When you read a novel, are you typically more drawn to the protagonist or antagonist? Do you personally relate better to one over the other? If you’re a writer, do you most enjoy writing about the good guys or the bad guys? Throughout literary history, there have been some classic villains that readers love to hate.
Before we reveal the top five classic villains in the fiction industry, we must first determine what makes a “great” villain. Some readers say that “power” is the key to a great antagonist. Others believe “motive” has a lot to do with it. For example, some bad guys are bad because they are evil. Others have more of a Robin Hood mentality; that is, they’re striving for social justice or to right a wrong that’s been perpetrated on innocent people. Think about your favorite classic villains. What drove them, and what made them your favorite antagonists?
These classic villains top the list for popularity among readers
The first two of the top five classic villains of all time in the fiction industry aren’t even human beings:
- Shere Khan (The Jungle Book, by Rudyard Kipling, 1894)
- Napoleon (Animal Farm, by George Orwell, 1945)
- Captain Hook (Peter Pan and Wendy, by JM Barrie, 1904)
- Cruella De Vil (The Hundred and One Dalmatians, by Dodie Smith, 1956)
- Captain Ahab (Moby Dick, also known as The Whale, by Herman Melville, 1851)
Often, a novel provides a back story that the film version of a story leaves out. For instance, the movie productions of “The Jungle Book” do not typically inform viewers of Shere Khan’s troubled upbringing. He was lame as a young cub, and his own mother gave him a name to mock him, which was “Lungri,” meaning “the lame one.” Do you think the other classic villains mentioned in this list have underlying issues that compelled their evil deeds?
Have you ever incorporated a villain into one of your stories?
Development of character is a primary task at which best-selling authors excel. If you’re thinking about writing a villain into your next story, keep these helpful tips in mind:
- Include the back story, meaning the reason why your villain is the way he or she is.
- Aim to inspire empathy toward the villain from your readers, while still encouraging them to root for the protagonist.
- Make sure your villains are believable and relatable.
- Create some type of connection between your villain and your hero.
When creating an antagonist, think about your favorite classic villains in literature. What makes them tick? Why do you love them? (Do they scare you, intrigue you or encourage your support because they are vulnerable?) Try writing several versions of the same character and ask friends and family to provide feedback, until you have developed a villain readers will love to hate.
