Weekly Update - 49 (Patreon)

Villains. Many a time have I argued with someone about whether or not there is such a thing as "objective evil."  (I could maybe specify that claiming to know objectivity in general is what I take issue with there, but I digress.)  I could probably fill tomes with nonsensical ramblings on the matter.  Last week, the closest thing we currently have to our story's "villain" may have just entered stage right, so today I just want to talk about villains.

I've heard many an argument that the villain is supposed to drive the story forward. That they can be employed by the author to force the hero into action. But then I've also heard the arguments that your heroes should not be passive, that they shouldn't sit around waiting for the villain to force them to action.  Seems a little paradoxical perhaps.  If your hero is self-motivating, then what is the role of the villain? Why does your story need one? I'd honestly say it doesn't.

Being vaguely aware of what roles your characters fulfil is important, sure, (as is being aware of your themes and symbolism and such) but I think it really undermines the characters to label them quite so plainly. Everyone wants something. When the things people want are opposed, this brings them into conflict. The villain of that conflict is a matter of perspective, and stories about each conflict are told from a certain perspective. I would argue it is for the readers to decide for themselves who the villain is, not the author. I said before, I don't want to try and cram characters into a specific role. I write characters that exist in my head and are a part of Kiva's life, and what purpose those characters serve is left to interpretation. Hopefully, if I'm doing my job right, each one of those characters is interesting while also fitting the narrative in a purposeful way, but none of them, in my eyes, are "the good guy" or "the bad guy."

I can see an argument for why Donno is the villain of this story right now. From one angle, he exists in the story to make Kiva's life difficult. So far, he's shown up, beat the piss out of Kiva (albeit in self-defense), and he's talked a bit about what nasty things he wants to do to Kiera. These are very villainous things for a villain to do. Then again, Kiva is telling the story from Kiva's perspective, and in his eyes, Donno is, yes, the villain. Donno is the person Kiva hates most in all the world. He has a long list of reasons to hate Donno. Donno is someone who is constantly hurting him, emotionally and sometimes physically, and has been doing so for years.  Is Kiva justified in his hatred?  I don't know.

But what if we look at it from a different perspective? What if, instead, I told you a story about a grizzled old veteran, a warrior covered in scars from battles long ago fought and won, who is getting up there in age and senses his own mortality closing in. Someone who has never known fear, yet feels it all the same. Someone with nothing left to prove and not a lot of fucks left to give. Someone that feels things closing in and doesn't care who will remember him or how they remember him, so long as he is remembered.  That too, I think, might make for a very interesting story.

I have... so much more to say on this.  Like, what about the "psychopath" villain -- someone who just wants to watch the world burn.  But that's another several paragraphs for another time, perhaps.  I'm happy to continue this discussion any time, any where, however, so don't be shy about reaching out!

Drawing:  Wrapping up Page 93 today and tomorrow, so there'll be a post this week!

Playing:  The packing and moving game... but also still trying to squeeze in some Satisfactory.  >.>