A great antagonist is more than just a one-dimensional villain. A great antagonist is one of the key elements that make a story engaging and memorable. They are the force that opposes the protagonist and creates the conflict that drives the narrative forward. Creating a compelling antagonist is not an easy task, but with the right approach, you can craft a character that readers will love to hate. In this blog post, we will outline ten simple steps to help you create a great antagonist, along with two examples from bestselling novels or movies for each step.
1. Create a convincing backstory for your antagonist
Every great character, including the antagonist, has a backstory that explains their motivations and actions. The backstory should be well thought-out and believable, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the character’s behavior. A convincing backstory will make your antagonist more relatable and humanize them in the eyes of your readers.
Example 1: Hannibal Lecter from The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris. Lecter’s backstory explains his cannibalistic tendencies and his hatred for rudeness and discourtesy. It also reveals that he was a victim of child abuse, which provides insight into his twisted psyche.
Example 2: Ursula from The Little Mermaid. Ursula’s backstory explains her banishment from Atlantica, her desire for revenge against King Triton, and her penchant for manipulation. It also reveals her ability to transform into a beautiful woman, which adds complexity to her character.
2. Make your antagonist a worthy opponent for your protagonist
The antagonist should be a formidable opponent for the protagonist, capable of challenging them in every way. They should pose a real threat to the protagonist’s goals, dreams, or life. A worthy opponent will make the protagonist’s journey more difficult and their eventual victory more satisfying.
Example 1: Darth Vader from Star Wars. Vader is a powerful Sith Lord with an army of stormtroopers at his command. He is skilled in combat and has access to the Death Star, a weapon capable of destroying entire planets. He poses a significant threat to the Rebel Alliance and their goal of defeating the Empire.
Example 2: Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey. Ratched is a cold and calculating nurse who wields immense power over the patients in her care. She is a master manipulator who uses her position to control and dominate those around her, including the rebellious Randle McMurphy.
3. Show your antagonist’s perspective
To create a well-rounded and believable antagonist, it’s essential to show their perspective on the conflict. This will help readers understand their motivations and empathize with them, even if they don’t agree with their actions.
Example 1: Thanos from Avengers: Infinity War. Thanos believes that the universe is suffering from overpopulation and that the only way to solve this problem is to wipe out half of all life. He sees himself as a savior who is willing to make the hard choices that others are too weak to make.
Example 2: Amy Dunne from Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Amy is a complex character whose perspective is revealed through her diary entries. She sees herself as a victim of her husband’s infidelity and believes that he deserves to be punished for his betrayal.
4. Give your antagonist strengths as well as weaknesses
A great antagonist should have strengths that make them a formidable opponent for the protagonist, but they should also have weaknesses that make them vulnerable. This will make them more relatable and humanize them in the eyes of your readers.
Example 1: Voldemort from the Harry Potter series. Voldemort is a powerful wizard who has access to dark magic that makes him almost invincible. However, he is also plagued by his fear of death, which makes him vulnerable and prone to making mistakes.
Example 2: The Joker from The Dark Knight. The Joker is a master of chaos who can manipulate anyone to do his bidding. However, he is also a victim of his own insanity, which makes him unpredictable and prone to self-destruction.
5. A great antagonist shouldn’t be invincible
An invincible antagonist makes for a predictable story. Your antagonist should be challenged and defeated at some point in the story. This will make the protagonist’s victory more satisfying and create tension throughout the narrative.
Example 1: Smaug from The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Smaug is a dragon who has amassed great wealth and power. However, he is eventually defeated by Bilbo Baggins, a humble hobbit armed with nothing but his wits.
Example 2: Agent Smith from The Matrix. Agent Smith is a powerful program that can replicate himself endlessly. However, he is ultimately defeated by Neo, who discovers his weakness and exploits it to defeat him.
6. Make your antagonist complex
A complex antagonist is one that is multi-dimensional, with conflicting motivations and desires. This makes them more interesting and engaging to readers.
Example 1: Cersei Lannister from A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. Cersei is a character who is driven by her love for her family and her desire for power. She is ruthless and cunning, but also vulnerable and insecure.
Example 2: Tyler Durden from Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. Tyler is a character who represents the darker side of the protagonist’s personality. He is charismatic and persuasive, but also dangerous and unpredictable.
7. Your antagonist doesn’t have to be unlikeable
While it’s easy to make the antagonist someone that readers will root against, creating a sympathetic or even likable antagonist can make for a more nuanced and interesting story.
Example 1: Hannibal Lecter from The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris. Lecter is a brilliant psychiatrist and cannibal who helps Clarice Starling catch another serial killer. He is intelligent, cultured, and even charming, but also dangerous and unstable.
Example 2: Magneto from X-Men. Magneto is a mutant who believes that humans will never accept mutants and seeks to protect his fellow mutants by any means necessary, even if that means using violence. While he is often portrayed as a villain, his motivations are understandable and even sympathetic.
8. Use foils to highlight your antagonist’s qualities
Foil characters are those that exhibit opposing traits or characteristics to another character, typically the protagonist. However, a foil can also be used to contrast with other characters in the story. The use of a foil character can help to advance the plot and themes of a story by providing a different perspective on the central conflict. By contrasting the main character’s traits with those of a foil character, the author can highlight important attributes and characteristics of the protagonist’s personality. This can make the story more engaging and provide greater insight into the main character’s motivations and struggles.
Foil characters are not always antagonists, but they can be. Sometimes, they can even be other characters who share the same goals or values as the protagonist, but with different approaches or personalities.
Example 1: in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, the main character Jay Gatsby and his friend Nick Carraway serve as foils to each other. While Gatsby is a wealthy and glamorous man obsessed with winning back his lost love, Daisy Buchanan, Nick is more reserved and introspective. By contrasting these two characters, Fitzgerald is able to highlight the complexities of love, wealth, and social status in the 1920s.
Example 2: Professor Moriarty from Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle. Moriarty is a criminal mastermind who is used as a foil to Sherlock Holmes. While Moriarty is just as intelligent as Holmes, he uses his talents for evil instead of good.
9. Show your antagonist’s character arc and evolution
Just like your protagonist, your antagonist should experience growth and change throughout the story. This can make them more dynamic and interesting, and create a more satisfying resolution to the conflict.
Example 1: Darth Vader from Star Wars. Vader is initially portrayed as a ruthless villain, but as the story progresses, we learn that he was once a Jedi Knight and has a complex relationship with his son, Luke Skywalker. Ultimately, he sacrifices himself to save Luke and defeat the Emperor.
Example 2: Loki from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Loki is initially portrayed as a villain who seeks power and glory, but as the story progresses, he learns to work with his brother Thor and becomes a more complex and sympathetic character.
10. Remember that your antagonist doesn’t have to be a person
While a human or humanoid antagonist is the most common choice, your antagonist can take many forms, including an idea, a force of nature, or even a group of people.
Example 1: The White Witch from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. The White Witch is a powerful sorceress who has cursed Narnia with eternal winter. She represents the force of evil that the protagonists must overcome.
Example 2: The shark from Jaws by Peter Benchley. The shark is a relentless predator that terrorizes a small town. While not a person, it serves as the main antagonist of the story and creates tension and conflict throughout.
In conclusion, creating a great antagonist is a crucial part of crafting a compelling story. By following these ten steps and using examples from bestselling novels and movies, you can create an antagonist that is complex, interesting, and worthy of challenging your protagonist. Whether your antagonist is a person, an idea, or a force of nature, taking the time to develop them fully can make for a more satisfying and memorable story.
