I love villains. Who's your favourite and why? What do you look for from a villain, how do you write your own?
Me too! But in The Silence of the Lambs, I'm not sure he's really the villain – that's Buffalo Bill. [As I write this I realize I'm nitpicking. Excuse me while I shut the fup.]I was fascinated by Hannibal Lechter in both the Harris novels and the first film.
Agreed on all counts!I love Captain Kennit in Robin Hobb's 'The Liveship Traders' (apart from what Robin made him do near the end of book 3 which seemed sensationalist and useful for the story rather than something that character would actually do, might think but not actually do).
He is cruel, tries to be ruthless but all the time is fighting a humanity he definitely has. And he often made me smile.
Agreed. The definition of a 'villain' has changed during the past century. Perhaps the name is due a revamp.I can't think of them as villains, just the person who isn't willing to do it the 'right' way, to earn what comes, rather than taking by force (or any other way that means it isn't earned).
Fair point. I would say there are multiple villains in SOTL, including Dr Chilton, but I still think Lechter stands above them all. Yes, he aided Clarice, but only on the understanding that she played his game. And it was a damaging game.Me too! But in The Silence of the Lambs, I'm not sure he's really the villain – that's Buffalo Bill. [As I write this I realize I'm nitpicking. Excuse me while I shut the fup.]
And the more driven, fixated and intent they are on that need/goal, the more fascinating they are in my view. They believe they are right. Their belief is the kind that could be right. Maybe they ARE right. The fact they may be right in their thinking is something which I find scary; the fact that their 'wrong belief/worldview' could be(come) true.Why? Because every character is the hero of their own story, even the opposition/antagonist/baddie. If the opposition didn't want to fight for it, what would be the effort req'd by the main character? Whatever the 'thing' is they fight for, they both have to believe beyond any doubt that it is what they need and life without it isn't of value.
Every character has their own agenda
This.Their deepest desires/needs.