September 17, 2020-Today we’re talking about antagonists and what characteristics they tend to have. As writers, it’s essential to know what makes our characters who they are, what makes them tick, and why they do what they do/don’t do. Antagonists, in my opinion, are far more fascinating than Protagonists, becasue I always wonder what pushed them over the edge and caused them to become a villain.
First, let’s start by defining what an antagonist is: An antagonist is a character that stands in the way of the main character getting what they want. The Antagonist is referred to as the villain as mentioned above. Some notable antagonists are:
- Darth Vader
- Cruella DeVille
- Loki
- Hans Gruber
- Maleficent
- The Joker
- And my personal favourite, Bane.
Antagonists have particular personality traits and can often be described as having personality disorders (narcissists). Some traits include:
- A sense of superiority and an inflated sense of ego
- Loyal to their cause and a willingness to do whatever it takes to complete their mission no matter the cost, a risk-taker mentality
- Intelligent and strong
- Diabolical, calculated, methodical in some cases
- Zealots
- Adapts to changing situations easily
- A distorted sense of justice, the world, and self
Keep these traits and characteristics in mind when writing your villains. Villains are people too, perhaps just more interesting and complex if you ask me!
