Remember Thanos from The Avengers? No wait, I have a better one, remember the Joker? Yes, these are the famous antagonists we can never hate. What makes them so memorable? So unique? I have a soft spot for antagonists, I always connect with them, and if they get to me, I cheer for them too. I know it’s weird, but I’m sure I’m not the only one.
In novels, the most prominent characters are the protagonist and the antagonist. The protagonist has a dream to achieve, the antagonist has a plan to stop the protagonist, and as a result, a conflict occurs. The core of the novel would be to surmount this conflict between these two opposite characters. If you want to write a book where readers would love? Make them admit that they love the antagonist too. How do you do that, follow these simple steps:
Make the Antagonist More Human
An antagonist is usually the bad guy who we must hate and hide under the covers when we hear his/her name for no reason at all. But it’s interesting to add a soft spot for this individual. Make him cry in a moment of weakness, make the readers sympathize with him. Yes, antagonists shed a few tears sometimes, and it’s okay because all humans do.
Induce a complex personality for the antagonist, one time they can show fear when in danger, and heck they can even be kind to children, remember the Joker when he made those funny faces to the little girl in the elevator?
In his Mind, the Antagonist is Always Right
Whatever sort of darkness the antagonist has infiltrating his mind, he believes that he’s always right and that the protagonist is not. For him, he has a comprehensive plan that he’s working on, regardless of how righteous that plan may be. He can kill or manipulate here and there, it’s okay because it’s all for the sake of his master strategy.
Create an Aura for the Antagonist
Whether the antagonist appears a lot in the book or not, it is necessary to create an evil aura around the bad guy. Think about Voldemort, even saying his name out loud was taboo. It’s nice for the readers to sympathize with him/her at certain times, yes, yet they must fear the villain. Let’s take Thanos as an example, just look at him, he’s tough, he’s big, and he even sacrifices his daughter to take over the world. Who would do that?
The antagonist is not someone to mess with; he is a cunning, super smart, super strong, and manipulative demon who gets his way. Most of the characters in Game of Thrones are like that. Believe it or not, the antagonist can even win sometimes, he can be unbeatable. An author must induce a thrilling sensation for the reader, though they know that good wins over evil, they like to see how that occurs.
Ask Why
Readers are smart, so do not underestimate them. To make the antagonist a compelling character, ask the question of why he became this way. Maybe he had an abusive childhood; perhaps he’s always jealous of his brother, or maybe he was bullied all the time. It’s interesting to add a comprehending backstory for the antagonist to convince the readers of why the villain is the way he is.
Creating these characteristics in the antagonist will make him linger in the mind of readers for years. Not only that, but creating an impressive villain adds a lot more to the story, making it more believable, and exciting for the readers. The characters mentioned today initially been from books and turned into series or movies. We never forget that in the world of motion picture, the villain depends a lot on the performance of the actor as well.
If you’re someone who likes antagonists as I do, don’t forget to mention your favorite one in the comments below.