storytelling. They often serve as central figures of their stories, driving forward plot development like Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty or William Shakespeare’s corrupt King Macbeth from Macbeth. A villain protagonist doesn’t need to be sympathetic, however; their morally questionable actions stand in stark contrast with any good they may do.
Villainous protagonists require an engaging antagonist to keep readers hooked on the story and keep readers reading. An antagonist can be defined as any character whose goals clash directly with those of their protagonist; for instance, Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice seeks to avoid baddies, while Javert wants to arrest Valjean from Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables.
An effective antagonist should stand in stark contrast to their protagonist in terms of personality, morals, outlook and values. They should also provide plausible justification for their bad guy acts which will help make them more three-dimensional in readers’ minds.
Motivations
Your antagonist protagonist must perform unscrupulous acts early on to establish their badness and set up direct conflict between themselves and your protagonist. Doing this also facilitates their introduction into your story as characters who need to fight to survive against an antagonistic hero.
These individuals want something, but are willing to use nefarious means in order to attain it – including murder, grand larceny or deceiving loved ones in order to meet their goals. Their desire is so great they’re willing to break social norms as long as their end justifies the means.
Villains should have clear lines they won’t cross, adding depth and dimension. Revenge is often an attractive motivation but may lead to other forms of criminality as well.
Unable to fit in anywhere else, they form their own band of villains and use their power for evil purposes. They view undesirables as pathogens or parasites wreaking havoc in society and on planet Earth and want nothing more than to eradicate them from society and planet alike.
Resolution
Resolution is where all loose threads are tied off and the main conflict resolved. Writing this section can be challenging as you must ensure a convincing resolution without making the conflict too contrived; writing one that will leave readers satisfied and fulfilled is key to creating an unforgettable reading experience.
Villain protagonists tend to possess characteristics that make them more interesting than a generic Protagonist, including morally dubious behaviors or even unheroic qualities; yet they often fall on the side of evil (although this doesn’t hold true for all Villain Protagonists).
Are your villain characters hellbent on taking over the world, or simply seeking revenge, keeping readers engaged and on edge? Take inspiration from other successful antagonists in order to craft your own Villain Protagonist as intriguing and complex as possible. A strong conclusion will close your story in style, yet leaving some parts open-ended may allow readers to choose how it ends.
