Villains and the Christian Writer: How Dark is Too Dark?

Villains. Nearly every story has one.

All writers know that there must be some form of opposition in their story. Oftentimes in fiction, the hero is thrust into the "journey" by the means of a villain, or at least an opposing force that disrupts their way of life in some way. After all, if nothing ever happened to change the hero's life or to shift their course, would they even become the hero they're later known to be? 

Villains have a very important role in the story, regardless of how terrible people (or creatures) they are. Because of their impact, they often carry a legacy long after the story is over. Why is it then that villains can be more remembered and popularized than heroes? Characters such as Darth Vader, the Joker, Hannibal Lecter, Sauron, and Voldemort are just a few examples of antagonists who have become very well known in our culture. Every good hero often has a contrasting villain who is good...at being bad. 

 Naturally, this legacy they carry isn't a good one, it is simply a memorable one. Our society tends to put a heavy focus on villains, and while that certainly is problematic, it is a phenomenon that should be addressed by Christian writers. There certainly are two sides to this coin, considering that there are many books and movies that make things too easy for the hero, leaving the reader with a character who seems overwhelmingly good without enough flaws that make them relatable. How can writers create stories with memorable heroes and villains without becoming cliche? And an even deeper question must be presented, which is the heartbeat of this article; where should Christian writers stand on writing villains, and how dark is too dark? 

I personally haven't shied away from presenting my villains as dark, depraved people. After all, we live in a fallen world that is ripe with sin and despair, and I personally believe that stories shouldn't sugarcoat that truth. The reality is that even though characters are indeed fictional, they still should be treated as real, three-dimensional people when written into a story. So often I read books with washed, ignorant heroes and FAR-too-attractive-for-their-own-good villains. However, on the other side of the coin, I have tried my best to present villains as people who are driven by something, and have motivations that back their actions. People often view themselves as the heroes in their own stories, and villains can certainly fall into this category.

Give heroes faults, and don't gloss over their weaknesses. Heroes are human, they have fears, and they are far from perfect. Give them a reason to want to give up, and a drive to live for something. Likewise, give villains qualities, don't make them one-sided antagonists. Villains are human, they have strengths, and often aren't purely evil. Give them a reason to want to fight, and a drive to die for something.  

Good villains are memorable in part because they are willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish their goals. They also are generally intelligent, charismatic people who tend to attract others to their causes. In fact, heroes can have these qualities too, but they aren't as prolific, and often are far more naive. Even though the 'ignorant hero' cliche often works, it also can often become boring...and when such a hero is contrasted by a complex, fully developed villain, they can be quickly overshadowed.

I have long striven as a writer to create heroes that are just as complex and fledged out as my villains. Even though I still have a lot to learn in my own writing journey, I know this goal is possible. We live in a culture that is obsessed with heroes. Movies about superheroes are always flooding the theaters, and prove that deep down, we long to feel safe, and protected, but sadly many of these heroes are one-dimensional and flat (don't worry, Avengers Endgame is NOT in that category, hehe). In order to create heroes that truly are worth the title, they have to be able to be just as interesting as the villain. As a Christian writer, my ultimate goal in writing my stories is to point people back to God, but sometimes showing the darkness for what it truly is can have a very impactful purpose. Yes, I believe there is a line that shouldn't be crossed, but depicting depravity that naturally takes place in a fallen world can be used as a tool to point people to the greatest hero of all, a hero that can truly set the captives free.