The changing face of the antagonist

They are the bread and butter of our novels – without the antagonist, be it a person, being, natural event, it is not a story unless we as writers give it breath of life. But things are changing.

I was reading a story online about how characters in film are grossly misunderstood – the recognition that antagonists have mental issues. What was seen as a way to create the edgy and unpredictable villain, we are now looking at ways to help them. Be it bipolar, depression, schizophrenia, anything goes but to victimize them and portray them as anything but evil is now drawing frowns and the typical finger wagging to say that it is unacceptable and politically incorrect. Did someone just call HR?

So next time when you have to decide if your hero or heroine will wield a sword in defense against evil or not, consider having them pass the villain a tissue box and say, “Let’s talk... what’s really going on inside. I’m here to help.” Don’t forget to add the anguished expression with crumpled brows that expresses heightened levels of empathy and forgiveness.

Don’t get me wrong – mental issues are a serious and neglected health concern. I battle depression on a daily basis along with anxiety. Trust me, my social skills are pathetic and underdeveloped (thanks mom and dad) so my poor husband has to deal with my constant need to hide under the covers and avoid the world. Many suffer far worse in silence. My point is that you cannot stray from human complexity that includes the many layers of mental issues when it comes to creating characters with whom we are to relate to on some level or another – and sometimes they will hold similar traits as those we know so well, ourselves.