What makes a character evil, and who are the most evil villains?

I've been reading Greg Keys' fantastic series of books in the Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone series (The Briar King, The Charnal Prince, and The Blood Knight). I won't spoil anything, but one of the characters strikes me as seriously evil. He has killed his family, betrayed his people, and tortures his prisoners.

I just keep hoping for him to come to a horrible end. Some of the characters in George R.R. Martin's Song of Fire and Ice series are also so evil I can't find much good in them at all. What do you think makes a character really evil?

What about them makes them go from just bad, or violent, to pure evil? Which characters do you find the most evil, and why? Asked by MightyCow_DontFollow 54 months ago Similar questions: makes character evil villains Arts > Books.

Similar questions: makes character evil villains.

There are basically 2 requirements--character flaws and actions. I think that you have hit the main point, it is when they cause or partake in actions that are morally reprehensible, as you described from the book. When these work in conjunction with a character that knowingly does these based on personal greed or being power hungry or other undesirable character traits then this character is truly evil.It can happen that a character does morally reprehensible acts, but does them out of "love" or some other noble cause, in which case the pushing for the evil classification is somewhat unjustified and weakened.

These two traits need to work together in order for the justification for calling a character evil. In terms of what drives characters to be evil, it really can be anything (predisposition, tragic events...) that impliments morally corrupt traits into their personality. Once they have the drive and personal justification, then the actions will follow, but it must be the personal beliefs that start it.

In terms of who I personally believe to be the most evil character, I will turn to both a literary and cinematic example. I know most people might disagree, but Michael Corleone can be seen as one of these evil characters. After having his father shot, it is engrained in him that a new set of rules now apply.

This leads him to kill ruthlessly, including his own brother in law as well as actual brother, truly evil acts. Another character from cinematic realm is Tony Soprano. He might say his motives are pure (providing for his family), but the actions he engages in are considered morally wrong.

What is interesting about these two selections is that they happen to be two of my favorite characters, so there must be something fascinating about evil characters that pulls in the audience. Sources: Opinion .

The character's motivation The things that make a character evil have to do with his motivation. A character who murders his family may be evil, but a character who walks into his home, not realizing that there is a gas leak, strikes a match and kills his family would not be considered evil. A bad character is one that is self-serving.

On the lesser side, he may not be willing to kill or commit bodily injury in order to get what he wants, but he will do other things. Consider Fagin in Oliver Twist. He was willing to have a band of pickpockets to amass his own wealth, but he had his limits.

Nancy was bad to a lesser degree, but she was involved in crime for her own purposes, though she cared for Oliver. The Dodger fell between Nancy and Fagin. Bill Sikes was more evil.

He probably would not have killed someone just for the pleasure of it, but he would kill anyone who prevented him from getting the things he wanted out of life, including his lover. Characters that are pure evil seldom ring true because we normally think of them as being mentally insane, but a pure evil character will do evil just because he wants to do evil rather than for another cause. Violence really has no place on the scale.

But good and bad characters can be violent. We have people serving in the military that have to be violent, but we would not call them evil for serving their country.

Sorry awkward question. " "Looking for books wih the main character named Merlon who is a spors agent and a former basketball player" "What are some children's books where the main character is going to a new school." "I'm looking for a book/author, suspense novel, a character, Naval elite, appears in several books by the same author. " "books by Katernine Kurtz and others with the character Jim Drummond in them" "where do I get resident evil books for cheap" "What is evil?

" "i trying to find a webpage where U could find romance books by searching character's name. Anybody know pagename? " "As a child which books helped to mold your character?

" "What are those hand signals that the likes of Jack Bauer 24 character makes to his cohorts when storming a ..

Looking for books wih the main character named Merlon who is a spors agent and a former basketball player.

What are some children's books where the main character is going to a new school.

I'm looking for a book/author, suspense novel, a character, Naval elite, appears in several books by the same author.

Books by Katernine Kurtz and others with the character Jim Drummond in them.

Where do I get resident evil books for cheap.

I trying to find a webpage where U could find romance books by searching character's name. Anybody know pagename?

What are those hand signals that the likes of Jack Bauer 24 character makes to his cohorts when storming a .

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.