Similarity between polar opposites (mirroring between protagonist and antagonist)

I’ve come across this topic recently and it really caught my attention as well. Did you realize that in most stories, the hero and the villain often have very intimate similarities. Whether it’s their history, abilities, or personality, they often exist. And it shouldn’t be a surprise that many of us enjoy such relationship.

We see them all the time in popular books and movies. Both Harry Potter and Voldermort were exceptionally brilliant students in Hogwarts. Both Frodo and Sauron have a deep connection with the Ring. How about in almost every Marvel movie ever? Did you realize all the heroes and villains almost always have similar powers?

Just read any book or watch any movie and you’re bound to find that the protagonist and antagonist have some similarities. Even in my own fantasy book, The Ocean Hearth, both my hero and his adversary are fueled by guilt and a need for redemption. I didn’t even realized that when I was writing it!

As to why this has an appeal to the audience, I believe it is because the conflict between our heroes and their enemies represent our own inner conflict. There is nothing more relatable than realizing that our greatest enemies are always our own selves. You want to write a best selling novel but you’re too lazy to take the time to write. You want to be the best student in class but you love to procrastinate your studies. You want to make a brand for business but you’re too afraid to take risks.

Whatever it is, it is a conflict within ourselves. So seeing our heroes fighting against someone who is just a different side of him (and eventually conquering them) is definitely a projection of our subconscious ideal of ourselves.

So what I’m trying to say here is that we should apply this concept of “similarity between polar opposites” in our stories as well. Perhaps you’re already doing it but you don’t realize it yet (just like I did).

I hope you’ll find this article helpful. Thank you for reading and all the best in your writing!

p/s: if you’re interested, do have a look at my book “The Ocean Hearth” which is the first installment of my “Hymns of Evermorn” fantasy book series! Thanks and have a good day!