Linda Armstrong's Blog - Posts Tagged "have-to-die"
The Villain, Good Guy or Bad Guy?
Most people don't have such arch-enemies as are found in thriller/mystery stories, thank goodness! Can you imagine what your worldview would be like if you had seen as many murders as Hercule Poirot, Jessica Fletcher from Murder She Wrote, or any of the other detective stories that seem like people are dying every day right in your own backyard?
I almost think that it might be dangerous to even know someone like that, you would have a high rate of probability of being a victim yourself!What purpose does the villain serve? And better question, what are your thoughts about the villain? Does he have to die in the fiery confrontation? Or does he get to live out his days trying to think of ways to escape prison? Or is he able to just vanish from the area to continue serving the purpose of the villain?
These questions were brought to my attention by a reader. I was told in no uncertain terms that the villain HAD TO DIE! And that I, as the author, had a duty to make sure that happened.
Ah, to suppose that just because I am the author that I have control of the outcome like that. The characters themselves tell me their story, I am merely the scribe. I'm not going to tell you if the villain dies or not, that would be a spoiler alert. But I did want to bring the questions to you so you could think about them.
Does it serve justice to have the villain die? And what about that theory that nature abhors a vacuum. If we get rid of the villain, won't another one just come along? And who is to say if we like that villain any better? Maybe this next villain is worse? How was the first villain in holding the space that held off the other villain from manifesting his evil deed?
The questions this reader ignited in me. In the end, it all comes down to a personal judgement call. And maybe a personal preference. If nature abhors a vacuum so much, why wouldn't it also abhor a villain? And take care of the villain itself? The questions could come like this for a long time.
Villains are necessary in life, and just because you take one away doesn't mean that they are all gone.
Although I hope that all of my readers have petty villains they deal with, instead of those that we wish the worst kind of literary ending.
We live in a dualistic world. Villain, good guy, they are opposite sides of the same coin. You can't get rid of one without getting rid of the other. At least that is my opinion! Let me know your opinion in the comments below! Be well!
I almost think that it might be dangerous to even know someone like that, you would have a high rate of probability of being a victim yourself!What purpose does the villain serve? And better question, what are your thoughts about the villain? Does he have to die in the fiery confrontation? Or does he get to live out his days trying to think of ways to escape prison? Or is he able to just vanish from the area to continue serving the purpose of the villain?
These questions were brought to my attention by a reader. I was told in no uncertain terms that the villain HAD TO DIE! And that I, as the author, had a duty to make sure that happened.
Ah, to suppose that just because I am the author that I have control of the outcome like that. The characters themselves tell me their story, I am merely the scribe. I'm not going to tell you if the villain dies or not, that would be a spoiler alert. But I did want to bring the questions to you so you could think about them.
Does it serve justice to have the villain die? And what about that theory that nature abhors a vacuum. If we get rid of the villain, won't another one just come along? And who is to say if we like that villain any better? Maybe this next villain is worse? How was the first villain in holding the space that held off the other villain from manifesting his evil deed?
The questions this reader ignited in me. In the end, it all comes down to a personal judgement call. And maybe a personal preference. If nature abhors a vacuum so much, why wouldn't it also abhor a villain? And take care of the villain itself? The questions could come like this for a long time.
Villains are necessary in life, and just because you take one away doesn't mean that they are all gone.
Although I hope that all of my readers have petty villains they deal with, instead of those that we wish the worst kind of literary ending.
We live in a dualistic world. Villain, good guy, they are opposite sides of the same coin. You can't get rid of one without getting rid of the other. At least that is my opinion! Let me know your opinion in the comments below! Be well!
