Are Villains Valuable?

What characterizes a villain? What makes the “bad guys” so bad? In just about every art form that involves storytelling, there is usually an antagonist who display negative characteristics and does evil things. Of course, there are people in our world who do evil things- and their deeds might make those of the fictional villains mild by comparison. It is common and natural to hate the villain and favor the hero in any story- but is this necessarily the best approach to take? Maybe, but why not give the proverbial “devils” their due? Let’s examine the features of some villains and think of why they might be just as valuable (or more so) than the heroes we love and admire.

Heroes and heroines are generally viewed as such because they exhibit positive values and maintain harmony wherever they live. This gets disturbed when a villain arrives. The villain upsets the peace and harmony, creates chaos and confusion, and sometimes even tremendous suffering among harmless and innocent individuals. Often times the actions of villains are heinous and cruel. But despite this, many people often enjoy and celebrate the villains within both pop culture and classical literature and theatre. Take for example the popularity of Heath Leger’s Joker character in The Dark Knight and Sephiroth from the video game Final Fantasy VII. Recently there is a growing trend in modern films and television shows that give a sympathetic portrayal of many long-established villains. The evil queen from Snow White and Grendel from Beowulf might not be evil, but simply misunderstood.

If the villain is actually a misunderstood victim, that is one thing, but this is usually a motif common to modern entertainment- and it’s a welcome one, because it really freshens things up. Nevertheless, there are still many truly evil and malicious villains out there. This begs the question, “If people are supposed to strive for goodness and peace, why are there some who do such evil things? Where is the justice in this?” Let’s think about what the villains do for the people they torment. When a villain emerges on a scene and upsets the harmony that previously existed- those who suffered have a greater appreciation for that harmony once it returns. Thus, the roles of villains are beneficial because they remind people of the value of what’s good and reaffirm their resolve to maintain it. To reference a previous blog post- the camaraderie of Peter Pan and his Lost Boys is strengthened when they are threatened by Captain Hook and the pirates. The characters of the popular television series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic come to remember the value of the “Elements of Harmony” after the villain Discord invades their land and ensnares their world in chaos and disorder. When the harmony is restored, it is cherished all the more. The Hobbits from Tolkien’s books The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings appreciate their peaceful homes in The Shire after trekking through the dangerous lands of Middle-Earth. We come to understand the value of The Force in the Star Wars series after observing what the adherents to the Dark Side do. Our hearts are touched and we recall the value of family after Harry Potter’s parents are destroyed by Voldemort and the young boy must grow up without them. There are numerous examples of this aspect of villainy from the times of historical literature to modern pop culture.

The true value of these villains comes from the fact that they show the audience what is right- at their own expense. Many times the villain will be slain or sent to prison, and in some more optimistic instances they may see the error of their ways and reform. But when they were representing wicked behaviors and questionable values, they reminded the viewer of what is right and good. This same concept can be applied to daily life. There are people out there who may exhibit behaviors that are reprehensible to all humanitarian values. This is unfortunate, but it may be beneficial for us to observe these things, and instead of becoming angry, learn from them. Instead of hating the perpetrator and continuing the cycle of negativity, be glad that someone else is making the mistake and reminding you of how virtuous you are by comparison. Use it as an inspiration to do good deeds to counter the suffering brought about by their harmful deeds. This can be very helpful.

Recall how Americans and many other peoples in the world found renewed values and strength of character after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. A vicious act of murder and hatred, with no justification, was committed. But those who survived and witnessed it found renewed vigor to do well and help other people. This is very inspirational.

Somebody once asked spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, “It is said that we should honor and respect everybody, but how can we honor and respect terrorists who do so much harm to innocent people?” His answer was, “You should honor the terrorists because they show you the path at their own expense.” The spiritual guru also described how very intelligent people not only learn from their mistakes, but also learn from the mistakes of others. Learn from everything- even other peoples’ mistakes. This can be helpful in finding peace.

A picture featuring heroes and their respective villains from various world cultures: Hindu, Norse, Celtic, Greek , and Folklore.